Kieron Richardson feels "sad" that his ‘Hollyoaks’ far-right extremism storyline is over.
The hard-hitting plot will come to a head tonight (15.11.19) in an hour-long special on E4, and while the 33-year-old star had "a lot of trepidation" about playing out the storyline, he now counts the plot as one of his favourites and is pleased it has raised awareness.
He said: "It’s kind of sad that it’s all over really. It’s a story that initially I was a bit nervous and wary of taking on, and now that it’s over, and literally the final bits are going to be on television, its quite sad.
"Going in to it, I had a lot of trepidation, but coming out the other side, it’s now one of my most favourite storylines I’ve ever done.
"I am quite sad that it’s over but the most important thing is the message that it’s brought and hopefully it’s highlighted an issue that needed to be talked about."
Kieron is taking a break from the Channel 4 soap, and is "super excited" about starring in Kay Mellor’s play ‘Band of Gold’, the stage adaptation of her TV series of the same name.
He added: "I am taking part in a play which is called ‘Band of Gold’ by Kay Mellor and it’s going on tour from November until March next year which is very super exciting."
Kieron recently admitted he felt "scared" about taking on the storyline – which has seen his character Ste Hay become radicalised by a far-right group – but he is pleased he ploughed on with the plot.
He said: "When the guys sat me down originally, I hadn’t heard of radicalisation before and I didn’t know what it was.
"Then we had a meeting with the guys from Exit UK. Basically, most of our story has been based on their work.
"I came out of that meeting and said to Bryan Kirkwood, ‘I don’t want to do it. I’m too scared, I can’t do it.’
"I’m so glad now though, over a year later, that I did.
"I’m so proud of it as a body of work."
Kieron previously had to quit Twitter after he was targeted by cruel trolls over the hard-hitting plot.
Hollyoaks’ Kieron Richardson is ‘sad’ far-right plot is over
