Antony Cotton
Age: 36
Date of Birth: 5th August 1975
Phobias: Flying, Heights, and Claustrophobia
Missing any special occasions? “The filming of Katherine Kelly’s final scene in Coronation Street and her leaving do.”
Relationship status: “I never discuss my private life”.

Coronation Street star Antony Cotton has undergone therapy and hypnotherapy sessions to help him conquer his fears in the jungle.
The popular actor – who plays Sean Tully in the ITV1 soap – says he is so scared of flying, heights and claustrophobia, he sought professional help before going on I’m A Celebrity….

The 36-year-old star admits: “I have a morbid fear of flying. I don’t like heights and I am claustrophobic. I have had hypnotherapy and I have also been to therapy to face my fears. The therapy was amazing even though in the days leading up to going in the jungle, I did have moments where I wondered why on earth I had said yes! But life is to live and so I think ‘why not do it.’

“Doing this show is a once in a lifetime opportunity and I am hoping it will make me face up to my fears.”

The actor reveals his friends have questioned why he is taking part says Antony giggling. “I think my character, Sean, would probably react in the same way as everyone else has. They all keep asking ‘are you mental?’! But I am hoping I will come out at the end and think ‘well that was an adventure.”

As well as entertaining his fellow campers, Antony is also hoping to rustle up a few delicious meals for them. “I am a good cook,” he reveals. “I’d also like to think I am a good shoulder to cry on. I am really looking forward to meeting new people and making some nice friends.
“I am practical too. I am a leader and I like to make sure things are done in the right way.”

He doesn’t view himself as argumentative, but the TV actor, who has also starred in Queer As Folk, admits his worse nightmare would be if there were rude contestants in the jungle. “I don’t like it when people argue,” he confesses. “I don’t like stupid arguments. My worst-case scenario is being with someone who is a bigot. That would really upset me.”

Although he does have a lot of fears, he hopes he won’t react in the same way to the trials as last year’s contestant Gillian McKeith. “The whole attraction for me is the unknown,” he explains. “I have no idea how I am going to cope with it. We will just have to see what happens.
“There is nothing worse than being hungry”.

Antony is keen to stress that his decision to take part in I’m A Celebrity definitely does not mean he is quitting his role as Sean in Coronation Street. “Absolutely not,” he says. “Coronation Street is very special and I love being in the soap.

“I would never have done this without the blessing of Corrie. They have allowed this to happen.

“I have a lovely house and job and I am really happy. If anything else happens, then that is a bonus.”

The fact that he is so used to working with TV cameras on the soap will hopefully, says Antony, help him in the jungle. “I am probably more used to it than anyone,” he adds. “That side of things will be fine.

“I have no idea what it will be like, however, being me, rather than my soap character, Sean. I am a very private person and I never talk about my private life in public.”

Aside from missing the final scene and leaving do of his close Corrie pal Katherine Kelly, Antony says he is praying he will also not miss a meeting to discuss how the soap will bid farewell to Betty Driver, who sadly died last month (October). Says the actor: “Katherine is filming her last scene and then having her leaving do. I am sad I won’t be there for that. They are also going to plan a send-off for Betty. I am keeping everything crossed I will be there for that.”

As for what he will miss the most when he is in the jungle, Antony admits he will find leaving his home and creature comforts behind tough. “I love my house,” he adds. “There is this popular misconception about me that I am always out partying. But that isn’t me. I am never happier than when I am sat at home watching the TV…!”