A YOUNG actor is celebrating after landing a part in Channel 4’s popular teen soap Hollyoaks.

Gabriel Clark, who grew up in Harwood, has joined the cast of the Chester-based show taking over the role of Ollie Morgan.

Gabriel, 22, previously appeared on the soap and also had a brief part on Coronation Street last year.

“I’m so excited to join the cast of Hollyoaks,” said Gabriel, who is a former pupil at Turton School. “Two years ago, I was part of the Buster storyline, so to finally be here, playing a lead role in Hollyoaks, it is very surreal.

“My mother is an opera singer, and, when I was younger, I spent a lot of my time backstage, going and watching her in different places.

"I was lucky enough to be around a lot of creative people from a very young age. At my primary school, Hardy Mill, I was blessed to have an incredible drama teacher, Gary Harvey, who used to do an after school drama club, and teach us once a week for drama, which was incredible.”

Gabriel also had a good grounding in acting after working at the town’s famous theatre.

"Working in the Octagon shaped me so much," he said. "It was incredible. I think I saw Hamlet around 17 times. I was going in to a theatre every single week and watching plays, talking to actors, and I’d ask them all sorts of questions. I miss the Octagon, and I cant wait for it to re-open.”

Life has been strange for many in the acting industry through the pandemic with theatres closed and filming interrupted.

“Life has been quite tough as an actor in lockdown," said Gabriel. "There has been a lot of uncertainty, particularly in the arts sector. It’s been quite upsetting to see theatres, like the Octagon and Royal Exchange, who have given actors such an incredible platform to train at, struggling to keep going, but I’m really looking forward to seeing those doors open again in 2021.

“It’s also given me a lot of time to reflect. I am quite an active person, and I didn’t really enjoy being sat around, so I feel very lucky being able to come to Hollyoaks every day.

"On set things are different, we’ve got a lot of restrictions, but it means that we can shoot the scenes and we all feel safe. It’s actually really nice to be in work and see everyone. We’re able to do what we love which is tell stories and for that I feel incredibly privileged.”

Staff at Gabriel’s old school were pleased to learn of their ex-student’s success.

Jeanette Bimpson, head of drama, said: “We are so thrilled to hear that Gabriel has landed such an important role, but not surprised. Gabriel starred in every production that we did while he was a student with us, taking lead roles in Grease, Shrek, and most recently Mary Poppins. Gabriel was an absolute pleasure to teach and was already an inspiration to younger students because of his huge talent, generous approach and strong work ethic which will certainly serve him well in his new role.”

"Without the drama department at Turton I would not be where I am today," added Gabriel. "From putting on school plays, to providing the best drama classes, with the most passionate teachers, I owe them more than I can possibly say. Everyone would come together every Christmas to watch the school play and support all the students who were taking part in it, its huge and I really hope that’s able to come back. I now do English Literature and Drama at University of Manchester, I’m in my final year whilst working full time at Hollyoaks.”