Corrie star Cotton gets pay rise

Coronation Street actor Antony Cotton has signed on to stay with the soap and has been awarded £40,000 more a year than his previous contract.

The star, who plays Sean Tully in the soap, will now be paid £120,000 a year on his new 12 month contract.

Cotton, who was named best actor at this year's British Soap Awards, previously refused to sign his last contract until they raised his pay up to £80,000.

He has now been given his own 5pm chat show by ITV bosses which will start next month and bosses hope it will bring in the ratings after Paul O'Grady's show was poached by Channel 4.

A source from ITV said: "Antony is shaping up to be a real viewers’ favourite. He’s definitely worth paying out the big bucks for.”

Antony told The Sun: I love Corrie and the viewers love Sean, so it’s all a dream come true.”