Sean Tully
Encyclopedia
Sean Tully, is a fictional character
in the UK television ITV
soap opera
, Coronation Street
. Portrayed by actor
Antony Cotton
, the character first appeared on screen during the episode airing on 13 July 2003. Sean works as a factory machinist, and as a part-time barman in the Rovers Return Inn
.
(Sean Wilson)'s fellow-nurse Karl Foster (Chris Finch
), who, unknown to Martin, is gay.
The character is seen again in April 2004 when Karl and Todd Grimshaw
(Bruno Langley
) have a night out on Manchester's
Canal Street
. In August, after Todd has left the Street, Sean comes to Coronation Street
, desperate for somewhere to live. Todd's mother, Eileen Grimshaw
(Sue Cleaver
), likes him and offers him a place to stay. Her other son, Jason Grimshaw
(Ryan Thomas
), is not pleased. When Eileen and Jason fall out over Todd leaving, Sean moves out briefly while they rebuild their relationship, but later moves back in.
Sean is a stereotypical
gay
character, who has had several brief and shallow relationships during his time on the Street; one of these was with vet Tim Whitein 2005. Sean works at Underworld, where he has made friends with Fiz Brown
(Jennie McAlpine
) and Kelly Crabtree
(Tupele Dorgu
). Kelly sees Sean's homosexuality as a challenge, and tries to seduce him, but is accidentally bruised by Sean when he pushes her away. Angrily, she tells people he has hit her and he loses his job at Underworld. His boss Danny Baldwin
(Bradley Walsh) (whose nickname for Sean is "Mincemeat") guesses the truth and gives Sean back his job. Sean and Kelly make up their quarrel.
In 2006, Sean meets his "father" Brian (Tim Healy
). He and Sean's mother split when Sean was ten. On Father's Day
, Brian tells Sean that he is not his biological father, confessing that Maureen (Susan Brown
), Sean's mother, had an affair while Brian was away at sea. She never told the other man about Sean.
Violet Wilson
(Jenny Platt
) becomes Sean's closest friend, and she asks Sean to spend time with her boyfriend, Jamie Baldwin
(Rupert Hill
), to find out whether Jamie is seeing someone else. Sean is shocked to discover that Jamie is in love with his stepmother, Frankie Baldwin (Debra Stephenson
). Sean supports both Violet and Jamie when Violet ends their relationship.
In February 2007, Michelle Connor
(Kym Marsh
) introduces Sean to her new boyfriend, Sonny Dhillon (Pal Aron
). Sean and Sonny are former lovers, but Michelle is unaware of Sonny's bisexuality. When Sean and Sonny rekindle their relationship, they are seen by Jamie and Steve McDonald (Simon Gregson
). Michelle's brothers, Liam
(Rob James-Collier
) and Paul Connor (Sean Gallagher), question Sean about Steve's claim and insist that he tell Michelle, ending her relationship with Sonny.
In June 2007, Sean supports Violet's strong desire to have a baby and agrees to be the father of her child, which is conceived by self-administered artificial insemination. Violet has been told that her chances of conceiving were reduced following an ectopic pregnancy, but she becomes pregnant and Sean accompanies her to her 12-week scan. Sean and the sonographer
, Marcus Dent
(Charlie Condou
), flirt and soon begin dating. They hit a rough patch when Sean tricks Marcus into telling him Violet is expecting a baby boy. Violet had not wanted to know the baby's gender. When Violet finds out from Jason, she is furious and threatens to report Marcus. She later gets back together with Jamie, and argues constantly with Sean during the remainder of her pregnancy as she does not want him to take an active role in the baby's upbringing. However, Sean lends Violet and Jamie money for a flat deposit.
on 22 February 2008. Jamie has just left for London and Sean goes after him, but fails to bring him back. Sean supports Violet as she gives birth to their son, Dylan. As he is born, Sean says that he was the first person his son had seen. He bonds with Dylan while Violet is in hospital, upsetting both her and Jamie. Sean suggests calling him "Dylan Wilson-Tully" and asks Violet to put his name on the birth certificate. Violet ignores both suggestions, names her son "Dylan James Wilson", and puts Jamie's name on the birth certificate.
On 29 February, Jamie, Violet and Dylan move to London. Sean refuses to believe they have gone forever and blames himself. Violet even throws her mobile away so Sean can't contact her. Sean asks Marcus to check hospital records to find them but Marcus refuses, saying he would lose his job if he was found out.
When Sean is jealous of Marcus staying with an ex in London, it becomes clear that it is time to move on. On 3 September 2008, at a party at Liam's, Sean falls for Tom Kerrigan (Philip McGinley
), a cousin of Liam's. Sean asks Tom if he minds if he kisses him, Tom declines and Sean storms off. Nevertheless, Sean and Marcus split up a couple of days later.
On 3 July 2009, Sean meets a man called Leon (Andrew Langtree
) at the gym, and is soon attracted to him, however, Leon is more interested in Jason.
In 2010, Sean decides that he wants to track down Violet and Dylan, as his son would now be two years old. He finds Violet via a social networking site and sets up a page using Liz McDonald
(Beverley Callard
)'s identity (Violet would have worked for Liz during her time on the Street). However, the scheme backfires when Liz finds out what Sean has done and she fires him from the Rovers. She later softens towards him and reinstates him. She also has a word with Violet on Sean's behalf, and she agrees to Sean visiting her and Dylan in London.
In 2011, Sean and Marcus will reconcile and have a civil partnership on Coronation Street, the first such event in the programme's history.
has won a number of awards since the character's first appearance, including a prestigious National Television Award. In 2006 he won an award for Funniest Character at the Inside Soap Awards along with Best Actor at the British Soap Awards in 2007.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
in the UK television ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
, Coronation Street
Coronation Street
Coronation Street is a British soap opera set in Weatherfield, a fictional town in Greater Manchester based on Salford. Created by Tony Warren, Coronation Street was first broadcast on 9 December 1960...
. Portrayed by actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
Antony Cotton
Antony Cotton
Antony Cotton is an English actor and singer best known for his roles in Coronation Street and the original UK version of Queer as Folk.-Early and personal life:...
, the character first appeared on screen during the episode airing on 13 July 2003. Sean works as a factory machinist, and as a part-time barman in the Rovers Return Inn
Rovers Return Inn
The Rovers Return Inn is a fictional public house on the long-running British soap opera Coronation Street. The Rovers Return occupies the corner of Coronation Street and Rosamund Street. Since the first episode it has been the principal setting in the show and many of its most memorable moments...
.
2004–07
Sean first appears in July 2003 at a hospital party. Sean's character is introduced as a friend of Martin PlattMartin Platt
Martin Platt is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera, Coronation Street, portrayed by Sean Wilson.-Departure:Actor Sean Wilson was axed from Coronation Street when a major storyline conference decided the character of Martin had been "played out". At the time, it was said that...
(Sean Wilson)'s fellow-nurse Karl Foster (Chris Finch
Chris Finch
Chris Finch is a character in the BBC comedy show, The Office. He is played by Ralph Ineson.Finch is an outside sales representative for the paper merchant Wernham Hogg, in whose Slough office the show is set, and as such is frequently on the road...
), who, unknown to Martin, is gay.
The character is seen again in April 2004 when Karl and Todd Grimshaw
Todd Grimshaw
Todd James Grimshaw is a fictional character from the British television soap opera Coronation Street, played by Bruno Langley. He originally appeared from 13 January 2001 till 22 September 2004 and returned for a brief stint in from 15 October 2007 till 7 November 2007...
(Bruno Langley
Bruno Langley
Bruno Langley is an English actor. He is best known for playing Todd Grimshaw in Coronation Street and Adam Mitchell in Doctor Who.- Early life :...
) have a night out on Manchester's
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
Canal Street
Canal Street (Manchester)
Canal Street, the centre of the Manchester Gay Village, is a street in Manchester city centre in North West England. The pedestrianised street, which runs along the west side of the Rochdale Canal, is lined with gay bars and restaurants...
. In August, after Todd has left the Street, Sean comes to Coronation Street
Coronation Street
Coronation Street is a British soap opera set in Weatherfield, a fictional town in Greater Manchester based on Salford. Created by Tony Warren, Coronation Street was first broadcast on 9 December 1960...
, desperate for somewhere to live. Todd's mother, Eileen Grimshaw
Eileen Grimshaw
Eileen Grimshaw, is a fictional character in the UK television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street. Portrayed by Sue Cleaver, the character first appeared onscreen during the episode airing on 3 May 2000....
(Sue Cleaver
Sue Cleaver
Sue Cleaver is an English actress. She is best known for her regular role in Coronation Street.She studied at the Manchester Metropolitan School of Theatre and her first television appearance was a small part in an episode of A Touch of Frost...
), likes him and offers him a place to stay. Her other son, Jason Grimshaw
Jason Grimshaw
Jason Grimshaw, is a fictional character in the UK television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street. Portrayed by actor Ryan Thomas, the character first appeared during the episode airing on 25 December 2000, when he comes looking for mother Eileen at the Battersbys' home.Jason is very much the...
(Ryan Thomas
Ryan Thomas
Ryan James Thomas and is an English actor who is currently starring as the character, Jason Grimshaw on ITV's Coronation Street.-Career:...
), is not pleased. When Eileen and Jason fall out over Todd leaving, Sean moves out briefly while they rebuild their relationship, but later moves back in.
Sean is a stereotypical
Stereotype
A stereotype is a popular belief about specific social groups or types of individuals. The concepts of "stereotype" and "prejudice" are often confused with many other different meanings...
gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
character, who has had several brief and shallow relationships during his time on the Street; one of these was with vet Tim Whitein 2005. Sean works at Underworld, where he has made friends with Fiz Brown
Fiz Brown
Fiona "Fiz" Stape is a fictional character from the British ITV1 soap opera Coronation Street, played by Jennie McAlpine. She made her first on-screen appearance on 20 April 2001. Initially appearing for five episodes, McAlpine's contract was soon extended and Fiz became a regular character...
(Jennie McAlpine
Jennie McAlpine
Jennie Elizabeth McAlpine is a British television actress and comedienne. She is best known for her role as Fiz Stape in the well known British soap opera Coronation Street.-Early life:...
) and Kelly Crabtree
Kelly Crabtree
Kelly Louise Crabtree is a fictional character from the UK television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street. Portrayed by actress Tupele Dorgu, the character first appeared onscreen during the episode airing on 6 September 2004....
(Tupele Dorgu
Tupele Dorgu
Tupele Dorgu is a British actress, best known for playing the role of Kelly Crabtree on the soap opera Coronation Street from 2004 to 2010....
). Kelly sees Sean's homosexuality as a challenge, and tries to seduce him, but is accidentally bruised by Sean when he pushes her away. Angrily, she tells people he has hit her and he loses his job at Underworld. His boss Danny Baldwin
Danny Baldwin
Daniel "Danny" Baldwin, is a fictional character in the UK television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street. Portrayed by actor Bradley Walsh, the character first appeared onscreen during the episode airing on 28 May 2004 and remained until his departure on 31 December 2006.-Creation and...
(Bradley Walsh) (whose nickname for Sean is "Mincemeat") guesses the truth and gives Sean back his job. Sean and Kelly make up their quarrel.
In 2006, Sean meets his "father" Brian (Tim Healy
Tim Healy (actor)
Timothy Malcolm Healy is an English actor. He is best known for playing Dennis Patterson in the television series Auf Wiedersehen, Pet. He is married to the actress Denise Welch.-Career:...
). He and Sean's mother split when Sean was ten. On Father's Day
Father's Day
Father's Day is a celebration honoring fathers and celebrating fatherhood, paternal bonds, and the influence of fathers in society. Many countries celebrate it on the third Sunday of June but it is also celebrated widely on other days...
, Brian tells Sean that he is not his biological father, confessing that Maureen (Susan Brown
Susan Brown (actress)
Susan Brown is a British actress of the stage and screen.-Theatre:She has appeared in numerous theatre productions including: The Wild Duck , Henry IV Parts 1 & 2, Playing with Fire, Cardiff East and The Hour We Knew Nothing Of Each Other, Easter, Romeo and Juliet, Richard III and Bad Weather...
), Sean's mother, had an affair while Brian was away at sea. She never told the other man about Sean.
Violet Wilson
Violet Wilson
Violet Wilson is a fictional character from the British soap opera Coronation Street. She was portrayed by Jenny Platt making her first onscreen appearance on 8 October 2004 and remained until 29 February 2008. Platt returned for one episode on 24 April 2011.-2004–11:Violet first appeared on the...
(Jenny Platt
Jenny Platt
Jenny Platt is an English actress best known for her role as Violet Wilson in the long running television soap Coronation Street. Her first appearance was on 8 October 2004....
) becomes Sean's closest friend, and she asks Sean to spend time with her boyfriend, Jamie Baldwin
Jamie Baldwin
James Andrew "Jamie" Baldwin is a fictional character in the British soap opera ITV Coronation Street, played by Rupert Hill. He first appeared in 2004 and left in 2008. In March 2011 it was announced that Jamie would return for one episode on 24 April 2011....
(Rupert Hill
Rupert Hill
Rupert Sinclair Hill is an English actor known for several former roles in UK soap operas.Rupert Hill started with small roles on television...
), to find out whether Jamie is seeing someone else. Sean is shocked to discover that Jamie is in love with his stepmother, Frankie Baldwin (Debra Stephenson
Debra Stephenson
Debra Stephenson is an English actress, comedian, impressionist and singer.-Career:At the age of fourteen Stephenson appeared on BBC TV's Opportunity Knocks, winning her way through to the All-Winners' Final, broadcast live from the London Palladium...
). Sean supports both Violet and Jamie when Violet ends their relationship.
In February 2007, Michelle Connor
Michelle Connor
Michelle Sinéad Connor is a fictional character in the UK television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street. Portrayed by actress Kym Marsh, the character first appeared onscreen during the episode airing on 3 April 2006...
(Kym Marsh
Kym Marsh
Kimberley Gail Marsh is an English actress and singer.- Early life :Marsh was born in Wigan, Greater Manchester and raised in Garswood, in the Metropolitan Borough of St Helens, Merseyside...
) introduces Sean to her new boyfriend, Sonny Dhillon (Pal Aron
Pal Aron
Pal Aron is a British actor, best known for playing Adam Osman in Casualty, Brandon Kane in The Bill, Jayesh Parekh and Sonny Dhillon in Coronation Street. Before turning professional he performed with the Theatre of the Unemployed in Birmingham...
). Sean and Sonny are former lovers, but Michelle is unaware of Sonny's bisexuality. When Sean and Sonny rekindle their relationship, they are seen by Jamie and Steve McDonald (Simon Gregson
Simon Gregson
Simon Gregson is an English actor. He is known for being a cast member of the British soap opera Coronation Street in which he has played Steve McDonald since 1989....
). Michelle's brothers, Liam
Liam Connor
Liam Barrington Connor is a fictional character from the British ITV1 soap opera Coronation Street, played by Rob James-Collier from 2006 to 2008.-Creation:...
(Rob James-Collier
Rob James-Collier
Robert James-Collier is a British actor and model. He is known for his roles as Liam Connor in Coronation Street and as Thomas on Downton Abbey.- Background :James-Collier was born in Stockport, Greater Manchester...
) and Paul Connor (Sean Gallagher), question Sean about Steve's claim and insist that he tell Michelle, ending her relationship with Sonny.
In June 2007, Sean supports Violet's strong desire to have a baby and agrees to be the father of her child, which is conceived by self-administered artificial insemination. Violet has been told that her chances of conceiving were reduced following an ectopic pregnancy, but she becomes pregnant and Sean accompanies her to her 12-week scan. Sean and the sonographer
Sonographer
Sonographers are diagnostic medical professionals who operate ultrasonic imaging devices to produce diagnostic images, scans, videos, or 3D volumes of anatomy and diagnostic data. Sonography requires specialized education and skills to view, analyze and modify the scan to optimize the information...
, Marcus Dent
Marcus Dent
Marcus Dent is a fictional character in the UK television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street. Portrayed by actor Charlie Condou, the character first appears on screen during the episode airing on 7 September 2007 and leaves during an episode airing on 5 September 2008 but returns on 24 April...
(Charlie Condou
Charlie Condou
Charlie Lomax David Condou is an English actor and Guardian columnist who is best known for his role as Marcus Dent in the British soap opera, Coronation Street....
), flirt and soon begin dating. They hit a rough patch when Sean tricks Marcus into telling him Violet is expecting a baby boy. Violet had not wanted to know the baby's gender. When Violet finds out from Jason, she is furious and threatens to report Marcus. She later gets back together with Jamie, and argues constantly with Sean during the remainder of her pregnancy as she does not want him to take an active role in the baby's upbringing. However, Sean lends Violet and Jamie money for a flat deposit.
2008—
Violet realises she is in labour at the Rovers'Rovers Return Inn
The Rovers Return Inn is a fictional public house on the long-running British soap opera Coronation Street. The Rovers Return occupies the corner of Coronation Street and Rosamund Street. Since the first episode it has been the principal setting in the show and many of its most memorable moments...
on 22 February 2008. Jamie has just left for London and Sean goes after him, but fails to bring him back. Sean supports Violet as she gives birth to their son, Dylan. As he is born, Sean says that he was the first person his son had seen. He bonds with Dylan while Violet is in hospital, upsetting both her and Jamie. Sean suggests calling him "Dylan Wilson-Tully" and asks Violet to put his name on the birth certificate. Violet ignores both suggestions, names her son "Dylan James Wilson", and puts Jamie's name on the birth certificate.
On 29 February, Jamie, Violet and Dylan move to London. Sean refuses to believe they have gone forever and blames himself. Violet even throws her mobile away so Sean can't contact her. Sean asks Marcus to check hospital records to find them but Marcus refuses, saying he would lose his job if he was found out.
When Sean is jealous of Marcus staying with an ex in London, it becomes clear that it is time to move on. On 3 September 2008, at a party at Liam's, Sean falls for Tom Kerrigan (Philip McGinley
Philip McGinley
Philip McGinley is an English actor, best known for playing the role Tom Kerrigan in Coronation Street.- Biography :...
), a cousin of Liam's. Sean asks Tom if he minds if he kisses him, Tom declines and Sean storms off. Nevertheless, Sean and Marcus split up a couple of days later.
On 3 July 2009, Sean meets a man called Leon (Andrew Langtree
Andrew Langtree
-Biography:Andrew Langtree is a stage and screen actor, born 1977, St Helens, Merseyside. In 1998, he graduated amongst the first alumni of Sir Paul McCartney's Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts...
) at the gym, and is soon attracted to him, however, Leon is more interested in Jason.
In 2010, Sean decides that he wants to track down Violet and Dylan, as his son would now be two years old. He finds Violet via a social networking site and sets up a page using Liz McDonald
Liz McDonald
Elizabeth "Liz" Jayne McDonald is a fictional character in the UK television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street. Portrayed by actress Beverley Callard, the character first appeared onscreen during the episode airing on 27 October 1989 and remained on the series until Callard opted to leave in 1998...
(Beverley Callard
Beverley Callard
Beverley Jane McEwan is an English actress, best known for her role as Liz McDonald in ITV's Coronation Street, and Flo Henshaw in BBC Three's Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps.-Early life:Beverley Jane Moxon was born in Leeds on 28 March 1957 to Clive and Mavis Moxon...
)'s identity (Violet would have worked for Liz during her time on the Street). However, the scheme backfires when Liz finds out what Sean has done and she fires him from the Rovers. She later softens towards him and reinstates him. She also has a word with Violet on Sean's behalf, and she agrees to Sean visiting her and Dylan in London.
In 2011, Sean and Marcus will reconcile and have a civil partnership on Coronation Street, the first such event in the programme's history.
Reception
Antony CottonAntony Cotton
Antony Cotton is an English actor and singer best known for his roles in Coronation Street and the original UK version of Queer as Folk.-Early and personal life:...
has won a number of awards since the character's first appearance, including a prestigious National Television Award. In 2006 he won an award for Funniest Character at the Inside Soap Awards along with Best Actor at the British Soap Awards in 2007.
External links
- Sean Tully at Coronation StreetCoronation StreetCoronation Street is a British soap opera set in Weatherfield, a fictional town in Greater Manchester based on Salford. Created by Tony Warren, Coronation Street was first broadcast on 9 December 1960...
(itvITVITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
)