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EMMERDALE star Danny Miller has had one of his toughest years ever in the ITV soap.
His storylines have included a car crash, an underwater escape, abuse and torture in prison, fights, self-harm and relationship woes.
So it’s no wonder he’s up for his fourth best actor gong at the British Soap Awards.
He reveals: “It’s been very tough. As I’ve got older I’ve attached myself a little bit more to it, maybe I’ve become more emotional with age I don’t know, but we’ve had some heavy stuff. This year has been a challenge but I have enjoyed it.”
Earlier this month Emmerdale won its first TV Bafta award and as the cast and crew got up on stage it was clear it had been a long time coming.
Danny, 26, agrees: “We’re all on cloud nine and the day after the Baftas we were quite hungover.
“It’s a great time for Emmerdale and it’s only right that we’re finally getting the recognition we deserve. We were overlooked for so many years and now it’s nice to get the recognition.
Powerful
“People enjoy the show and that’s because it combines everything from the gritty high drama to the comedy and romance. The fact that we’re now up for so many awards is testament to the brilliant storylines and daring to try new things.”
One of the storylines, which has set Danny apart this year, was when his character Aaron Dingle was sent to prison.
The powerful scenes saw Aaron suffering homophobic abuse when the other inmates found out he was gay, and he has also been victimised as the son of convicted paedophile Gordon Livesy who hanged himself in the same jail just months earlier.
Aaron, who was abused by his father as a child, was dragged to an empty cell by an angry mob of prisoners during the episode and beaten by ringleader Jason who spat homophobic insults at him.
The upsetting scenes provoked 269 complaints from viewers but was cleared by Ofcom. And Danny says the storyline was testament to the show continually upping its game to push the drama in soap.
“We used a completely new prison set over in Bradford and I was filming out there on my own with a completely new group of actors for around four weeks,” he says.
“It felt different to Emmerdale because it was so out of our comfort zones, but we pushed the boundaries there to make it seem really real.
“The last thing you’d have wanted was for Aaron to go to prison and it be a walk in the park. He’s not that sort of character. People did react strongly to it and some was negative.
“There was one big episode where people really got into his head and at that point Aaron is so mentally weak anyway.
“Our producer Iain MacLeod was very clever because he played out that mental torture and it was really hardhitting and graphic, but there was no actual violence involved.
“So much has happened with his dad Gordon being found guilty, getting together with Robert and trying, and failing, to have a happy life. The super soap week crash and the aftermath.
“But I am really proud of those prison scenes and it’s been my highlight of the year. We worked some really long days and into the night to make it what it was and I had to get into that head space so it was draining.”
It’s no wonder Danny, who has now been nominated for best actor five times – and won three – is up again at next month’s big soap event.
“It is taking on the controversial storylines which is why Emmerdale is award-winning,” he says. “Aaron is an intense character, but again it’s all in the writing.
“It’s great to be up for best actor. I take every year as it comes and it never gets normal to be nominated. I feel incredibly lucky. I feel like I’m waiting to get found out!”
Danny, who is currently single after previously dating Hollyoaks actress Kirsty-Leigh Porter, says he likes a good night out with his mates to help him unwind after all of those emotional scenes.
“It can be hard to unwind and get out of character, but at the same time I do have brilliant friends and family around me who make me laugh and bring me back to earth.
“I used to go to the gym after work but I am not so bothered now. I am more of a night-out-down-the-pub-anda few-pints guy to be honest.
“I am single so I will be taking my best mate Daniel to the British Soap Awards with me as my guest. He has been a bit of a good luck charm in the past.”
The Robron rollercoaster isn’t stopping for Aaron, who – although out of prison and on the road to recovery – is still part of one of soap’s most loved and troubled couples.
This week it was revealed Robert cheated on him with ex-Rebecca White, who fell pregnant. Robert, who believes Rebecca has had an abortion, was seen confessing, but then worrying Aaron would fly off the handle and self-harm.
Potential
And although the pair are trying to make it work, when they find out that Rebecca is, after all, planning to keep the baby, it could all change.
“Aaron doesn’t deal with bad news well. He will always have the potential to shut down or go off the rails but this time he’s different, he’s prepared to make things work with Robert and Rebecca.
“But for how long only time will tell. It doesn’t take much to push him back into that dark place. The news of the baby won’t be easy for him.
“The fans seem to love Aaron and Robert together and ‘Robron’ are a couple that will always have potential to go one way or the other. It’s quite a reckless relationship in some ways and people seem to relate to that. There is so much more drama to come and I can’t wait.
“There’s a lot more to come from Aaron’s misery. He’s one of life’s sad souls and unfortunately trouble just seems to follow him around. But from those storylines comes the high drama that I love, so bring it on.” The British Soap Awards will be broadcast live on ITV on Saturday, June 3, from The Lowry in Manchester. Vote now at britishsoapawards.tv