Antony Cotton has admitted working with actors who were “probably alcoholics”, citing a previous colleague who could not work after lunch “because he would arrive drunk”.

The actor and comedian, 51, has spent decades in the entertainment industry and is best known for playing Sean Tully in Coronation Street and Alexander Perry in Queer As Folk.

Speaking on ITV’s Good Morning Britain, the soap star discussed his views on drinking during the workday.

“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 continued: “If you work with (Dame) Judi Dench, at four o’clock you have sandwiches and champagne.

“It used to be that on film and television sets that you would have a tea break.

“The afternoon tea break would be sandwiches and whatever but if you work with certain people, they may have a glass of champagne.

“But I have never done it.”

Recalling experiences with former colleagues, Cotton said: “I have worked with a couple of actors that were probably alcoholics, let’s just say that.

“Not on the show that I’m on now, but in my past I worked with one actor that you couldn’t film after four o’clock because he was drunk.

“And another actor – you couldn’t schedule their call time after lunch because he would arrive drunk.”

The discussion came amid recent reports that Prime Minister Andy Burnham had a “nerve settler” pint at a pub before his Cambridge University admissions interview.

While Cotton defended the use of alcohol as “part of people’s social lives” and something that can be used to give people courage, he asserted that he would “never ever” drink at work.

Beyond his long-running role as bartender Tully in Coronation Street, Cotton has appeared in shows such as Absolutely Fabulous and Having It Off.

The TV star 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.