Coronation Street Star Antony Cotton Shares Wedding Bombshell After Nearly Two Decades with Partner Peter Eccleston
Sean Tully’s Love Life May Be Turbulent, But Antony’s Is Rock Solid
Coronation Street legend Antony Cotton, who has played the beloved Sean Tully since 2003, has opened up about his long-term relationship with partner Peter Eccleston — and revealed why marriage is not on the cards, even after 20 years together.
While Sean’s romantic life on the cobbles has been filled with heartbreak and chaos, Antony’s off-screen love story is the complete opposite. The actor and his partner, a prop buyer for the ITV soap, met behind the scenes on Coronation Street in the mid-2000s and have been inseparable ever since.
Two Decades of Love Without a Wedding
Antony and Peter have shared their lives for almost two decades, and though they exchanged rings in 2010 to mark their commitment, they’ve never felt the need to make it official.
In an earlier interview with The Mirror, Antony made it clear that marriage isn’t a priority for them.
“Why change something when we are so happy?” he said. “We’re an incredible team, and Peter brings out my best side. He’s always looking out for me when we’re out, and I look after him at home.”
Their relationship, built on quiet support and shared humour, has endured through the highs and lows of soap stardom — a rare success story in showbiz.
Rare Public Appearance Delights Fans
The usually private pair made a rare public appearance this week, attending the Pride of Britain Awards together. Peter shared a heartwarming selfie on Instagram of the couple looking dapper on the red carpet, surrounded by Coronation Street stars and Strictly Come Dancing judge Shirley Ballas.
Peter captioned the post:
“Huge congratulations to all the well-deserving winners at this year’s @prideofbritain.”
Fans flooded the comments with praise and admiration, celebrating the couple’s enduring love story.
Antony Cotton: From Queer As Folk to Corrie Icon
Before joining Coronation Street, Antony made waves in Queer As Folk and Absolutely Fabulous, carving a niche as one of Britain’s most recognizable TV personalities. As Sean Tully, he has been at the centre of some of the soap’s most memorable storylines — including Sean’s struggles with homelessness, his journey as a single dad to Dylan Wilson (Liam McCheyne), and his ill-fated romances with Marcus Dent (Charlie Condou) and Billy Mayhew (Daniel Brocklebank).
But while Sean’s love life remains unpredictable, Antony’s real-life romance stands as a picture of stability, mutual respect, and quiet happiness.
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“We Don’t Need a Piece of Paper”
Antony has made it clear that he and Peter don’t feel pressured to follow convention.
“He’s my best friend and my rock,” the actor once said. “We don’t need a piece of paper to prove anything. What we have works perfectly for us.”
With nearly 20 years together and no sign of slowing down, Antony and Peter are living proof that love doesn’t always need labels — or a wedding — to last.