Corrie’s Antony Cotton Becomes Star Of His Own Show

Coronation Street star Antony Cotton is set to star in his own ITV1 daytime chat show. That Antony Cotton Show will broadcast across the summer from ITV Productions in Manchester. The series will run for an hour, weekdays over a five week period.

Antony, who won best actor at the British Soap Awards last month will present this brand new comedy chat show from the Granada Studios in Manchester, whilst still appearing in the soap. It will be filmed in front of a studio audience and will reflect the world through the host’s light hearted look on life with a combination of celebrity chat and topical humour.”

Antony said “I’m delighted to have been given this opportunity. I love working on Coronation Street and the producer has been kind enough to allow me to leave the cobbles earlier in the day to get into the studio next door to make the show. It’s going to be gossipy, light hearted, chatty and irreverent but most of all fun with lots of tea and cake.”

Executive Producer Rachel Ashdown said: “Antony has a fantastic sense of humour and the show is very much going to reflect that.”

Since joining Coronation Street in 2004, Antony has become a firm favourite with viewers winning a Soap Award for Best Actor earlier this year, both the National Television Award and Inside Soap Award for Most Popular Newcomer in 2005 and Funniest Performance at the Inside Soap Awards in both 2005 and 2006. He was also crowned winner of this year’s Soapstar Superstar.

That Antony Cotton Show has been commissioned by Alison Sharman, ITV’s Director of Factual and Daytime and will be series produced by Amanda Sangorski and executive produced by Mark Wells and Rachel Ashdown.

Antony Cotton – The Interview

How do you feel about having your own show?

I feel very excited. I’m lucky that ITV has given me the opportunity to do this show alongside my role in Coronation Street. I’ve never done anything like this before so it’s entirely new for me. On an emotional level I’m feeling nervous, but it’s nervous excitement. I’ve got butterflies, but I think it’s a good thing. I’m full of adrenalin!

Does this mean that viewers won’t be seeing you in Coronation Street?

Viewers will still see me on Coronation Street, because I’m going to be working on both programmes at the same time. I’m going to have a very busy five weeks! Coronation Street is my dream job and I absolutely love it. I’ve just signed a contract for a further year, so I’m going to be very busy over the next few months and the storylines for Sean are fantastic.

Tell us what viewers can expect from That Antony Cotton Show?

Good old fashioned entertainment. It’s going to be light, upbeat, irreverent and gossipy. Viewers at home and in our studio audience will be able to interact and participate, and there will be plenty of tea and cakes.

What guests are confirmed for the show?

I can’t really tell you much about the guests at this stage as we’ve only just started to approach people. I’m hoping that we’ll have a nice mixture of famous and non famous guests like the local lollipop lady. I want people from all walks of life who have a great story to tell.

Do you have any dream guests?

Shirley Bassey would be a fantastic guest because she’s so talented, funny and people absolutely adore her. I would love to have Elton John on the show as well as Catherine Tate, Sarah Cox, Gordon Ramsey and Joan Rivers.

Can we expect to see some of your fellow Corrie cast members on the show?
I’m hoping that across the five weeks we’ll have some favourite faces from Weatherfield on the show.

Does your busy schedule allow you to watch other chat shows?

Yes. The Paul O’ Grady Show is brilliant. I’ve been a fan of Paul’s stand up all my life. Paul is such a fantastic entertainer and he is fabulous at what he does, a true master of his craft. I also enjoy watching The Friday Night Project. Alan Carr is a terrific co-host and the show has me in stitches.