Soapstar Superstar

Friday 6 January 2006, ITV
Soap stars sing live and compete for cash for the charity of their choice.

A viewer vote will decide who sings in the studio and who sings the shower.
Hosted by Fern Britton and Ben Shephard with judges including Cilla Black and US talent manager Billy Sammeth.
An ITV2 spinoff, Soapstar Bonus Track, will show the acts during the rehearsals and get post-performance reaction.
The contestants are Nicholas Bailey (Dr Antony Trueman, EastEnders), Richard Fleeshman (Craig Harris, Coronation Street), Michael Greco (Beppe di Marco, EastEnders), Shobna Gulati (Sunita Alahan, Coronation Street), Lee Otway (Bombhead, Hollyoaks), Roxanne Pallett (Jo Stiles, Emmerdale), Lucy Pargeter (Chastity Dingle, Emmerdale), Wendi Peters, (Cilla Battersby-Brown, Coronation Street), Andy Whyment (Kirk Sutherland, Coronation Street), Sammy Winward (Katie Sugden, Emmerdale)

This is Bolton - Brought to you by the Bolton Evening News

Andy will Carry On back to the Street
Tuesday 21 October 2003 12:42

CORRIE favourite Andy Whyment has turned down a part in the latest Carry On film.
The 22-year-old Bradshaw actor was offered a part in Carry On London, the latest in the comic film series. But he said scripts for the movie have been delayed and he was not offered a contract.

So he has decided to return to his Street role as Kirk Sutherland -- a decision likely to please the show's 17 million viewers. Andy said: "I went back to the producers and asked if they would renew by contract when the current one runs out. They said they would and I'm absolutely delighted."

Reports suggest the Corrie contract is worth £60,000-a-year but Andy refused to be drawn on the salary. But his decision to stay meant scriptwriters had to tear up their work and start again -- because he was due to be written out of the show.

Manchester Online - Sport

A Rovers knees-up for Reds
Saturday 4 October 2003

CORONATION Street star Andy Whyment plans a champagne knees-up for his mates in the Rovers Return if Salford Reds return to Super League. The local actor - who plays likeable Weatherfield rogue Kirk Sutherland - is hoping for a Reds win ahead of his favourite team's Grand Final clash with arch-rivals Leigh tomorrow (Sunday).

Andy is a staunch Salford fan and a confessed rugby league nut. The one-time try-scoring full back at Ambrose Barlow School knows Salford must turn in a star performance tomorrow. He teamed up with Capital Gold DJ Mike Sweeney, a fellow homespun celebrity star, to cheer on the Reds as they finalised plans for the biggest game in the club's recent history.

Andy said: "Seeing Salford back in Super League with the top teams would be great - it's where they belong."

Corrie's Andy Whyment (centre) with Reds' director of rugby Steve Simms and Mike Sweeney