Born in Cheshire, but moving to London when he was two, Cotton trained and worked as an actor, gaining parts on The Bill and in London's West End theatre.
1995
After two years he undertook a post-graduate diploma at the Centre for Journalism Studies at Cardiff University, and started his broadcast career as a regional news reporter in Plymouth for the BBC in 1995.
Cotton then chose to become freelance to pursue a career in sports broadcast journalism, moving to London to specialise in sport including spells at digital TV network Channel 1, Sky Sports, Five and ITV.
1998
Cotton rejoined the BBC in 1998 as a sports producer and presenter on overnight production shifts for BBC Breakfast, before joining BBC News 24 as a sports presenter.
He also reported for Football Focus.
Cotton's former partner is BBC Breakfast presenter Susanna Reid; the couple and their three sons lived in Lambeth, south London.