Chloe O'brien
31-10-2005, 10:06
CORRIE'S Antony Cotton has left his boyfriend and is seeing the nephew of former Dr Who Christopher Eccleston.He was spotted last week in a clinch with Peter Eccleston in a car during Manchester's rush-hour.
And he has moved out of the home he shared with Damian Gray, his partner for 10 years.Damian confirmed yesterday: "It's true we're no longer an item."
Antony, 30, has been a huge hit since joining Corrie a year ago as gay factory worker Sean Tully.Office worker Damian often collected him from Granada's Manchester studios after filming.
But their relationship began to falter as Antony's fame grew - and Damian has not been seen on set for months.Antony is now spending a lot of time with Peter, an assistant props buyer at Granada who often pops out to buy food and drink for the cast at a local Sainsbury's.
They have tried to keep it under wraps by meeting secretly at night.
But Antony, who won soap's Most Popular Newcomer Award last week, and Peter have been less guarded of late.Friends say they are "like a couple of lovestruck teenagers".
Last week, Peter drove to meet Antony at a trendy furniture shop in Manchester city centre a few minutes away from the studios. A witness said: "They came out just before 4pm. People recognised Antony as Sean from Corrie and saw him sort of shepherd this lad across the road.
"They held hands briefly as they got to the car and sat down inside together, Antony in the passenger seat with a brochure from the shop."I was at the bus stop right next to their car and couldn't help but watch what they were up to.
"Suddenly the driver reclined his seat to a full horizontal position. People were walking by."The witness said Antony then reclined his seat in the silver Peugeot 206, adding: "They were very touchy feely and tickling each other.
"They were laughing and smiling and after a couple of minutes they both sat up and leaned in to each other before kissing several times."A couple of kisses were full on the lips and the rest on the cheeks and face.
"At one stage Antony held his friend's face with both hands and kissed him. They seemed to be enjoying themselves and were oblivious to the fact they were in the city centre in rush hour."A friend of Peter's added: "He can't keep quiet about what's going on with him and Antony. People have started to talk about them."
Antony was still thinking of his former lover when he picked up his soap gong at the Royal Albert Hall, at which his lover's uncle Christopher won the Best Actor gong.As he walked back to his seat, Antony, who has always refused to disclose his former lover's identity, said "thanks Damian".
The couple lived in two houses during their relationship, the last a mid-terraced home in Ramsbottom near Bury, Greater Manchester.Softly-spoken Damian was there yesterday. But while he confirmed the split, he added: "I'm not interested in talking about it, thank you."
A Coronation Street spokeswoman said yesterday: "Antony has been friends with Peter for some years."As far as his relationship with Damian is concerned he has never spoken about it and he has no comment to make."
And he has moved out of the home he shared with Damian Gray, his partner for 10 years.Damian confirmed yesterday: "It's true we're no longer an item."
Antony, 30, has been a huge hit since joining Corrie a year ago as gay factory worker Sean Tully.Office worker Damian often collected him from Granada's Manchester studios after filming.
But their relationship began to falter as Antony's fame grew - and Damian has not been seen on set for months.Antony is now spending a lot of time with Peter, an assistant props buyer at Granada who often pops out to buy food and drink for the cast at a local Sainsbury's.
They have tried to keep it under wraps by meeting secretly at night.
But Antony, who won soap's Most Popular Newcomer Award last week, and Peter have been less guarded of late.Friends say they are "like a couple of lovestruck teenagers".
Last week, Peter drove to meet Antony at a trendy furniture shop in Manchester city centre a few minutes away from the studios. A witness said: "They came out just before 4pm. People recognised Antony as Sean from Corrie and saw him sort of shepherd this lad across the road.
"They held hands briefly as they got to the car and sat down inside together, Antony in the passenger seat with a brochure from the shop."I was at the bus stop right next to their car and couldn't help but watch what they were up to.
"Suddenly the driver reclined his seat to a full horizontal position. People were walking by."The witness said Antony then reclined his seat in the silver Peugeot 206, adding: "They were very touchy feely and tickling each other.
"They were laughing and smiling and after a couple of minutes they both sat up and leaned in to each other before kissing several times."A couple of kisses were full on the lips and the rest on the cheeks and face.
"At one stage Antony held his friend's face with both hands and kissed him. They seemed to be enjoying themselves and were oblivious to the fact they were in the city centre in rush hour."A friend of Peter's added: "He can't keep quiet about what's going on with him and Antony. People have started to talk about them."
Antony was still thinking of his former lover when he picked up his soap gong at the Royal Albert Hall, at which his lover's uncle Christopher won the Best Actor gong.As he walked back to his seat, Antony, who has always refused to disclose his former lover's identity, said "thanks Damian".
The couple lived in two houses during their relationship, the last a mid-terraced home in Ramsbottom near Bury, Greater Manchester.Softly-spoken Damian was there yesterday. But while he confirmed the split, he added: "I'm not interested in talking about it, thank you."
A Coronation Street spokeswoman said yesterday: "Antony has been friends with Peter for some years."As far as his relationship with Damian is concerned he has never spoken about it and he has no comment to make."