Corries Antony coming-out wind-up

Antony Cotton, who plays Coronation Streets outrageous Sean, has told how he was victim of a comedy wind-up - from his mum.

13:02 23 October 2005

Antony Cotton, who plays Coronation Streets outrageous Sean, has told how he was victim of a comedy wind-up - from his mum.

"The day came when I was a teenager and I had to tell my parents I was gay," he told the Sunday Mirror.

"Mum fell to the floor, screaming, 'No, no, oh God, it can't be true!' I was horrified. I thought I'd be thrown out of the house and they'd disown me.

"Then they started laughing... it was a wind-up. Mum said, 'Love, I've always known... would you like a cup of tea?'"

Antonys mum is clearly a born performer - in fact Enid, 59, appeared in Coronation Street before her son, as a bible-bashing aunt at the funeral of Denis Skinner.

"Mum's an inspiration to me. I was down on my arse out of work and no prospect of any coming in, and I told her I was giving up," Antony said.

"She just said 'Right, I'm going to take lessons and start acting and I'm going to show you there's no such thing as can't do it'!"

And it will be Enid who joins Antony, 30, at Tuesdays National TV Awards, where the Corrie star is up for soap's Most Popular Newcomer.

"I'm allowed to take just one guest, how could it not be Mum?" Antony said.

Bless.