Two of Coronation Street‘s most famous faces have been named in the Queen’s Birthday Honours for the Platinum Jubilee.
Helen Worth and Antony Cotton have both been made MBEs.
71-year-old actress Helen Worth has been recognised for her services to drama after having played the legendary Corrie character of Gail Platt since 1974, while 46-year-old Antony Cotton – who is best known for playing the character of Sean Tully on the long-running, Manchester-based soap – has been recognised for his services to the British Army, personnel and veterans.
Helen told ITV Granada that it is “truly wonderful” to have been honoured with an MBE, adding that it was “a huge surprise” to learn that she had even been nominated.
She continued: “To be honoured for doing something I have enjoyed so much for so many years is truly wonderful, and I am particularly delighted to receive this award in the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee year.”
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Helen has been a fan favourite on the ITV soap since she first appeared on screens nearly 50 years ago, and her character has been the centre of countless gripping storylines ever since.
Outside of acting, Helen is a patron for the international wildlife charity, Born Free Foundation, and has played an active part in campaigning and working to stop animal suffering and abuse for the past two decades.
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She is also an ambassador for the charity ActionAid.
Helen Worth and Antony Cotton have both been made MBEs / Credit: ITV
Antony Cotton may have a racked up stellar list of acting credits to his name over his career, having also notably played Alexander Perry in the popular series, Queer As Folk, made appearances on Absolutely Fabulous, and being known as a comedian and talkshow host too – but its his charitable efforts working with “our amazing Armed Forces” that have seen him be honoured this year.
The Bury-born actor has been involved with the military community since 2008.
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Since then, he has become a celebrity ambassador for military charity the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association (SSAFA), is a patron of Help For Heroes, and has worked alongside the British Army on its mental health and resilience training programme, OPSMART.
Antony says he is “completely overwhelmed” at being made an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours this year.
I am completely overwhelmed by the MBE, given to me in the Queen’s platinum jubilee Birthday Honours. Working with our amazing Armed Forces, in particular the @BritishArmy, has truly been the greatest honour of my life. I share this with all our service personnel and veterans
He told ITV Granada: “Working with our amazing armed forces, in particular the Army, has truly been the greatest honour of my life [and] to have a soldier, of any age or rank, come to me and entrust me with their stories, their experiences and especially their worries, has been life changing.
“When I am asked why I spend my spare time helping with the welfare of our soldiers and veterans, the answer is a simple one – I feel it is my duty, and it has genuinely become my life’s work.”
He continued: “I share this award with every single person who has ever fought for our country – I am incredibly humbled and honoured to be in your company.”
John Whiston, Managing Director of Continuing Drama and Head of ITV in the North, said that everyone on Coronation Street is “so pleased” that two of its brightest stars have been honoured this year, and that it is “richly deserved” for both of them.
Featured Image – ITV
News
Family pay tribute to father-of-two killed in Rochdale plane crash
Daisy Jackson
The family of a man killed in a light aircraft crash in Rochdale have paid tribute to a ‘deeply loving father and devoted husband’.
36-year-old Arian Abbasi was one of two men killed when an aircraft crashed into farmland in Littleborough in Rochdale last week, after travelling from Birmingham.
Emergency services rushed to the scene shortly after 11am on Tuesday 3 February, but sadly pronounced both men dead at the scene.
It’s believed there was no one else on board the aircraft, and there were no reported injuries on the ground.
Now, Arian’s family have issued a moving tribute to him. He was a pilot from Harrow in Greater London.
They described him as being a ‘deeply loving’ family man, whose passion was flying.
He was about to embark on a new chapter with a commercial airline in just a few weeks’ time.
His family said: “He lived his life for his family and friends, giving them his constant love, strength, and support.
“Flying was his passion, and he was on the brink of beginning an exciting new chapter with a commercial airline on 23 February; a dream he had worked toward with immense pride and determination.”
GMP investigations are now focused on finding part of the parachute system which contains propellant and hasn’t yet been located.
Finding the device has been ‘very difficult’ due to the nature of the terrain and the wide area over which it may have travelled.
It measures approximately 10 cm in diameter and 30 cm long and has a red anodised finish. It weighs less than 2 kg. It may have a silver metal collar attached at one end.
GMP said: “Please do not handle the device if you see it. If discovered, contact the police immediately via 101 or our Live Chat at gmp.police.uk, quoting log 1056 of 03/02/26.”
Homeless children in Greater Manchester will now get free bus travel to and from school
Emily Sergeant
Children who are currently living in temporary housing in Greater Manchester are set to get extra support with school travel.
In a move that was announced by Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) at the end of last week, and following years of campaigning, homeless children living in temporary accommodation are now set to get free school travel on all Bee Network buses.
TfGM says it understands that some children end up a long way from their school when placed into temporary accommodation, and this leaves parents or carers with the difficult choice of either having to move them to a closer school, which ultimately disrupts their education, or having to pay unexpected travel costs.
While the Greater Manchester Strategy – which is the plan for the city region’s next decade – commits to reducing the number of families and children in temporary accommodation, and measures are also being taken to make sure residents have the support they need to ‘access, improve, and retain’ a decent, affordable home, this doesn’t tackle the immediate issue.
Homeless children in Greater Manchester will now get free school bus travel / Credit: TfGM
So, to help those families when they ‘need it most’, free bus travel to and from school is set to be provided, as subject to approval of this year’s Combined Authority budget.
The move comes after Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham asked TfGM last year to look at options to help with the cost of travel.
“Using our locally-controlled Bee Network buses to support families when they need it most is the right thing to do,” Andy Burnham commented.
Of course, the long-term solution is no kids in TA and we’re working with our councils to achieve this in the next few years.
We can do it because GM will soon hit the point where we are building more council and social homes every year than we’re losing through right-to-buy. 👍🏻
“A move into temporary accommodation is often a massive upheaval for families and can be a worrying time. With this measure, the cost of travel to school will be one less thing for families to worry about.
“It will mean parents and carers don’t have to choose between an extra demand on their household budget and keeping their children with friends and teachers they know and trust.”
Emily Sergeant -
3rd June 2022 
