soap

EXCLUSIVE: Twinne-Lee Moore played Porsche McQueen in Hollyoaks over a decade ago and the actress turned singer has hinted at a potential return for a reunion with her on-screen family

Hollyoaks could set to welcome back a familar face to the fictional village.

Twinnie-Lee Moore played Porsche McQueen from Novemebr 2014 until December 2015.

The character highlighted the issues of sexual abuse in children and other storylines included a failed marriage when her husband had various affairs.

During her time on the Channel 4 soap, Twinnie-Lee was nominated for the British Soap Award for Best Newcomer and an Inside Soap Award in 2015 for her powerful portrayal.

Since leaving Hollyoaks, Twinnie-Lee has swapped Yorkshire for Nashville to embark a career as a country pop singer-songwriter.

However, the TV star has hinted that a return to Hollyoaks could be on the cards after catching up with her on-screen family at the soap’s 30th anniversary celebration last month.

Speaking to Reach PLC, Twinnie-Lee said: “It’s been a whole decade and it’s so lovely to see everybody.

“The McQueens are obviously my favourite family and I was very honoured to be part of it and it brings back a lot of memories.”

When asked about a potential Porsche McQueen comeback, she added: “You’ll have to ask the writers about that.

“I’m currently in Nashville doing my music. I did pitch to them if they did want to come and do a Nashville series. She [Porsche] did leave on a cruise so you never know.”

Porsche was last seen on screen on Christmas Eve 2015 and Twinnie-Lee revealed that fans still message her a decade later about her character.

She explained: “It’s so wild because people even now still message me about Porsche. I posted something and everyone was like ‘omg come back’, ‘when you coming back’.

“She was such a great character to play, made a real impact and very relatable.”

Last year, Twinnie-Lee returned to the small screen in Emmerdale as Jade Garrick, an illegal gambling and underground fighting manager who Ross Barton (Michael Parr) and Billy Fletcher (Jay Kontzle) worked for for a small number of episodes.

Speaking about her new role at the time, the soap star said: “My life has been a bit crazy recently juggling music and acting with lots of back and forth between Nashville and Yorkshire but I’ve been loving it!!

“I’ve loved being back on screen, especially as the show is shot in Yorkshire, being able to be home with family and go to work on such an iconic show has been nothing short of amazing! The whole team has been so welcoming and really supportive.”

Hollyoaks airs Monday to Wednesday on E4 at 7pm and first look episodes can be streamed Channel 4 from 7am

One Corrie star is celebrating their little sister’s huge new career move as she joins the cast of the hit ITV soap in an episode as the daughter of an iconic character

Coronation Street is becoming a family business for one of its stars as his little sister is set to join the show. The ITV soap’s newest cast member is making her debut on the show in Monday’s (27 October) episode.

Bobby Bradshaw, who plays Jake Windass, is the older brother of Aurora Bradshaw. He announced on his Instagram that his sister was joining Corrie as Susie Price, the daughter of Catherine Tyldesley’s Eva.

He posted a picture of the new family, the Driscolls, which feature both Susie and her mother, and captioned it: “The news is finally out!!! Congratulations to my little sister aurora! She is part of the new family and her first episode airs 27th October.”

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Fans will remember Susie as the baby Eva had in 2018. When Eva learned she was pregnant, she struck a deal with Toyah Battersby (Georgia Taylor) to give the child to her and Peter Barlow (Chris Gascoyne) after their surrogate had a miscarriage. Toyah faked a birth certificate so that Peter would never know Susie wasn’t born via the surrogate.

Eva struggled being away from her baby, but eventually the two ended up together and have been living away from Weatherfield since 2018. But Eva and Susie are now returning.

The mother and daughter are moving into the Rovers Return alongside Eva’s new husband Ben Driscoll (Aaron McCusker). Ben is the person the pub was sold to, as he bought it as a surprise for his wife. Alongside Ben, his mother Maggie Driscoll, played by Pauline McLynn of EastEnders fame, will also be moving in. Catherine Tyldesley told the Mirror that Maggie is the “mother-in-law from hell”.

“There are so many twists and turns with the Driscolls. The mother-in-law from hell feels like a harsh title but I don’t think I am far off,” she said. “The constant swipes at each other, and Ben is very much stuck in the middle. Things do start to come to a head and he has to make that decision of whose side are you on here. They both get frustrated with him.”

These Driscolls are relatives of Ollie Dirscoll (Raphael Akuwudike), who is already on the show and dating Dee-Dee Bailey (Channique Sterling-Brown). Dee-Dee is more than a girlfriend to Ollie, she is also his legal representation after he was involved in a car accident.

Though Aurora and Bobby are siblings, their characters are not. Jake Windass is the son of Gary Windass and Izzy Armstrong, born via surrogacy with the help of Tina McIntyre. Jake currently lives with his dad and his step-mother Maria Connor, who is not best pleased to see Eva return.

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BELOVED Brit soap actor Tony Adams who starred in Crossroads has died aged 84 with tributes pouring in.

The legend died at Sussex County Hospital in Brighton on Saturday, with his wife Christine by his side.

Anthony Sawley Adams was born in Anglesey, Wales, in 1940 and later trained as an actor at the Italia Conti theatre school.

Following performances on the stage, he made his name as Dr Neville Bywaters in the 1970s soap General Hospital and appeared in the Dr Who series The Green Death.

In 1978, he took on the role of accountant Adam Chance in soap Crossroads – the role for which he became best known.

The series ended in 1988 after more than 4,500 episodes, with Adams staying until the end.

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He was one of the original cast members, including Jane Rossington and Kathy Staff, who returned when the soap was revived in 2001.

Adams then appeared in the stage version of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at the London Palladium Theatre, where he played Grandpa Potts, in 2004.

In 2023, he had a cameo role in Nolly – a three-part drama created by Russell T Davies which tells the story of Crossroads actress Noele Gordon.

Actor Augustus Prew, who played Adams in the drama, described him as a “magical man” during interviews at the time.

Michael Rose, of The Michael Rose Organisation Ltd, paid tribute to Adams as an “absolute joy” and a talented actor, dancer and singer.

“He was one of the warmest gentlemen you could wish to work with,” Mr Rose said.

“He was an absolute joy. He was a dancer originally but there was nothing Tony couldn’t do.

“He was a very accomplished actor, he was a really good dancer and singer.

“He played Grandpa Potts in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and was a joy to have in the company, as he was in every company.

“We shall miss him.”

Michelle Gayle played Hattie Tavernier in the BBC One soap and also had a pop career – and, unbelievably, she hardly seems to have changed more than 30 years later

EastEnders’ Michelle Gayle appears to have defied the ageing process, looking as youthful as ever despite her stint on the BBC One soap being more than three decades ago. The London-born actress, now 54 years old, was part of the groundbreaking Tavernier family – the first Black family to join the soap.

Her character, Hattie, was a waitress and then Ian Beale’s PA at his catering company, The Meal Machine. She was a hit with EastEnders viewers, navigating through intense storylines involving miscarriage and sexual harassment – famously kneeing Ian in the groin. She also frequently clashed with Cindy, Ian’s wife, who was jealous of their close working relationship.

But the star left Albert Square in 1993 to pursue a music career, enjoying seven top 40 singles on the UK Singles Chart, including hits like Sweetness, Looking Up and Do You Know. She also released two top 40 albums before parting ways with her record company in 1997.

Michelle stepped out at a charity ball last year, looking super-glamorous as she sported a black satin dress paired with a chic black bag, red lipstick and gold earrings, posing against a beautiful floral backdrop.

Previously, Michelle had set X, formerly Twitter, buzzing with her age-defying photos, prompting comments such as: “I’ve literally just had to google how old you are……as you look about 20! ! You look amazing! ! X,” and, “There is no way you’re in the 50+ bracket! ! My goodness.”

She went on to appear on stage at Mighty Hoopla 2024 at London’s Brockwell Park, singing a few of her biggest hits.

After EastEnders, Michelle made a return to television, making guest appearances on Doctors and Holby City, before landing a role in Channel 5’s short-lived soap Family Affairs in 2005. She’s also been a familiar face on various reality TV shows, such as ITV’s Reborn In The USA, where she competed against 80s popstars Sonia and Tony Hadley, and Channel 4’s The Games.

In 2007, she became a guest panellist for ITV’s Loose Women and ventured into writing in 2011, releasing her debut novel titled Pride and Premiership.

In 2019, she went on to play the role of Hermione Granger in the West End production of the play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. At the time, Michelle revealed the hardest part of her job was her unusual working hours, saying: “My ‘weekend’ is Monday and Tuesday and all my friends outside of the show are working.”

She was married to ex-professional footballer Mark Bright for 13 years, and they have a son, Isaiah, together. Michelle also has another son, Luke.

Hollyoaks fans were left floored at a cameo in the soap’s Brookside crossover episode

Hollyoaks delivered a spectacular crossover episode with Brookside, leaving viewers spotting a truly remarkable cameo appearance.

E4 broadcast a special one-off Brookside episode on October 22, marking the legendary soap’s return to television after a 22-year absence to commemorate Hollyoaks‘ milestone 30th anniversary.

Soap enthusiasts were delighted with a nostalgic journey as iconic characters made their comeback to Brookside Close, featuring Ricky Tomlinson, Sue Johnston, Paul Usher, Philip Olivier, Suzanne Collins, Michael Starke, Louis Emerick and John McArdle.

Both cherished Channel 4 series were the brainchild of Grange Hill genius Sir Philip Redmond, with Brookside later serving as inspiration for the Chester-based Hollyoaks.

In a masterstroke, Sir Philip himself appeared in the Channel 4 drama on Wednesday, reports the Manchester Evening News.

The scene unfolded when Mick Johnson (Louis Emerick) made his return to Brookside Close following a lift from Chester courtesy of Thomas Sweeney, better known as Sinbad, portrayed by Michael Starke.

Whilst taxi driver Sinbad reconnected with former neighbours Nikki Shadwick (Suzanne Collins) and Tinhead (Philip Olivier), an enigmatic figure strolled down the street.

Nikki questioned Sinbad: “Is that your fare?”, to which he swiftly replied: “I think so, yeah.”

Sir Philip then enquired: “You going to Chester, mate?”, prompting Sinbad to ask: “You’re not from around here, are you?”.

In a touching tribute to bygone days, Sir Philip responded: “Used to be, but you know. Do you know the Dog In The Pond pub?”. “There’s been a big to-do there today”, Sinbad chimed in as Sir Philip, cheekily replied: “Story of my life, mate. From one drama to another.”

Fans of Hollyoaks and Brookside were quick to express their delight at seeing the soap’s creator, Sir Philip, make an appearance on screen.

One fan took to X to share their thoughts, writing: “Had to watch the #Hollyoaks #Brookside mashup. Phil Redmond’s cameo is genius especially the “… one drama to another” line. I join the call to bring back #Brookie!”.

Another viewer exclaimed: “Phil Redmond cameo! #Brookside #Hollyoaks #Hollyoaks30.”

A third added: “Omg Phil Redmond making a cameo too, omg, i cannot cope! So proud to be scouse right now #hollyoaks #brookside.

“This is just too good. Mick, Sinbad, Sheila, Tinhead, Nikki, Bobby, actual Phil Redmond! #Hollyoaks #Brookside”, one fan gushed.

“Phil Redmond saying “from one drama to another”.. see what he did there! Brilliant! ! #Hollyoaks #Brookside”, another fan pointed out.

The Hollyoaks and Brookside Crossover is available to stream on Channel 4.com

Hollyoaks actress Ruby O’Donnell has been at the centre of some of the Channel 4 soap’s most dramatic storylines as fan favourite Peri Lomax over the past 12 years

Hollyoaks actress Ruby O’Donnell has tackled some of the Channel 4 soap’s most intense plotlines over the past 12 years.

Her character Peri Lomax has found herself at the centre of the drama but her time in the village has come to an end.

During Tuesday’s (October 21) episode, Peri got crushed by ship chimney which fell on her after an explosion went off and she attempted to save Tom Cunningham (Ellis Hollins).

Pushing fiancé Tom out of the way, Peri was struck by the chimney and fell to the ground.

The nurse was conscious for a while chatting with Tom about their daughter Steph Cunningham-Lomax (Isabella Hibbert) and but she sadly passed away wen her mum Leela Lomax (Kirsty Leigh-Porter) finally arrived in extremely emotional scenes.

Ruby previously revealed that certain scenes she’s filmed over the years were “hard to tackle” given she was “still quite young” when she first joined the show in 2013.

The actress confessed she “wanted to find out how teenagers actually react in these situations” and her commitment was worthwhile as she secured Best Young Actor at the 2016 British Soap Awards and has subsequently received numerous award nominations.

Ruby loves to share her escapades on Instagram and regularly posts pictures from her social events with friends.

She can be seen having a boogie with her mates, sometimes in fancy dress, while basking in the sun in a back garden or on holiday.

The soap star is also a regular festival attendee and keeps her fans updated with her on-set and behind-the-scenes action.

Ruby is currently dating Hollyoaks co-star Nathaniel Dass, who made his debut as Dillon Ray in 2023,

Their characters might not cross paths on screen often but off-screen their romance is blossoming since going Instagram official in 2024.

The actress marked their first anniversary on Instagram by sharing a series of loved-up snaps.

She delighted fans by posting a quartet of adorable pictures, alongside the caption: “1 year with u” capped off with a pink heart pierced by a blue arrow.

Hollyoaks airs Monday to Wednesday on E4 at 7pm and first look episodes can be streamed Channel 4 from 7am

SHE was famously axed from one of the country’s biggest soaps after joining OnlyFans – and within weeks was among its top creators, earning hundreds of thousands from her racy snaps.

 But Sarah Jayne Dunn‘s X-rated spark has fizzled out, according to pals who say the former Hollyoaks star – who faced accusations she was promoting “pornography” last week – has been left out in the cold. Now, The Sun can reveal things have gone from bad to worse.

An insider told us: “There was a lot of fanfare when Sarah left the soap, and she made a big thing about why it was important to be on OnlyFans.

“It might look plain sailing, but it’s a real slog and actually very isolating. She knows people look at her at the school gates, and you only have to look online to see people’s disgust about what she does.”

Sarah, 44, has raked in some serious cash since she was sacked from Hollyoaks in 2021 after joining OnlyFans.

It’s a bit of a rabbit hole once you get started and pals are worried how far it will go

She made a whopping £121,000 in just 48 hours after her OnlyFans subscribers doubled overnight when she went public about her new career.

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Fans pay just over £11 per month to see Sarah strip off, and her posts have been liked more than 455,000 times since she joined the site four years ago this month. Her subscription numbers are no longer visible to fans.

But as the months have worn on, Sarah has had to deal with lewd, vulgar and creepy comments from her desperate subscribers, who constantly plead with her to flash more flesh.

In the last two weeks alone, her OnlyFans snaps have been littered with explicit remarks, piling on the pressure for even racier content – raising questions about what Sarah’s future on the site will look like.

Our insider continued: “Subscribers have naturally gone down, so Sarah has been working hard to produce more and more racy content. It’s a bit of a rabbit hole once you get started, and those who are still close to her are worried about how far it will go.

“Her son is getting older now, and it can’t be easy for him seeing her pictures and the headlines.”

Sarah has a nine-year-old son, Stanley, with her personal trainer husband, Jonathan Smith.

While she has previously shared a picture of Stan taking over her £20k pole-dancing room, which she had built in her garden, to play his video games, the ex-Oaks star tries to be careful around the youngster when it comes to her day job – because he is becoming “really inquisitive”.

She said last month: “He’s getting to that age where he’s really inquisitive about everything.

“I was sat in the bedroom the other morning doing my make-up, and he comes into the bedroom and goes, ‘Mum, what is p***y?’ I was racking my brain, going, ‘Oh my God, what has he seen?’ I’ve got this book next to my make-up mirror called P***y.”

Sarah – who played Hollyoaks’ Mandy Richardson from 1996 to 2021 – has made no secret of wanting to maintain her wealth and has recently trained as a pole dancing teacher to boost her income.

But she was left embarrassed and fuming after her fitness pole dancing class was banned by a Cheshire venue last week and labelled “borderline pornographic”.

It was the latest blow for the star who has struggled to land TV work and has lost two of her closest friends in her bid to become a top content creator.

Showbiz bust-up

We can reveal she is no longer speaking to Stephanie Waring, who played her onscreen sister, following her fallout with glamour model Rhian Sugden.

Raised eyebrows over her lifestyle choice is not something new for Sarah, who recently admitted she has constantly faced accusations she is baring all on OnlyFans.

She recently said: “Whenever I get stick, it’s because of people going, ‘Well, you’re getting your fl**s out,’ and I’m like, ‘I’m actually not, thank you very much.’

“People just associate the platform with porn. That’s fine, because the platform does have that content, but it doesn’t mean everyone on there is doing that.”

Hollyoaks bosses clearly had a similar view, and we can reveal that since joining OnlyFans, Sarah has had a bust-up with her former co-star Stephanie Waring.

An insider told us: “Sarah and Steph were always very close, but when Sarah started posting online, things between them started to change.

“They have barely spoken since, and Sarah definitely didn’t rush to support her when she was axed from the show last year.

“They don’t even follow each other anymore. It’s very sad it’s come to this.”

Steph has previously said she wouldn’t dream of using her body to make money – unlike Sarah.

Sarah is convinced Steph is one of the people who grassed her up to Hollyoaks bosses

An Insider

She told the Secure The Insecure podcast: “I don’t think I could ever sexualise myself in that way.

“I’m nearly 50 and I just don’t think that’s my angle… never say never, though. People change all the time.”

One of Sarah’s post-Hollyoaks ventures saw her co-host podcast Hot and Bothered alongside Page 3 legend Rhian Sugden, in which the pair discussed everything from sex toys to fetishes.

Sarah and Rhian even took part in a joint lingerie-clad photoshoot to promote their sex podcast – but the pair have since fallen out.

Rhian claimed she had been dropped from the joint podcast, despite reportedly investing thousands in it, and the pair are no longer thought to be on speaking terms.

In 2023, a friend close to the pair said: “Rhian reached out to Sarah after the whole Hollyoaks sacking drama, and she became a real source of support for her.

“They went in on the podcast together and had loads of fun making it – and had loads of listeners.

“It came as a real shock to everyone when Sarah just cut her out. There’s been no contact since, and it’s all very sad.”

Big show dreams

Sarah has also been left hanging by I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! and Strictly Come Dancing bosses.

Last weekend, she made it clear to her OnlyFans followers how much she wants to land a spot on her dream show – Strictly.

She posted a picture wearing a see-through red bra with sequins, with her nipples clearly visible, and asked her followers: “Who’d like to see me on Strictly?!”

Sarah received just one response. The follower wrote: “People would [black love heart emoji] to see you on Strictly!”

The star also has her heart set on appearing in I’m A Celebrity, which is filmed in the Australian jungle.

A source told us: “Sarah has made no secret of the fact she would love to head into the jungle, or on the Strictly ballroom, but neither shows have come calling yet.

“They are dream paydays for most out-of-work actors and content creators, and she is desperate to appear on one.”

Another pal close to Sarah insisted:  “Sarah is under no pressure around her OnlyFans work, she is able to be fully in control of her life, work as and when she wants, and it’s afforded her numerous wonderful opportunities.

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“With regards to any mention of a fall out with friends, there is certainly no falling out from Sarah’s side, so this is news to her. Sarah is a huge fan of Strictly Come Dancing, so naturally would love to be on the show!”

It doesn’t look like BBC bosses will be calling her to swap pole dancing for the ballroom just yet, so for now, Sarah may have to stick to the sexy snaps.

Two iconic stars of the ITV soap Coronation Street have shared what their future with the soap is looking like after fans feared they would be leaving the show

Coronation Street legends William Roache and Barbara Knox have opened up about their future on the show, after accepting an award for their long service to television and amid fans’ fears that they are due to leave the show.

William, 93, and Barbara, 92, were awarded with the Outstanding Contribution to Television Award at the Variety Awards on Sunday (19 October).

Following the award, the pair both insisted they would not be leaving the show anytime soon, despite their combined 118 years on the show.

Coronation Street aired it’s first episode, starring William, in 1960. Four years later, Barbara appeared in an episode, and by 1972, she was back in a continuous role. When asked if they had plans to retire, both said they weren’t thinking about that as an option.

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In fact, it was the work that kept them feeling young. The nonagenarians were asked what they do to feel young and Barbara responded: “Well honestly, I think we’ve had the opportunity to work, that’s the greatest thing.

“I don’t want to and I know Bill doesn’t want to retire, because stimulus from your brain gets you up. So we’re fortunate to have been able to do that.”

They were also asked what their advice would be for actors starting their careers and William joked that “the first 65 years” were the hard part. “When young actors come to me, I say the first 65 years is the tough bit, the rest is easy.”

Before he acted, William was a captain in the British Army. He started acting on a stage in Nottingham and went on to appear in various films and TV shows before landing Ken Barlow in Corrie. As he was in the first episode, he is the longest-serving castmate on the show. In fact, he is the longest-serving actor to play a continuous role on a show ever and, as such, has a Guinness World Record.

Meanwhile, Barbara is best known for playing Rita Tanner on the show. She is the second longest-serving Corrie member, after William.

Ant and Dec also picked up an award for Outstanding Contribution to Television, while Vernon Kay was given a prize for the Outstanding Contribution to Radio. Jamie Wilson got the same for Musical Theatre, and Olly Murs was recognised for his contribution to music.

ITV, who air Corrie, were celebrated as well. They were given the award for Outstanding Contribution to British Broadcasting. The network celebrated 70 years in the business this year.

Over 70 years, ITV has become a core part of British television. They are one of the leading networks in the country, with iconic shows such as Corrie, Emmerdale, Love Island and Britain’s Got Talent under their belt.

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Hollyoaks is celebrating its 30th anniversary this month after first airing on October 23, 1995

Hollyoaks is marking a special occasion this month as it celebrates 30 years on air.

The popular Channel 4 soap first graced our screens on 23 October 1995 and will soon be marking its 30th anniversary.

Over the decades, Hollyoaks has seen a plethora of actors and characters come and go in the fictional village. Some stars, like Nick Pickard, who portrays Tony Hutchinson, have been with the soap since its inception.

However, other actors have traded the fictional village for the glitz and glamour of Hollywood. From Oscar triumphs to hit HBO series, let’s take a look at the stars who’ve made the leap to Los Angeles…, reports the Manchester Evening News.

Rachel Shenton

Rachel Shenton portrayed Mitzeee Minniver on Hollyoaks from 2010 to 2013. After her departure, Rachel, 37, bagged a role in US series Switched at Birth, where she played Lily Summers.

The actress, who is fluent in both British Sign Language and American Sign Language, had her big moment in 2018 when she clinched an Academy Award for her short film The Silent Child, which she wrote, produced and starred in.

The short film tells the story of Libby, a profoundly deaf four year old girl, who lives a silent life until a social worker, played by Rachel, teaches her how to communicate through sign language.

Following her Oscar triumph, Rachel has portrayed Helen Alderson in All Creatures Great and Small since 2020. Other roles include The Strangers: Chapter 1, The Rumour and The Strangers: Chapter 2.

Nathalie Emmanuel

Nathalie Emmanuel, who portrayed Sasha Valentine on Hollyoaks from 2006 to 2010, has since enjoyed a successful career. After leaving the soap, Nathalie, 36, secured the role of Missandei in the HBO hit series Game of Thrones from 2013 to 2019, catapulting her to stardom.

Since then, she’s been playing Jordan King in Die Hart since 2020 and has taken on numerous film roles.

Her filmography includes Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials, Furious 7, The Fate of the Furious, Maze Runner: The Death Cure, The Titan, F9, Fast X, Arthur the King, Megalopolis and The Killer.

Emmett J Scanlan

Emmett J Scanlan, who played Brendan Brady from 2010 to 2013, has also had a successful career post-Hollyoaks. After his departure, Emmett, 46, bagged the role of D. C. Glenn Martin in The Fall.

He’s also starred as Josh in Harlan Coben’s Safe in 2018, Billy Grade in Peaky Blinders, and has appeared in Derry Girls, The Teacher and MobLand, among others.

Emmett achieved international recognition with Netflix’s hit Harlan Coben drama Fool Me Once in 2024, where he played Shane Tessier. His film credits include Guardians of the Galaxy, Argylle and A Working Man.

Guy Burnet

Guy Burnet played Craig Dean in the popular Channel 4 soap from 2002 until 2008.

Guy, 42, has since gone on to have a successful Hollywood career with appearances in films such as Pitch Perfect 3, where he played Theo in the 2017 movie. The actor has also appeared in hit TV series Ray Donovan, The Affair and Counterpart.

However, it was one of his latest projects that left fans stunned as he was part of the star-studded cast of Oppenheimer, which was released in cinemas on 21 July 2023 in the UK.

He has recently appeared in FUBAR alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger as Theodore Chips and American Horror Stories.

Ricky Whittle

Ricky Whittle, who portrayed Calvin Valentine on Hollyoaks from 2006 to 2011, has also made a name for himself in Hollywood. After leaving the soap, Ricky, 45, relocated to Los Angeles and quickly landed a number of roles.

From 2014 to 2016, he starred in the sci-fi drama The 100 and US soap Mistresses. Following this, he secured the lead role in American Gods in 2017, with the series running until 2021.

Roxanne McKee

Roxanne McKee, who portrayed Louise Summers from 2005 to 2008, went on to secure the role of Doreah in Game of Thrones from 2011 to 2012 after her departure.

The 45 year old actress then bagged roles in Dominion as Claire Riesen and Pandora as Eve in 2020, among others. Her film credits include Inside Man: Most Wanted and Bambi: The Reckoning.

Wallis Day

Wallis Day played Holly Cunningham in Hollyoaks from 2012 to 2013.

Since then, the 31 year old actress has taken on roles such as Angie on The Royals from 2016 to 2018, Nyssa-Vex in Krypton from 2018 to 2019, Kate Kane / Circe Sionis in Batwoman in 2021, and Gigi in Netflix’s 2023 series of Sex/Life.

Ro, Ant and Dee Dee Hutchinson have been recast in Hollyoaks by newcomers Leo Cole, Brook Debio and Chloe Atkinson and their first scenes on the Channel 4 soap will air next week

Three new actors have joined Hollyoaks as the Channel 4 soap marks its 30th anniversary.

Leo Cole, Brook Debio and Chloe Atkinson have taken over the roles of Tony (Nick Pickard) and Diane Hutchinson’s children Ro, Ant, and Dee Dee Hutchinson.

Last week, it was announced that Leo will be taking on the role of Ro, previously played by Ava Webster and bosses have now confirmed that Brook and Chloe will also be joining the cast, taking over the roles of Ant and Dee Dee, previously played by Lacey Findlow and William Thompson.

Chloe, Leo and Brook will make their Hollyoaks debut on Monday (October 20) during the Channel 4 soap’s 30th anniversary week as their characters attend their parents wedding.

Aubrey Burgess continues her role as Tony and Diane’s youngest daughter, Eva Hutchinson.

Talking about her new role, Chloe said: “I am so excited and grateful to be joining the cast of Hollyoaks as Dee Dee Hutchinson.

“My time here so far has been truly amazing, and I cannot wait to continue the journey.

“The rest of the cast has welcomed me with open arms. I couldn’t finish this message without mentioning Lacey Findlow and how lucky I feel to show you a different side to the character she brought to life and played so incredibly well.”

Brook added “It’s been so exciting joining the cast of Hollyoaks as Ant Hutchinson. It’s a real privilege to be part of a well-established and welcoming family.

“Filming has been a blast- especially with some of the intense scenes we’ve been shooting. I’m really grateful to have been trusted with such an important storyline.”

Brook has previously appeared in a special episode of Coronation Street earlier this year as a young Kit Green.

Taking to social media, Leo said about joining Hollyoaks: “”Big news… I’m on Hollyoaks. A massive thank you to my incredible agency @bsatalent, my amazing agent @hayleysoraya , @peterhuntcasting , Gill Charnock, and everyone at @hollyoaksofficial for this incredible opportunity.

“I’m so excited to continue Ro’s journey in the show, and I am so lucky to have this opportunity. Of course, the biggest thanks to my Mum for always believing in me and supporting me every step of the way.”

Hollyoaks airs Monday to Wednesday on E4 at 7pm and first look episodes can be streamed Channel 4 from 7am

Natalie Cassidy portrayed the role of Sonia Fowler in EastEnders across several stints since 1993, ending in April when the popular character departed Albert Square with her daughters

Natalie Cassidy has had two of her new shows axed within six months of leaving EastEnders.

The actress, who played Sonia Fowler in the soap, told fans her consumer series What’s The Big Deal? is unlikely to be renewed after failing to impress on Channel 4. Her BBC podcast co-hosted with Gavin & Stacey’s Joanna Page has also come to an abrupt end.

Speaking in relation to the future of What’s The Big Deal?, Natalie, 42, said: “I don’t think it went down very well, if I’m honest. I don’t think it will come back. At the moment there is no talk of it. But I loved it and it was a great experience for me to do.”

The Channel 4 programme saw Natalie, a mother of two, test popular products to see if they lived up to the hype, in what was her first big job away from acting. On the podcast, called Off The Telly, Natalie discussed all things TV with Joanna, famed for playing Stacey in the popular sitcom.

READ MORE: Jackiey hits back at Freddy Brazier’s drug claims with scathing rebukeREAD MORE: Ex-EastEnders star Ben Hardy spotted kissing Utopia actress at Hyde Park gig

Natalie had tried the new projects after playing Sonia on and off for 32 years in EastEnders. The iconic character departed in April with her two daughters following dramatic storylines, including the grief of Martin Fowler, father to her daughter Bex, who died in the tragic 40th anniversary Queen Vic explosion.

But the new avenues have presented challenges for Natalie, who told fans a literary festival in Somerset the BBC had second thoughts about the podcast. She said: “We had a laugh doing it and it is a shame the pod ended. I don’t think it will be back.

“With the BBC sometimes, what happens is, through no fault of their own, they love exploring new stuff and they do chop and change. If something isn’t massively, massively popular, then they will just get rid and try new material. That is kind of what the BBC is for. The money is from you guys, so they do need to change things and make things new.”

FORMER Home and Away actress Isabel Lucas, 40, is expecting her first child and has revealed her partner for the first time.

The actress announced her happy news with a series of beachside photos where she showed off her growing baby bump and shared a smooch with her partner.

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Isabel posed in a flowing white linen dress which she wore completely unbuttoned and showed her lacy black underwear, as she cradled her belly.

Other photos in the post shared to Instagram showed the Aussie actress sitting beach side in a white top and skirt, and where her baby bump was proudly on full display.

Also in the photos was her partner, Cyrus Sutton, a US filmmaker, surfer and the owner of a luxury spa home in Washington State.

Isabel captioned the post: “Sometimes words flow and sometimes the mystery is too vast and all that remains, is to feel. A new forever exists here. Among petals of silent wonder and pure love.

“Together we hold this miracle with tender heartful hands.”

Her fans and famous friends rushed to congratulate the star in the comments.

“Another perfectly healthy and beautiful 40 year old woman having a baby. don’t let anyone tell you there is a deadline by 30,” wrote one fan.

Fellow Aussie actress Teresa Palmer wrote: “Can’t wait to see you as a mother and for these little babies to be together. We love you guys xxx”

And Slumdog Millionaire actress, Freida Pinto added: “Oh Izzy!! This made my heart so happy. Sending you and your sweet baby so much mad love.”

Isabel rose to fame playing Tasha Andrews on the Aussie soap, Home and Away.

It was on the set of that soap where she met future Hollywood A-lister, Chris Hemsworth, and they dated for around three years.

Isabel later dated Entourage star Adrian Grenier and Australian folk singer, Angus Stone for two years.

The actress’ other TV roles include in the MacGyver reboot and Steven Spielberg’s war miniseries, The Pacific.

Her film credits include Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen and 2022’s Bosch & Rockit opposite her ex, Chris’ brother, Luke Hemsworth.

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EMMERDALE and Coronation Street have officially begun filming crossover episodes in a historic first for ITV.

ITV has pulled off the ultimate soap shocker with the first-ever Coronation Street and Emmerdale crossover – and it’s been called Corriedale.

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Cameras are rolling on this one-off extravaganza, bringing together the nation’s favourite telly titans.

Expect Weatherfield’s lot to collide with their Yorkshire neighbours in a whirlwind hour of drama, secrets, and epic soap action.

Fans are already buzzing about what could go wrong… or right!

The two soaps are going all out, with production teams cooking up a jaw-dropping stunt that promises life-changing consequences for the characters involved.

ITV Executive Producer for Continuing Drama Iain Macleod said: “It’s beyond exciting that filming is underway on Corriedale.

“There is a massive buzz around both the Leeds and Manchester sites and the images coming out of the shoot are utterly spectacular.

“And that’s before we’ve even got to all the brilliant transpennine interactions between characters from the different shows!

“As a soap fan myself, I think my head is going to explode when the episode airs next year.

“It will be mind-blowing, historical and unmissable.”

There will also be an interactive twist for fans to determine one part of the episode.

A vote will be opened allowing soap fans to choose which Emmerdale and Coronation Street character will share a carefully-written scene together as part of the episode.

Corriedale is set to hit screens on ITV and YouTube in early 2026 – kicking off the brand-new soap power hour.

From then on, Emmerdale will roll out at 8pm, followed by Coronation Street at 8.30pm, every weekday in a double dose of drama.

The schedule change sees both soaps lose one episode a week amid dwindling ratings.

Biggest soap stunts

By Conor O’Brien

Soaps are no stranger to dramatic stunts in the storylines. Not only do these moments create a spectacle for viewers, they also fundamentally change characters’ lives.

Here is a look at some of the biggest soap stunts from over the years.

CORONATION STREET

• Tram crash (2010): The ITV soap marked its 50th anniversary with a intense tram crash – and live episode to boot. Overall, the crash and its effects were broadcast across a week in December 2010. Its resulting chaos saw regular characters Ashley Peacock (Steven Arnold) and Molly Dobbs (Vicky Binns) die.
• Richard Hillman tries to kill the Platts (2003): Of all the men unlucky-in-love Gail tied the knot with, Richard Hillman (Brian Capron) is probably the one she regrets most in hindsight. In 2003, murderer Richard tried to kill his step-family: first by gassing them with car fumes and then driving Gail (Helen Worth), Sarah (Tina O’Brien), David (Jack P. Shepherd) and Bethany (Amy and Emily Walton) into a canal.

EASTENDERS

• Queen Vic fire (2010): In September 2010, EastEnders bid farewell to matriarch Peggy Mitchell (Barbara Windsor) as a permanent fixture on the soap – she returned as a guest before the character’s death in 2016. In the build-up to her initial exit, Peggy had trapped crack cocaine-addicted son Phil (Steve McFadden) in the Queen Vic. However, he escaped and set the boozer on fire.
• Bus crash (2017): In April 2017, a total of 11 Albert Square residents had their lives at risk in a terrifying bus crash. The stunt saw a double decker bus – the 764 to Barking – lose control and crash through the Albert Square market before hitting a low-level bridge. Notable passengers at the time included Denise Fox (Diane Parish) and Louise Mitchell (Tilly Keeper).

EMMERDALE

• James Barton’s death (2016): Interestingly about James’ (Bill Ward) death was that it came in a spiral of events. After wife Emma (Gillian Kearney) locked James up in a jealous rage, he escaped and they tussled on a bridge over the bypass. Emma pushed him and James fell into traffic, in turn causing a 12-vehicle pile up, As well as James dying, key characters including Ashley Thomas (John Middleton) and Rhona Goskirk (Zoe Henry) were injured.

Coronation Street star Richard Winsor will bow out of the ITV soap next week after months of playing the villain in a ‘twisted’ storyline involving Todd and Theo

Coronation Street star Richard Winsor will bow out of the ITV soap next week. The actor, 43, has been playing Noah Hedley on the long-running serial for the fast few months, and is at the centre of a controversial storyline.

When Theo Silverton (James Cartwright) made his debut on the programme, he was introduced as a married man who had two kids with wife Danielle (Natalie Anderson) before it was revealed that he had been put through conversion therapy earlier in life. After his wife left him once his affair with Todd Grimshaw (Gareth Pierce) was exposed, she struck up a relationship with homophobic church clerk Noah, and he has been on a campaign of hate ever since.

The church clerk has also ruffled feathers by interrupting Danielle and Theo’s family liaison meetings and trying to replace him as the dad in their life, whilst running series of so-called conversion sessions at the local community centre. But now, his tenure on the cobbles is all about to come to an end in what is being teased as an ‘explosive’ set of scenes.

READ MORE: Coronation Street’s Todd Grimshaw left on verge of tears after vicious attackREAD MORE: Coronation Street’s Betsy Swain ‘in danger’ as she realises mum is ‘back from the dead’

An insider told The Sun : “Richard’s done a great job as Noah. He was brought in as a guest star for a specific storyline and he’s knocked it out of the park playing such a twisted villain.

“But the character will leave next week and it’s set to be explosive and spark fireworks on the cobbles!” The whole drama with Noah has also had a massive effect on Todd, as Theo has turned nasty towards him amid it all.

Viewers have seen Todd become a victim of control as he was forbidden from seeing former boyfriend Billy Mayhew (Daniel Brocklebank), and in disturbing scenes that aired last month, Theo grabbed hold of him and forced him to eat a kebab.

Spoilers have already revealed that next week, as Theo is quizzed about his violent temper, Theo assures them a moment with son Miles was an accident. But it’s Theo’s partner Todd who’s left lashing out when Noah makes derogatory remarks under his breath.

Todd ends up being escorted out by security, but will this impact Theo’s case? Later on Noah tracks the couple down and makes homophobic jibes at them – but he’s furious when Theo refuses to rise to it.

When Danielle soon arrives with some shock news about Noah, what has happened and how will Theo react? The next day, Todd is left baffled by Theo’s reaction to the news about Noah when all he ever did was make Theo’s life a misery.

Prior to landing the role of Noah, actor Richard was best known for starring as Cal Knight in Casualty, but he was killed off in shock scenes after three years on the programme in 2017.

He also had a part in Hollyoaks for a period of time, but, outside of television, he is known for his theatre work. A trained dancer as well, he has starred in productions of Edward Scissorhands, Swan Lake, and Saturday Night Fever.

Coronation Street runs Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 8pm on ITV1. Episodes can also be downloaded on ITVX.

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BBC Countryfile viewers were left unimpressed as the show dedicated an episode to The Archers, with one person spotting a huge blunder as they took to social media.

During the latest episode of BBC’s Countryfile, Matt Baker and Charlotte Smith ventured to a charming Worcestershire village called Inkberrow.

The location served as inspiration for the enduring BBC radio soap, The Archers, which launched in the 1950s and is based in the fictional village of Ambridge.

From the programme’s opening, it was evident Charlotte was absolutely thrilled with the special episode, as her co-presenter Matt, who recently provided fans with an update, revealed she’s a devoted follower.

Whilst seated outdoors at a pub clutching two pints, Matt informed viewers: “Oh, we’re making Charlotte’s dreams come true today!”

Following a celebratory toast with their beverages, Charlotte responded: “Now, for me, we are in the centre of the known fictional universe, the Bull at Ambridge.”

Matt continued: “This is home to the Archers and Charlotte is a massive fan.”

Throughout the programme, the BBC presenter revealed to audiences she’s been following the radio soap for 30 years and adores it, reports the Express.

She continued: “I’m not alone! Millions of people tune in every day for agricultural escapism.”

As the show progressed, Charlotte chose to attempt cricket, one of the primary sports featured within the BBC radio soap.

Donning a jersey from the fictional village squad, it appeared the BBC presenter astonished herself, having never participated in the sport previously.

Following her admission that she’d never wielded a bat before, Charlotte remarked: “I think I might be taking up cricket!”

As the episode concluded, she informed viewers that they could tune into BBC Radio 4 to listen to The Archers, featuring a familiar voice, as she was making an appearance in the episode.

However, it didn’t take long for viewers to share their thoughts on the episode, with one eagle-eyed fan spotting a significant scheduling error.

Taking to social media, they penned: “So #Countryfile have an #thearchers themed episode tonight, which is a lovely idea. However it doesn’t finish until 7.15pm so clashes with an actual episode of The Archers! I wish someone at the BBC had thought about the scheduling a bit more.”

One disgruntled viewer remarked: “BBC #countryfile promoting BBC #thearchers – you couldn’t make it up.”

Another chimed in: “I think I’d rather watch a repeat of the episode where they discuss photographs.”

Another viewer added: “#Countryfile really needs to take a break and come up with some relevant material @bbcone.”

Countryfile can be viewed on BBC iPlayer.

Former Emmerdale star Kelli Hollis has opened up about whether she still watches the ITV soap and she referred to her former colleague when revealing a ‘boycott’

Former Emmerdale actress Kelli Hollis, 49, has confessed to “boycotting” the ITV soap after her on-screen daughter’s character was written out. The star, who portrayed Ali Spencer from 2011 to 2015, revealed she’s been “dipping in and out” of watching the show since Amelia Spencer, played by Daisy Campbell, left the Dales.

She told Manchester Evening News: “I will be honest, I have been boycotting them a little while since they got rid of my daughter (Amelia Spencer).

“That is the Spencer clan gone now. But I do keep in touch because I still have loads of friends there so I do dip in and out but it is really hard to keep up with the soaps – I just don’t have the time.”

Kelli, who returned to the UK in November after spending two-and-a-half years in Thailand, played the mother of Sean and Amelia Spencer. Daisy Campbell, who portrayed Amelia, spent an impressive 13 years on the show.

In a previous chat, the actress fondly recalled her time on Emmerdale, saying: “Do you know what? The best memories are being with the family.

“One of my favourite stories to tell is the day that I met Daisy who plays Amelia. She is as old as my son is now, in her 20s. I remember meeting her on that first day, she was six-years-old and she had this little hair and her two front teeth missing.

“And that was special just being part of her and working with Alicia Eyo (who played Ruby Haswell) too and just the Spencer gang and we still all speak regularly now. So my favourite memory is the family there. Definitely.”

Daisy, who intends to launch her own pilates studio, recently revealed being “axed” from Emmerdale, explaining the abrupt decision plunged her into a “dark hole”.

Speaking to The Sun, she said: “When it’s been ripped away from you, because that’s what it genuinely felt like, it was so out of the blue – you do just get into a bit of a hole of, oh God, like, can I do this?”

Regarding how it unfolded, she remembered: “It was at the beginning of the year, things were quiet. Obviously, we had the new producer come in. And then when it came to contracts, nothing came through, so I was like, ‘oh’… and then obviously it happened.

“It was upsetting, because I loved it, and I loved the job. You always think selfishly, like, why is this happening? Like, why me?”

Despite feeling she’d sacrificed portions of her childhood for the role, she acknowledged it was an honour to feature in Emmerdale, and she wouldn’t alter that experience.

Amelia also confided to RadioTimes it was “so sad” shooting her farewell scenes, with her character departing after relocating to Leicester with her daughter Esther following Tom King’s (played by James Chase) conviction.

Shebah Ronay was the original Hollyoaks poster girl, but her character Natasha Andersen was tragically killed off after just a few months on the Channel 4 soap

Former Hollyoaks star Shebah Ronay, who portrayed the legendary Natasha Andersen, has embarked on a striking career transformation three decades after the soap launched.

Natasha served as Hollyoaks‘ original pin-up – alluring, spirited and tragically, the first main character to meet her demise in a shocking death plot.

Her devastating end unfolded in March 1996 when she suffered a fatal overdose after her beverage was laced with ecstasy during a house party. She later collapsed and died in hospital leaving fans of the Channel 4 soap in shock.

Shebah, now 53, initially appeared on our television screens as Natasha on October 23, 1995, when the soap launched on television. But her character’s death was announced in January 1996.

The sequence was branded a “sensational scene in an attempt to boost ratings” at the time, crafted to elevate viewing figures and provide a sharp departure from the “softer stories about teen romances and spots”, reports the Liverpool Echo.

During its first year, Hollyoaks encountered backlash for its absence of socially conscious storylines, prompting producers to develop a powerful narrative centred around Natasha’s drug-induced death.

This plot generated significant media attention and represented a pivotal moment for the programme as it started addressing weightier topics.

Looking back on Natasha’s departure, series creator Phil Redmond commented: “Natasha’s death depicts the stark reality of unnecessary death coming very close to one group of friendly and fun-loving people for the first time in their lives and how this is bound to change their outlook in many ways”, reports the Mirror.

After her departure from the show, Shebah didn’t linger in the acting industry. She featured in the short film The Things We Do For Love before shifting her focus to modelling, presenting, and journalism.

The soap star spent a number of years as a film columnist for the weekly newspaper News of the World, before taking on the role of stylist editor at the glamorous Wedding Day magazine.

She is wedded to artist Jonathan Yeo, with whom she shares two children. The artist specialises in portraiture, with his celebrated work including King Charles III and Sir David Attenborough.

Shebah also has notable family connections, being the granddaughter of Hungarian-born food critic Egon Ronay and the daughter of fashion designer and former actress Edina Ronay.

Elsewhere, Hollyoaks will celebrate its 30th birthday in October, with the soap due to crossover with Brookside.

A former Coronation Street star is set to make his debut in Casualty tonight less than a year after leaving the Manchester based soap three years after joining

A former Coronation Street star is set to star in rival BBC soap Casualty less than a year after leaving the Manchester based soap.

Bill Fellows, who played Stu Carpenter in Corrie, is set to star in tonight’s episode of Casualty, starring as pharmacy delivery driver, Terry. It comes a few months after it was announced that Fellows would be making a guest stint in the soap.

The star is set for a dramatic storyline, with his character set to be brutally attacked by a gang during the delivery, spoilers reveal. It comes after last week’s dramatic events, in which it was revealed that pharmacist Sunny was stealing missing morphine.

READ MORE: BBC Casualty’s Sammy T Dobson ‘hounded’ with messages from fans after ‘brutal’ scenesREAD MORE: Coronation Street’s Carla Connor taken aback by Betsy Swain’s emotional admission

Things are set to take a darker turn, as spoilers reveal that Rash finds out all – as Sunny explains she’s been doing it to protect her son Jake, who has been groomed by the gang.

It later unravels that Terry’s injuries are due to Sunny telling the gang about the drop-off, but how will things unfold?

The star teased his dramatic role back in February, where he posted a selfie of himself wearing an NHS pass around his neck with the caption: “Another day , Another Casualty.” Days later, he posted an image of himself with special effect make up that showed him with arm and head injuries.

The character of Terry is a far cry from his role as Stu in Coronation Street. ITV fans will remember the character joining the soap in 2021, later growing close to Yasmeen, and becoming a chef at Speed Daal.

However, in 2024, the character decided to leave the street and head to Germany for a fresh start with his granddaughter.

During his three years on the soap, Billy’s character Stu had been involved in a number of hard hitting storylines, including homelessness and wrongful imprisonment.

The character was previously imprisoned for 27 years for the death of Charlie Walter. It was later confirmed that it was actually his daughter Bridget that was responsible for the death. Stu took in his granddaughter Eliza, and later left for Germany with her.

Speaking about his departure at the time, Bill said: “I’m proud of what we’ve achieved with Stu’s character.

“He started as a man struggling to survive, and now he’s a man who has rebuilt his life, found love, and made a difference. It’s been a complete story arc, and I’m pleased with how it’s all come together.”

He later said it had been ‘surreal’ to work alongside legends such as William Roache, who plays Ken Barlow. “Growing up, I watched it with my family, so being part of it has been surreal,” he said. “I’ve worked alongside legends like William Roache, and it’s been an incredible experience.”

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EXCLUSIVE: The 25-year-old actor, who plays the son of shopkeeper Dev, Aadi Alahan, left the soap on Wednesday night – but says it was his decision to ‘spread his wings’ and play other characters

After an emotional farewell last night as his character, Aadi Alahan, left Coronation Street’s famous cobbles to start a new life in India, actor Adam Hussain reveals it was his decision to quit.

Having joined Corrie in April 2020 as Dev and Sunita’s son, Aadi, Adam took over from Zennon Ditchett, who had left Weatherfield to concentrate on his A-levels. Prior to that, Aadi and his twin sister Asha were played by triplets Hannah, Harris and Ria Ahmed.

But after five years, the actor says he decided to leave to “spread his wings” and play other characters. And his brave move has clearly proved to be a good one as Adam reveals today he has already bagged himself a role in a new feature film, overseen by award-winning horror director Richard Stanley.

In his only newspaper interview talking about his departure, the actor, 24, tells the Mirror: “My life has changed for the better since I joined Corrie and it has been such an honour to be part of the amazing cast.

“I joined during the Covid pandemic, which was a weird and surreal time to take on a new character. I’ve loved playing Aadi, I have made good friends on the set, and I am going to miss Corrie dearly.

“But I am going to be 25 in October, and I felt it was the right time to leave. It was my decision, and the producers were so understanding.

“I want to spread my wings a little, go out in the big world and see what else I can do. I am really excited as I’ve got a new role in a horror feature film. I can’t say too much yet, but I am looking forward to it.

“I feel lucky as I’ve also been to lots of other auditions since I finished filming my Corrie scenes in June, and I’ve filmed a part in a short film, Spice For Life, too. We are sending it off to film festivals at the moment. It’s an exploration of cultures coming together.”

He is, however, glad Corrie bosses decided not to kill Aadi off. “It’s very relieving to know I can always return whenever I want to,” smiles Adam. “And they’ve told me the door will always be left open if I ever want to come back. My friends on set were gutted when I first told them, but they also understood. They now have high aspirations about what I am going to get up to in the coming years!”

Over the past few weeks, Aadi’s life has spiralled out of control as he turned to booze to get over the guilt of Lauren accidentally drinking his laced drink and the stress of running a business.

It was his dad, Dev, who told him to go and start a fresh life in India with his cousin, Vikram. Initially, Aadi was opposed to the idea, but eventually he came to the realisation that it was the perfect chance to wipe the slate clean.

“He has been really struggling financially with keeping the business running,” explains the star. “But his life spiralled because he also felt so guilty about what happened to Lauren. He started drinking a lot. At first, Aadi was distraught that his dad wanted to send him away, but he knew eventually it was the right decision to get away and have a fresh start.”

Adam says he had mixed emotions filming his final scenes. “It was both scary and exciting,” he adds. “I had a whole mix of emotions because I did get very nostalgic. I also knew it was the right decision to go.”

But thankfully, he says he didn’t fall to pieces shooting the emotional farewell scenes. “I actually had to use a tear stick for when Aadi started crying,” he reveals. “It’s been fun to film this storyline and I also think it has been good to show business owners who are struggling that they aren’t alone. It can be really tough running a business, as Aadi found.”

Admitting he has grown up a lot during his time on Corrie, Adam says he is particularly proud to have been involved in some gritty storylines. From being shot at while protecting his fiancée, Kelly Neelan, and accidentally letting Lauren Bolton drink LCD to having an affair with married woman Courtney Vance and staging a fake robbery at the corner shop, the actor says he has loved the many twists and turns his character has faced.

“I was 20 when I joined Corrie and I’ve learnt so much,” he says. “I still feel like a kid at heart but I am older now and these five years have flown by. It seems like only yesterday I was arriving on set for the first time to play Aadi. I’ve grown in confidence and I’ve learnt so much about how it works on a soap set as well as the industry as a whole.”

He picks out a car explosion in 2021 that saw Aadi fight for his life as one of his favourite plotlines. He also loved filming scenes a year later with Millie Gibson, who played Aadi’s fiancée, Kelly. She had been kidnapped by her dad’s criminal associates and was about to be shot. But loved-up Aadi jumped in to save her and took the bullet. Thankfully, the gunshot missed vital organs, but he was then left distraught when Kelly decided to leave Weatherfield for good.

“Aadi got shot trying to protect Kelly,” he recalls fondly. “It was such an honour and pleasure to work alongside Millie. We used Hollywood-style equipment, which was exciting. It was also great fun filming the car explosion stunt in the countryside.

“Filming in the pandemic was also obviously a surreal time, too. We had to keep a seven-metre distance with only two people in each scene at a time, which made filming quite difficult.

“But it’s been fun playing Aadi. I like how he enjoys playing the hero, but he has a flawed side as well. I love his awkwardness!” He also admits he is going to miss Jimmi Harkishin, who plays his on-screen dad, terribly. “I find Jimmi so funny,” he says. “He took me under his wing and showed me the ropes. I learned a lot from him, and he became my second dad – my work dad.

“I’ve kept the ‘golf ball’ set Dev gave Aadi when he asked him to be his best man as a memento. It’s in a chest at home, along with other mementoes from all my other acting jobs.

“I grew up watching Corrie and it’s been so surreal to be able to say I’ve been part of the cast. I have to pinch myself sometimes!” Both his charity shop worker mum, Nora, and dad, Azark, a retired hospitality worker, are very supportive of his decision to leave and have even let him move back in with them in Manchester.

Adam – one of four siblings – says they’ve always encouraged him to follow his dreams. “I got into acting when I was in secondary school. I was a quiet child and getting up on the stage was therapeutic for me. It helped me come out of my shell. Mum and Dad are so proud and we watched last night’s scenes together at home.”

After dropping out of college to attend an acting class run by his now-agent Darren Gordon, Adam landed several TV roles including playing Josh Nubhai in ITV’s The Bay for two seasons. He also starred in Absentia and No Man’s Land.

Adam, who is single, says he hopes to one day travel the world with his job. “I’ve already travelled quite a lot before I took on the Corrie role,” he explains. “I would love to travel everywhere, especially America. I want to get into films and the feature film I’ve been signed up to do is a great stepping stone.

“I am single at the moment. I want to concentrate on my work.” However, he stresses he’s not about to change careers. One newspaper report suggested he was working for his family tailoring business in between roles. “My brother-in-law owns a tailor,” he explains. “So, every now and again I go and help out!”

As for whether he thinks he will ever return to Corrie’s cobbles in the future and the actor smiles as he stresses: “Never say never! But I do hope Aadi does get a second chance in India. He is going to live with his rich aunt, so you never know, he might turn out to be the new Prince of Mumbai!”

– Coronation Street runs Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 8pm on ITV1. Episodes can also be downloaded on ITVX.

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