Hunky Joe’s aiming for some live action

STRICTLY star Joe McFadden says his character will go out with a bang after confirming that he’s leaving Holby City.

Joe, 42, has played Dr Raffaello “Raf” Di Lucca for the last four years but feels the time is right to hang up his scrubs. The hunky Scottish actor said that Strictly has given him the buzz to do more live entertainment.

Speaking exclusively to the Daily Star Sunday as he trained ahead of last night’s dazzling quickstep with his dance partner Katya Jones, he said: “Holby has been brilliant. They gave me the time off to do Strictly but sadly everything comes to an end.

“I just think that having done this show, there’s other stuff out there. Doing live entertainment…it’s where my heart is. I love doing theatre, I love musicals, and the longer you leave it the harder it gets.

“It’s been four years without doing any stage work and I don’t want to leave it much longer. “When it does happen it would be nice to have the big exit. As an actor no-one wants to leave in the back of a taxi, even if it means being killed off.

“Obviously, a big stunt would be brilliant.”

Joe has been the dark horse of the current series and can’t believe he is still in the competition. He added: “It’s amazing to have got this far. I really am loving every minute of it. Katya and I get on so well. We’re very similar in that we both work very hard, although her energy levels are on another scale.

“But whatever happens I’ve had the time of my life learning so many great dances.”

To find out if Joe has made it through to next week’s quarter-finals musical week, watch the results show tonight on BBC One at

7.20pm.