The Coronation Street stars who are gay in real life
Coronation Street has featured prominent gay and bisexual characters since Todd Grimshaw's storyline in 2003 — and in several cases, the actors portraying those characters are openly gay themselves.
Antony Cotton
Antony Cotton has played barman and perennial optimist Sean Tully since 2003. Cotton was already known for his role in Russell T Davies' groundbreaking Queer as Folk (1999). Sean was the first character to arrive on the cobbles as openly gay from day one, and Cotton's casting was reportedly suggested by Coronation Street creator Tony Warren himself. Cotton has been one of the show's longest-serving current cast members.
Daniel Brocklebank
Daniel Brocklebank joined the cast in 2014 as Reverend Billy Mayhew. Billy became one of the show's central characters, involved in major storylines including addiction, the death of his partner Paul Foreman, and his role as a foster parent. Brocklebank is openly gay and has spoken publicly about the importance of authentic representation on screen. He appeared on the show through to 2026.
Charlie Condou
Charlie Condou played Marcus Dent, a nurse and Sean Tully's love interest, between 2007 and 2014 (with breaks). Off screen, Condou is a prominent LGBT rights activist and columnist. He and his husband Cameron Laux have two children. Condou has written extensively about same-sex parenting and has used his public profile to advocate for equality.
Julie Goodyear
Julie Goodyear, who played the iconic Bet Lynch/Gilroy from 1966 to 1995, publicly identified as bisexual in her autobiography. While Bet was not written as a queer character, Goodyear's openness about her sexuality was notable given the era in which she was one of British television's biggest stars.
It's worth noting that several other Corrie actors who play gay characters are straight — including Peter Ash (Paul Foreman) and Gareth Pierce (Todd Grimshaw). The show's approach has been to cast based on acting ability regardless of sexuality, which has occasionally sparked debate but remains ITV's stated policy.