Antony Cotton has revealed he has worked with actors who were “probably alcoholics”, recalling one colleague who could not work after lunch because he would arrive drunk.
The actor and comedian, 51, is best known for playing Sean Tully in Coronation Street and Alexander Perry in Queer As Folk. He shared his views on drinking during the workday on ITV’s Good Morning Britain.
No Drinking at Work
“I would never, in a million years, ever drink at work. It would never happen,” Cotton said.
Reflecting on the “old school” drinking culture among actors, he added: “If you work with (Dame) Judi Dench, at four o’clock you have sandwiches and champagne.” He noted that afternoon tea breaks on film and television sets used to include sandwiches and, for some, a glass of champagne, but he never took part.
Past Colleagues
Recalling experiences with former colleagues, Cotton said: “I have worked with a couple of actors that were probably alcoholics, let’s just say that.” He explained that one actor could not be filmed after four o’clock because he was drunk, and another could not be scheduled after lunch for the same reason.
The discussion came amid reports that Prime Minister Andy Burnham had a “nerve settler” pint at a pub before his Cambridge University admissions interview. While Cotton defended alcohol as “part of people’s social lives” and something that can give people courage, he insisted he would “never ever” drink at work.
Career Highlights
Beyond his role as bartender Tully in Coronation Street, Cotton has appeared in shows such as Absolutely Fabulous and Having It Off. He has also featured on game shows including Family Fortunes, I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! and Dancing On Ice, and briefly hosted his own teatime chat show.
He was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire in 2022 for services to the British Army, personnel and veterans.
