Coronation Street mainstay and Royle Family favourite, Andrew Whyment, has taken to social media to celebrate his son Tom’s huge milestone birthday.
Uploading a carousel of snaps taken throughout his son’s life, Andrew, who shares Tom with his wife, Nichola Willis, wrote a sweet caption to go alongside the post.
‘Today you turn 18 @tomwhyment. Just want you to know that we couldn’t be any prouder of the man you’ve become.
‘Happy Birthday son have the best day.
‘We love you very much’
Tom is definitely all grown up, literally towering over his dad in the more recent images!
A slew of Andrew’s co-stars hopped into the comment section with their own well wishes, with Tyrone Dobbs star Alan Halsall writing: ‘Happy birthday @tomwhyment. Have a top day mate. Al & Sienna x’
Asha Alahan actress Tanisha Gorey said: ‘Happy 18th Tom!!’, while Amy Robbins, who plays Christina Boyd added: ‘Happy birthday to yr fully grown up Tom! It’s scary how quickly it goes, isn’t it ??’ and Dylan Wilson actor Liam McCheyne wrote: ‘Happy birthday champ!’
Tina O’Brien and Ryan Thomas, who play Sarah Platt and Jason Grimshaw, respectively, both added a string of love heart emojis.
There were a few cheeky comments that made reference to son absolutely outgrowing father, with @lucyblackcelebrant writing: ‘Happy birthday. It’s wild when oor bairns outgrow us eh (in height)’ and @leicesterteacher adding: ‘What happened between pics 13 & 14? Did you sit him in a grow bag!!!? What a handsome young man and a gorgeous family you have’
It was only last week that Andrew celebrated another of his children’s milestones, with his daughter Hollie turning 16.
Uploading an image of him holding her as a toddler and a more recent snap, Andy captioned the picture: ‘Happy 16th Birthday to our beautiful daughter @hols.whymentx .
‘We love you so much and couldn’t be prouder of you, have an amazing day xxx’.
The stars of Corrie again came out to wish their co-star’s child a happy day, with Eva Price star Catherine Tyldesley writing: ‘Awwww happy Birthday Hollie!’, while Sally Metcalfe icon Sally Dynevor added: ‘Happy Birthday Hollie’
Andrew has played lovable Kirk Sutherland since 2000, notching 26 years on the infamous cobbles, and previously said he’ll stay forever as long as the show still needs him.
‘If Corrie will have me, I’d love to be there, It’s my bread and butter and I will be there until they tell me Kirk is no longer required’ he explained to Inside Soap back in 2022.
‘When you first start you take each day as it comes. Even now I still don’t take it for granted, as I’ve seen so many people come and go.
‘Every year when I get a new contract, my wife and I raise a glass to say ‘cheers’ – as that’s another year off the mortgage,’
‘When I was on The Royle Family, I really didn’t realise how big that show was. But when you go into Coronation Street it’s huge, and I can’t get away with going unnoticed – as soon as people hear my voice, they know its Kirk from Coronation Street.
‘I still find it surreal, although at the end of the day, I’m just doing a job that I’ve always loved.
‘Even now, when I go through the barriers at work, I still get a buzz thinking, ‘I’m going to be on the cobbles for the day.’’
On how he compares to his alter-ego, Andrew added: ‘I like to think that I’m as lovable as Kirk is, and that I’m loyal as well. To be honest, I have quite a boring life! I do my job, come home, go to play golf now and again and go to Old Trafford.’