Actor Liam McCheyne was paying tribute to on-screen dad Antony Cotton

Coronation Street star Liam McCheyne has been flooded with messages after telling his co-star ‘thank you for everything’. The actor was paying tribute to on-screen dad Antony Cotton as he celebrated his birthday.

Taking to Instagram on Monday (August 5), Liam, who is known for playing Dylan Wilson in the ITV soap, shared a picture of himself and the Sean Tully star taken on the cobbles to mark his return four years ago.

Alongside it, the young actor gushed: “Wishing a very happy birthday to @antonycotton. Thank you for everything you’ve done for me. For being my first mentor in this industry. I owe you a lot. Hope you have a great day!!”

And Corrie fans were quick to respond to the post to share their birthday wishes for the soap star. @spider_zo_01 said: “Happy Birthday @antonycotton!! Have a great day celebrating.” @evielikesbluepeter commented: “Happy birthday, @antonycotton! Hope you have a lovely day.”

@wickedchicksrule wrote: “Happy birthday @antonycotton. You haven’t aged a day.” @ronmacmccullock added: “Happy birthday Antony and hope you are having a good day and living the dream.”

It’s been a few years since Antony spoke about the special reason Liam reprised the role of Dylan in Corrie. Sean’s son returned to Weatherfield in 2020, a decade after Dylan was last seen on screen, but had been regularly mentioned.

Liam returned to the role of Dylan a decade after he was first cast in the role alongside his twin brother Connor. And at the time, Antony revealed the reason Liam has agreed to come back to the street and why it was the right call.

“For me, there was only ever going to be one boy that was going to play him and that was going to be either Liam or Connor,” he said. “Because I knew them from when they were two-and-a-half, three and I kept in touch with them. So, I have seen them grow up.”

Antony explained that Liam is the one who has continued to act, appearing in ITV’s The Bay and Last Tango in Halifax. “It’s a real thrill for me because I have watched them grow up,” Antony says of having the teenager back on set.

“I found photos of us when we were younger, them a lot younger and I look extraordinarily different and they were tiny little babas. It’s been a real lovely full circle for them. I love them because I have watched them grow up. And Liam is the one that has come back and