Hollyoaks' Richard Blackwood on "loving" playing Felix compared to previous characters
Hollyoaks' Deveraux family are taking centre stage in the Channel 4 soap at the moment, with the recent big reveal that mysterious newcomers Toby and Celeste Faroe (Bobby Gordon and Andrea Ali) are the long-lost siblings of Mitchell Deveraux (Imran Adams) and the sudden arrival of their father Felix Westwood, played by Richard Blackwood.
Felix is set to cause a heap of trouble, having already been tormenting Walter Deveraux (Trevor A Toussaint) with his knowledge of a big family secret.
Speaking from his home while appearing on Channel 4's Sunday Brunch today (April 5), actor Blackwood revealed just what makes playing Felix so special.
"I love playing Felix," he said. "I would say I enjoy my run at different characters, but there's something about Hollyoaks, they give so much freedom to try stuff with your character. They like you to try things and push the boundaries and for me as an actor that's a love affair."
Related: 7 huge Hollyoaks spoilers for next week
Filming on Hollyoaks has now been shut down in line with the social distancing measures required by the Government due to the spread of COVID-19 but Blackwood said he is glad that there is plenty of material in the can ready to hit our screens over the next few weeks.
"We were filming consistently, Monday to Saturday... we were watching this thing (COVID-19) far away and then it came closer.
"Just under three weeks ago we made the decision we need to stop now. It's been one extreme to another.
"Felix has now appeared on screen so I feel good about that. I feel very lucky to know that having done so much work I'll be on the screen consistently."
The actor, who has previously appeared in EastEnders as Vincent Hubbard, added that he is "100%" missing being on set and said many actors are trying to find ways to keep expressing their creativity.
"We're creatives and that's what we do," he said. "So when we can't everything goes inwards. If you go on social media everybody is acting, acting out sketches. For creatives we have no other way to vent."
Hollyoaks is currently airing on Mondays and Tuesdays at 6.30pm on Channel 4.
Wednesdays through Fridays on E4 will feature classic episodes called Hollyoaks Favourites to compensate for the soap suspending filming in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
The information in this story is accurate as of the publication date. While we are attempting to keep our content as up-to-date as possible, the situation surrounding the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continues to develop rapidly, so it's possible that some information and recommendations may have changed since publishing. For any concerns and latest advice, visit the World Health Organisation. If you're in the UK, the National Health Service can also provide useful information and support, while US users can contact the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
Digital Spy now has a newsletter – sign up to get it sent straight to your inbox.
Read more Hollyoaks spoilers on our dedicated homepage
Want up-to-the-minute soaps news, spoilers and gossip on your social feeds? Just hit 'Like' on our Digital Spy Soaps Facebook page and 'Follow' on our @soapscoop Twitter account.
You Might Also Like
