All the latest breaking news on the TV soap, Hollyoaks. Browse THEGAYUK’s complete collection of news, articles and commentary on Hollyoaks.
Former cover star for THEGAYUK, Andrew Hayden-Smith excited fans with a topless moment on Hollyoaks which is due to air in tonight’s episode. The TV star joined the soap in 2016 as DS Armstrong.
It looks like he’s been getting some DIY in – wonder if he does call outs?
Hollyoaks airs weeknights at 6.30pm on Channel 4, with first look screenings at 7pm on E4.
CREDIT: Monty McKinnen for THEGAYUK
Hunky man-bander Duncan James, 38, is to join the cast of Hollyoaks. The star who has just enjoyed a successful run of dates in a UK tour of Priscilla Queen Of The Desert, is now set to continue his acting success by joining the cast of teen soap Hollyoaks.
Excited to be joining the cast, Duncan said,
“I am absolutely thrilled to be joining the Hollyoaks team.
“I’m looking forward to working with the fantastic on and off screen talent on the show and bringing the character of Ryan to life.”
The openly gay singer will play a grounded “committed” family man who moves into the Chester fictional suburb of Hollyoaks.
However in a cryptic tweet last night Duncan hinted that his character would be working “very closely” with the gay character Ste Hay, played by Gaydio presenter Kieron Richardson.
“Well all I’m gonna say it that my character will be working very closely with
@MrkieronR !!!! Watch this space!”
Although the singer has appeared on television many times, this will be his first major acting role. He did however appear in the long running Police soap, The Bill in 2009 for one episode.
Meanwhile his band Blue have also been having success – with a UK wide tour and a crowd-pleasing appearance at Pride in London last year.
Good luck Mr James!
Keiron Richardson is set to make history when his character, Ste Hay, on Hollyoaks becomes the first HIV positive gay man in a British soap, in an attempt by the production company to tackle sexual health issues in gay men.
On Monday new figures from PHE (Public Health England) revealed that new HIV infections amongst MSM (men who have sex with men) continue to buck the downward infection trend.
Shockingly nine gay or bisexual men are infected with HIV everyday in the United Kingdom.
Will Harris, Head of Media at Terrence Higgins Trust, said, ‘We always say that a well-researched, well-told storyline in a national soap is worth any number of health campaigns, especially for a stigmatised condition like HIV. It’s important because currently whole generations of young gay men are entering adulthood without the confidence they need to negotiate healthy sex and relationships.’
Executive producer Bryan Kirkwood said, ‘We have wanted to tell this story for a long time and while HIV can affect anyone, infection rates in young gay men remain too high and to ignore that is to do the gay audience a disservice. Hollyoaks is in a unique position to be able to talk directly to millions of young viewers and if the safe-sex message is not coming through education we can help with that both on screen and through multi-platform support.
‘2015 is Hollyoaks’ 20th year and to make that our “year of safe sex” felt right for a show built upon telling rites of passage stories. With Ste’s HIV and other stories for our teenage characters we will explore the many implications of unprotected sex and hope to encourage thoughtful debate amongst our audience.’
This isn’t the first time that Hollyoaks have reached out to gay audiences with hard hitting storylines. In January the programme in its 19th year wrote about male rape in a crueling storyline which saw John Paul McQueen assaulted by Finn O’Connor.