Darren Day joins 'Hollyoaks'

[moonstorm]

Darren Day has joined the cast of Hollyoaks, it has been confirmed.

The West End star will play bad boy Danny Houston, the best friend of Brendan Brady (Emmet Scanlan). Danny is also Cheryl Brady's (Bronagh Waugh) silent partner in Chez Chez.

However, Cheryl quickly realises that Danny is not someone she wants to be in business with as his arrival causes trouble for the residents of the Channel 4 soap. He takes a shine to Jacqui McQueen (Claire Cooper), leaving Rhys Asworth (Andy Moss) - but also playing with fire as Jacqui is dating Brendan. The McQueen soon finds herself embroiled in Danny and Brendan's shady world.

Day said: "I've really enjoyed filming with Hollyoaks and I'm excited about coming back. Danny is the type of character any actor would kill to play and the part has been made even better as I'm working with great talent such as Claire, Emmett and Bronagh."

He added: "I've been a fan of the show for some time and this is a very exciting time with the show’s recent reinvention. I’m delighted to join the cast.”

Day will make his brief debut on screen in the second week of October, ahead of a shocking return later in the year.

Speaking of Day's casting, Hollyoaks series producer Paul Marquess said: "Danny Houston is a dangerous but very charming character who makes an aggressive impact in his first episodes.

"Darren plays the part brilliantly and I’m delighted that we're able to bring him back later this year," he added.

[tammyy2j]

So Jacqui is dating Rhys, Brendan and now this fella Danny

[moonstorm]

She's a busy wee girl!

[lizann]

Jacqui is best with Tony only

I dont like Darren Day at all

[moonstorm]

I am going to give him a chance before I start to slate him but he really doesn't do much for me.

[lizann]

Darren Day has promised that his new Hollyoaks character will be one of the most sinister villains the soap has ever seen.

Last month, it was announced that the theatre star and entertainer had signed up for the role of Danny Houston, who is the silent partner in Cheryl Brady's nightclub Chez Chez.

Speaking to Digital Spy about his new alter ego, Day revealed: "The producer has told me that he's the baddest on the block. There is going to be no-one badder than Danny Houston - he's about as bad as it gets and is the epitome of a soap villain really.

"I've been told that some soap magazines are nicknaming him Dirty Dan! For me, that's really exciting. He's a London villain and he's the silent partner in the nightclub. He's been involved in the business dealings from afar, down in London, and now he's going to come up and get involved on a personal level."

Asked how Danny will get along with Cheryl's brother Brendan, the actor replied: "Well, everyone's wary of Danny because of his reputation and what he's capable of doing. But it seems that the plan is going to be for them to be partners in crime.

"As Danny is 11 years older than Brendan, he's probably been there and done it all. He's probably given Brendan a lot of advice - what Brendan is doing now, Danny was doing ten years ago. From what I've been told, no-one will mess with Danny - and for an actor, that's really, really exciting."

Day makes his debut as Danny in tomorrow's episode of the Channel 4 soap. Viewers will then see him return to the programme in shocking circumstances later this year.

[Perdita]

Darren Day claims he is channelling all his love rat past into his new Hollyoaks character Danny Houston.

The 42-year-old actor told New magazine he is leaving his bad boy past behind him in real life and considers himself a "reformed love rat", but he promised his soap character will be a true villain.

Darren said: "He's going to be the epitome of the soap villain. Some of the magazines have already nicknamed him Dirty Dan, which is quite exciting because the soap villain that I admired most over the years was Dirty Den in EastEnders.

"All I've been told is that he is incredibly dangerous but very charming."

He added: "I would identify with both of those characteristics! But with where my life is now, I'm going to be the baddest of the bad on screen and the goodest of the good off screen."

Darren lives with wife Stephanie Dooley, 31, with whom he has a four-year-old daughter Madison, and is also father to five-year-old son Corey with Emmerdale's Suzanne Shaw.

He insists he is now a responsible husband and father.

"It makes me smile that I still get called 'love rat' but you get used to it. My wife and I have been together for five years, married for three and a half, and I've been 100 per cent faithful. But I know it's going to take a long time for it to subside, so maybe the best that I can hope for is 'reformed love rat'!

"I saw a headline saying, 'Watch out, Hollyoaks beauties, Darren Day's coming over!'

"Well, one, I'm happily married, and, two, I'm old enough to be their dad!"