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'Coronation Street' star Andy Whyment celebrates 20 years on ITV soap

Andy Whyment attends the the National Television Awards at 02 Arena on January 23, 2013 in London, England.  (Photo by Dave M. Benett/Getty Images)
Andy Whyment attends the the National Television Awards at 02 Arena on January 23, 2013 in London, England. (Photo by Dave M. Benett/Getty Images)

Andy Whyment has celebrated 20 years of playing Kirk Sutherland on Coronation Street.

The actor shared to Instagram on Thursday 22 October that it was in fact two decades to the day since he made his debut on the cobbles in 2000.

Sharing a throwback photo of himself outside the Rovers Return pub, he wrote: "It’s been 20 years to the day since my first ever episode as Kirk on @coronationstreet it’s been an absolute honour to be a part of this incredible show that I’ve been a fan of from being a kid for so many years.

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"I love playing Kirk and hope to do so for many more years #corriefamily."

He signed up to the long-running soap when he was just 19 years old, and having also enjoyed small parts in ITV dramas Heartbeat and Where the Heart Is.

The star also memorably played Darren Sinclair-Jones on The Royle Family, the friend of Ralf Little's Antony Royle.

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Although Whyment has had a consistent presence on the soap over the years, he has no desire to take centre stage in a major storyline.

Last year, he said in an interview with The Mirror: "I’m happy to do what I do. I don’t want a massive story-line. I love playing Kirk. He’s one of those characters who floats about, but is never heavily involved."

He has also taken part in a number of reality shows, including Soapstar Superstar and most recently 2019's I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here! where he came runner-up to EastEnders' Jacqueline Jossa who was crowned Queen of the Jungle.

Andy Whyment (pictured with Richard Fleeshman) has been on the soap since he was a teenager. (Photo by Steve Parsons - PA Images/PA Images via Getty Images)
Andy Whyment (pictured with Richard Fleeshman) has been on the soap since he was a teenager. (Photo by Steve Parsons - PA Images/PA Images via Getty Images)

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Outside of his TV career, Whyment is a father to son Thomas, 12, and daughter Hollie, 10, who he shares with wife Nicola.

It's a special anniversary for the soap this year too as Corrie will have been on air for 60 years in December.

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