‘Hollyoaks’ boss Bryan Kirkwood has praised Stephanie Davis’ "remarkable courage and strength" after she went through a "really tough time".
The 25-year-old actress will reprise her role as Sinead O’Connor in October as part of the Channel 4 soap’s Storm Week – which will feature a huge stunt – and the producer says Stephanie, who has battled alcohol addiction and been assaulted by her ex Jeremy McConnell since she was last in ‘Hollyoaks’, is making "better choices" and is back to being a "fantastic actress".
Bryan said: "I am Stephanie’s biggest fan. I think she has shown remarkable courage and strength over the last year. She has been through a really tough time in the public eye, but she’s now come out the other side.
"Stephanie turned her life around, is making better choices and is returning to what she does brilliantly – and that’s being a fantastic actress."
Sinead will be "up to her old tricks" when she makes her dramatic return to the village, and Bryan has hinted she will wreak revenge on her ex Ste Hay (Kieron Richardson) on his wedding day to Harry Thompson (Parry Glasspool) after he cheated on her.
He said: "She’s up to her old tricks within seconds of arriving and we’re delighted to have her back.
"What’s amazing about Steph’s portrayal of Sinead is that you can forgive all of these terrible choices that she makes. She’s so compelling to watch. Sinead is charming, outrageous, vulnerable – and she’s full of heart, soul and love."
Bryan admitted the whole ‘Hollyoaks’ cast and crew are "thrilled" to have Stephanie back on set.
He added to Digital Spy: "Stephanie is doing amazing work and the cast and crew have welcomed her back in with open arms. We’re all thrilled to have her back and seeing her doing what she’s good at."
Stephanie played Sinead from 2010 to 2015 when she was axed from the role, and in 2016 she appeared in ‘Celebrity Big Brother’, where she met Jeremy, and the pair later embarked on a relationship outside the house.
In February, Stephanie said she was an alcoholic and that she admitted herself to rehab following her split from Jeremy, who she has 21-month-old son Caben with.
Jeremy was sentenced to 20 weeks in prison after assaulting Stephanie, but insisted in July that he is now a "different person" following a stint in rehab.
Hollyoaks boss praises Stephanie Davis’ ‘remarkable courage’
