Daddy COOL!
NEIL ROBERTS RECKONS DARCY HAS FINALLY MET HER MATCH IN HIS ALTER EGO GLENN DONOVAN…
For weeks we’ve been waiting with bated breath for the identity of Darcy’s Mystery Man to be revealed – and actor Neil Roberts, who plays him, is delighted to finally disclose the name of the Hollyoaks newcomer!
“It’s Glenn – who used to be married to Tracey, and is father to Adam and Jesse,” shares the star. “There was actually a bit of a clue in my first episode. My name was placed between Adam and Jesse’s in the credits! I was quite amused when I was told about that, and I wonder if many fans picked up on it.”
It’s as good a time as any for Adam and Jesse to get reacquainted with their old man, as the grieving lads are currently mourning the loss of their mum Tracey. However, devious Darcy is horrified to run into Glenn – who has serious suspicions about her role in his former wife’s death…
Hi, Neil! Did any savvy Hollyoaks fans suss that you were the Donovan dad?
Some fans on Twitter thought I could be from the start, though one person thought I could be Darcy’s brother. Aisling [Jarrett-gavin, aka Darcy] is a beautiful young lady, so there must have been very flattering lighting!
What do your own family think of your latest role?
I’m pleased I can finally tell them about the part, because I wasn’t allowed to! It’s all been very hush-hush, but my two sons are thrilled now they know.
Both of them are huge fans of the show, so they’re intrigued to see what my character is like and how Glenn is going to be involved in it all.
What brings Glenn to the village?
He’s come back to see to Tracey’s funeral. His children no longer have their mother, so he wants to support them, but Adam and Jesse are in two minds because his relationship with Tracey wasn’t great. However, Glenn is curious when he finds out Darcy is there. Although he has no evidence, he thinks that she killed Tracey!
How does Darcy react to him?
As you saw in my first episode, Darcy is worried about him – which is quite unusual for her character, because she’s always on top of things and in control. They’ve had some sort of relationship in the past, and Glenn knows something about her that won’t put her in the best light with his sons.
Glenn seemed pretty scary when we first met him. Could Darcy be in danger?
I’d certainly be keen to bring Darcy down – but Glenn’s not a bully. The beauty of Glenn is that he has a huge amount of love for his family and wants to be a positive influence. He doesn’t trust Darcy and thinks she was capable of murdering Tracey, so he plans to show them what she’s like.
Is Glenn going to have to work hard to win over Adam and Jesse?
He hasn’t been around for a while, but to a certain extent that’s because of
the way his relationship with Tracey deteriorated. Glenn sees this as an opportunity to build bridges and be the dad he always believed he could be. He gets a mixed reaction from Adam and Jesse, so now it’s a matter of him trying to show he’s a decent father!
How have you found your Hollyoaks experience so far?
Fantastic! What I love about soaps is that they’re filmed incredibly speedily and are very professional, but there’s such a positive nature and people have fun. I get a hug from the cameraman every time I go on and off set!
Have you worked with anyone outside the Donovan clan yet?
I’ve mostly been working with that core group of people, but I’ve just started to spread out, and now I’m working with Warren and Sienna. The talent on this show is extraordinary. Anna Passey [Sienna] and Jamie Lomas [Warren] are brilliant actors and lovely people. I haven’t filmed with him yet, but I worked with David Easter [Mac] years ago on Family Affairs [Neil played Gavin Arnold and David played Pete Callan]. We’re old friends, so I’d love some scenes with him down the line!