DAZ’S COMEBACK TRIUMPH
For Darren Jeffries, there’s no place like home. The soap star made a triumphant return to Hollyoaks late last year, much to viewers’ delight. And speaking to the Irish Mail on Sunday, Darren, who reprised his character OB, said he was thrilled to head back to soapland. ‘Going back there is like putting back on an old jumper in a way. It has been really nice in terms of the people but really interesting in terms of the character. A lot of the crew are still there that worked on the show when I was younger so that was lovely catching up with them. It was great to see friendly faces.’ The Manchester actor, 34, left Hollyoaks eight years ago and he has since enjoyed a career in presenting. But he says his real passion lies in acting.
‘I started acting again at the start of last year. I went back to drama school and I have been doing a lot of stage shows in Manchester. I had come to the end of a show I was doing when I got the call from Bryan Kirkwood [Hollyoaks producer] asking if I wanted to come back. I was really happy,’ he said.
Since he left Hollyoaks he has been living and working in London. As well as returning to the small screen, Darren has appeared in a number of stage productions and received rave reviews for his role in fringe production When Both Sides Surrender at Manchester’s newest theatre venue 53two.
Now his return to the popular soap – for which he won a British Soap Award in 2008 – has also earned him a new legion of loyal fans. ‘The reception has been really lovely. A lot of the viewers are now parents and their children are now watching the show. So that’s really nice.’
Indeed it has been a busy year for Darren as he married his long-term love Stephanie in June.
So as he once again prepares to bow out of Hollyoaks, there is new chapter in the acting life of Jeffries unfolding ahead.