Andy Whyment has reportedly penned a new deal keeping him on Coronation Street for at least another year.
The 40-year-old has played the role of loveable dope Kirk Sutherland - husband of Beth (Lisa George) and brother of Maria (Samia Longchambon) - for almost 21 years.
According to The Sun, Sutherland has now penned another 12-month deal - the maximum contract length offered by the show - for a six-figure salary.
"Andy just loves Corrie. It is in his blood and he never wants to go anywhere else," a source told the newspaper.
"Lots of other actors get itchy feet and want to go on to do other stuff and some think they want to star in 'higher quality' telly.
"But for Andrew, there is no higher-quality telly. It's the nation's favourite soap – a national institution that's been on the box for 60 years, so why would he want to go anywhere else?
"He told the execs he'd sign for life if they'd let him!"
The news comes after Dame Maureen Lipman, who plays Evelyn Plummer, revealed that she too has signed up for another year on the soap.
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