Actor

Twenty years is a long time and it's been an incredible 20 years. I'm so grateful to 'Emmerdale' for what they have given me throughout that period.

As an actor, you always have aspirations to play different roles.

I'm very fortunate now in that I have my first love, which is drama and acting, for a living and I'm also managing to go racing as well.

The amazing thing with a soap is every day you're challenged, the amount of storylines we go through, the amount of emotions you get to play is really challenging.

As for cooking, I like making lasagne and spaghetti Bolognese, I have perfected my porridge, and I like making Sunday roasts.

As an actor I can bring the story, the narrative in each performance. If I can't do that, then... might as well give up as an actor, hadn't I?

A family with two kids and a dog, however cheesy it might sound, that's what I want.

I've been spoilt with 'Emmerdale' over the years. I've had a taste of high drama, action, explosive scenes, emotional scenes and the odd bit of comedy with Bernice.

I'm very proud of some of the stories I've been given thanks to the team at 'Emmerdale,' they've been great over the years so hopefully that will continue.

Most of my saucy comments are from gay guys. Some of them are pretty explicit in the things they say, especially on Twitter.

I suddenly received a call from my agent offering me the chance to do 'Strictly' and I had to make the decision within an hour or two. I was doing a different job towards the end of the year so I had to change my plans, but it was a no-brainer.

I thought I had a pretty good American accent but I had a few sessions with a voice coach over there and she was picking up on a few things. Possibly because I've got such a strong Northern accent, I emphasise the wrong part of words so the idea is to work on my American accent.

Night shoots are great. They always feel quite mischievous and naughty because you're out working while everyone else is in bed.

If someone stops me in the street, they might not want to say something to my face - maybe something about 'Emmerdale' or something personal towards me, good or bad. But on Twitter they are hiding behind their keyboard.

I won an award when I was 15 and my mum and dad were very proud and so was I but for me, individual things like that aren't as significant as I have been part of so much and there were weeks and months of hard work building up to those pinnacle moments and they can be full of moments of pride.

I like the idea of doing a part which, as a straight guy, is really different to me. I'd just see doing a gay kiss, and a gay role, as something different. Plus I have plenty of gay mates, so I could probably practice with them.

I have done Emmerdale since I was 12 and there has never been a time when I could just be myself.

Emmerdale' is and always will be in my DNA.

I find it really easy to be aggressive, I find it easy to cry.

I missed out on the crash course that everyone else gets on 'Strictly' on every dance form.