Huge Coronation Street star’s future in the soap revealed
I’M A Celebrity star Andy Whyment has confirmed his future on Coronation Street after leaving the South Africa camp on Monday night’s show.
The actor has played Kirk Sutherland for 23 years but took time out to film the all stars special for ITV in September.
He was forced to leave camp after just seven nights after losing in a head-to-head Survival Trial – but was gagging to return home to Manchester and get back to work on the soap.
Andy, 42, said in an exclusive chat: “I’ve seen a lot of people come and go, thinking they’re going to go on to bigger and better things but Corrie for me is my number one, it always has and always will be.
“I grew up watching it as a kid and when I drive up to those barriers in the morning and they lift them up, I think ‘I’m still working on Coronation Street’.
“If I’d told myself growing up I’d be there 23 years, it’s amazing and touch wood many more years to come.
“I have a great work life balance, I go in, do my job and I love the banter that we have on set and long may it continue.”
Andy chatted in the Kruger National Park camp to ex-EastEnders Joe Swash and Dean Gaffney about their soap exits.
And it made Andy feel even more grateful for his work with Corrie.
So does Andy think he could one day rival Street original Ken Barlow, played by actor William Roache?
Andy laughed: “There will never be another Ken Barlow! Bill’s been there 60 odd years.
“But I’ve got no intentions of leaving, I’ll stay in Corrie as long as they’ll have me and hopefully that’ll be many more years to come.
“Growing up I used to love Jack and Vera, they are my favourite characters, so for me it was amazing, I’d pinch myself walking on set thinking I’d got a scene with Bill and Liz – Jack and Vera.
“There’s been a lot of iconic characters over the years where you think, how is Corrie going to continue when these go, but Corrie is a machine and is still being watched by millions of people.”
Meanwhile Andy has opened up on what the future has in store for Kirk after his dramatic split with wife Beth after her betrayal with old flame Marco.
And he has shared his feelings on the explosive rows in camp with Janice Dickinson.