Hollyoaks hunks who quit the soap – addiction battle, Corrie and tragic deaths

Goldie McQueen has a huge shock in Hollyoaks this week after Sylver McQueen comes back to haunt her.

Sylver’s death left the village residents and viewers devastated after he was killed off in an explosion earlier this year, alongside Marnie Nightingale.

Speaking about his exit from the soap, Sylver actor David Tag said he was proud of the way the character was written out of the programme, telling Digital Spy: “When I was told how I was leaving, I thought that was much better.

“If you go out in a taxi, the option is there for you to go back, but I wanted to go out all guns blazing in an explosion with a big dramatic death as a hero.”

As we eagerly wait to find out what David Tag will do next and when he will return to our TV screens in another series, Daily Star has taken a look back on other heartthrobs who have left Hollyoaks since the series began.

Ricky Whittle (Calvin Valentine)

Ricky Whittle became an instant heartthrob when he rose to fame as Calvin Valentine on Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks.

His role later led to one of the most shocking storylines in the soap, when Calvin was shot and killed during the first dance at his wedding in 2010.

That wasn’t the last that viewers would see of Ricky Whittle though, as he soon landed the lead role of Shadow Moon in the critically acclaimed TV series American Gods, based on the book of the same name by Neil Gaiman.

It is Ricky’s latest role, following appearances in TV series such as Mistresses and The 100, with American Gods running for over four years between 2017 and 2021.

However, fans were left devastated when the Starz TV channel announced that the programme would be cancelled after its third series.

Ricky later took to Instagram to address the news, saying to fans: “This has been an amazing journey thus far and I am so grateful to my fellow cast and crew who have worked so hard on this award-winning show.

“We have the best fans around the world and thank each of you for your passion and support, so know that Neil Gaiman, Fremantle, and myself and the cast are still committed to completing Neil Gaiman’s critically acclaimed story.”

Along with his acting career, he also showed off some seriously impressive dance moves when he reached the final of Strictly Come Dancing in 2009.

Away from our screens, Ricky tends to keep his personal life private and it is not known if the actor is currently dating or is single.

Will Mellor (James Bolton)

Two Pints Of Lager and a Packet of Crisp’s icon Will Mellor was one of the original Hollyoaks heartthrobs, after joining the soap as James Bolton.

He played the role from 1995 to 2004, before landing one of his most famous roles as Gaz in Two Pints of Lager, alongside TV royalty Ralf Little and Sheridan Smith.

From there he has not left our TV screens, appearing in rival soaps such as EastEnders and Waterloo Road, as well as most recently playing drug dealer Harvey in Coronation Street – whose reign of terror over the Battersby family came to head during super soap week in 2021.

He also found romance in his career, after forming a co-star romance with actress Michelle McSween, with the couple later marrying in 2007 and welcoming two children together.

However, in 2020, Will revealed that he had also suffered a heartbreaking loss in his personal life, following the death of his father from cancer.

Speaking about his father on the Two Pints with Will & Ralf podcast, Will said: “He sat in a chair outside the back door and I sat up the garden and I didn’t hug him because of the coronavirus thing and he passed away without me doing that.

“He actually said to me ‘if I got hold of you I wouldn’t be able to let go’. That was one of the last things he said to me and it absolutely killed me.”

Matt Littler (Max Cunningham)

Matt Littler joined Hollyoaks as cheeky teenager Max Cunningham after he took over the role from Ben Sheriff in 1997.

He soon became a fan-favourite on the show, with viewers following his antics with his best friend O.B, but also witnessing shocking moments including the death of his parents and being accused of murder.

Viewers later saw the character tragically killed in a car accident, after the actor chose to leave the soap in 2008.

However, he told the Bury Times that he would forever be fond of his character, saying: “I like Max and think he’s a nice chap. The public will always call me Max, but it is the end of something for me. It will be nice to close the door and move on.

“I have grown up in front of the cameras though and it is quite hard to leave.”

Max and O.B’s close friendship also extended into real life too away from the soap, as O.B actor Darren Jeffries was the best man at Matt’s wedding in 2012.

Matt married long term girlfriend Jayne Mahon at Liverpool’s Anglican Cathedral and even took guests on a Magical Mystery Tour around the city in a big red bus as part of their big day.

Since leaving Hollyoaks, the best friends also run a production company together called Little Jeff Productions.

Matt has also become a vocal coach and has lent his voice to various Game Of Thrones video games in 2014 and 2016.

Paul Danan (Sol Patrick)

Paul Danan rose to fame as Sol Patrick in Hollyoaks, a role he played from 1997 until 2001.

However, since then he has appeared on a number of TV programmes including The Kevin Bishop Show and Are We Dead Yet.

Paul also had a memorable stint on celebrity Love Island, with his actions in the villa earning him the nickname ‘Dangerous Danan’.

That’s not the only reality TV series that Paul has taken part in though, as he was also a contestant on Celebrity Big Brother in 2017.

Away from our screens, he has also had a number of high profile romances and dates with stars including Emma Bunton, Katie Price, Kelly Brooks and Melanie Sykes.

Talking on his podcast, Paul Danan’s Morning After, the actor revealed that Melanie Sykes was not impressed when he crashed his car on the way to pick her up for a date in 1996.

“The guy in front had to go off in an ambulance and all I’m thinking was, ‘I’ve got to go. I’ve got a date with Melanie Sykes”, he said.

“It was a shame because that date could have been much better. We were on and off for a couple of months. She ended up getting together with an actor guy and married him.”

However, he has since settled and is a doting father to his son DeNiro.

Paul has also spoken openly about his past battle with drug addiction, including nearly dying from an overdose, telling Bristol Live: “I never spoke out because I was too ashamed, I really wasn’t well. Some people don’t realise how close I was to not making it through the other side.

“It’s since I’ve been talking about it and been much more open, so many people have told me ‘yeah that’s what I was like.”

He has since used his experience to help others, including working at a drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre in the Cotswolds and setting up a theatre company during lockdown to support people with addictions.

Jeremy Edwards (Kurt Benson)

Jeremy Edwards was another original Hollyoaks heartthrob alongside Will Mellor, playing Kurt Benson for over four years between 1995 and 1999.

He also sent fans wild when he reprised the role briefly in 2020 after his fellow residents had presumed he died in an accident.

After Hollyoaks, he also landed a leading role as another heartthrob – this time playing doctor Danny Shaughnessy in the BBC drama Holby City from 1999 and 2003.

However, his time on Holby City also came with tragedy, as Jeremy battled with depression following the death of his co-star Laura Sadler, who died after falling from a balcony at her boyfriend’s home in 2002.

Speaking about the effect that the tragic incident had on his life, he told Heat: “It was a tough time for me. After Laura’s death, I got really messed up. I was drinking a hell of a lot and got seriously depressed.”

The actor also revealed that the incident took a toll on his relationship with pop star Rachel Stevens, to who the star was engaged between 2002 and 2004.

Since then Jeremy has appeared in TV series including Emmerdale, Doctors, Crime Stories and Millie Inbetween.

He has also found happiness with his wife Lydia, who the actor has been married to since 2009 and with who he has two children.

The couple announced in 2021 that they had welcomed their second child together called Theodore after an IVF journey.

Prior to Theodore’s birth, Jeremy told OK! Magazine: “We’re incredibly excited but the main feeling has been a relief.

“Scarlett was conceived through IVF and so was this baby. We feel very blessed, as the process is actually really tough on Lyds.’

Lydia added: “It’s been very stressful, but we feel so lucky that it worked both times for us on the first attempt.”

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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk