Michael Praed
He first stole our hearts as Robin Hood, but now he’s Emmerdale’s suavest silver fox...
Dish of the Dales
He made his name as swashbuckling 80s hero Robin Hood, before moving to Hollywood to play Dynasty character, Prince Michael of Moldavia. Michael joined Emmerdale last year as bad boy Frank Clayton. The actor, 57, who has a son and daughter, lives with his partner, actress Josefina Gabrielle, in London.
The swords in Robin Of Sherwood were very heavy and we did get hurt. not very often, but often enough. it was a case of, ‘Jesus! that was painful!’ i got stabbed a couple of times, i was accidentally punched by a stuntman, my hand got lacerated and one sword came perilously close to my nether regions!
I’d never done a soap opera before Emmerdale and I didn’t know how things worked. But essentially you are walking into an extended family. there are a lot of people who have been doing it for a long time. the nutcases, the pains-in-the-butt and the people who are unreliable and unprofessional have been weeded out, so only the really nice people are left.
I do a little exercise a lot – I’m one of the laziest people in the world. i don’t go religiously to the gym. in my twenties i read a book by the canadian air force about how to keep fit and i do 10 minutes of that every day.
It was only when people said, ‘I used to have your poster on my wall,’ that I gave any thought to the whole heart-throb thing. i never considered it at the time. now, as an older man, i’m thinking – i really should have exploited it, what a delightful thing to happen to a young man! how do i feel today? Listen, a little bit of discreet adoration never did anyone any harm!
✱ Emmerdale is on ITV, Mon, Tues, Wed and Fri, 7pm, and Thurs, 7pm & 8pm