Coronation Street actor Anthony Cotton has signed a six figure contract on the ITV show.
The star, who plays the character of Sean Tully on the soap, will stay in Weatherfield until 2013 and has been promised a number of top storylines.
Cotton told The Sunday Mirror: "I have signed a new deal and I'm really pleased. I love working on Coronation Street, it's the best job in the world."
A soap source added: "He is one of the best-loved characters on the Street and it would be a duller place without him."
Cotton has reportedly been inundated with offers of stage and screen work in recent weeks, leaving producers worried that he would leave the soap to star in the West End.
Soap bosses drew up a new 12 month contract and offered the actor a significant pay rise.
