Soap legend Louis Emerick will joined the cast of Hollyoaks as Donny Clark, it has been announced.
Donny is the father of established characters Vicky Grant (Anya Lawrence) and Andre Clark (David Joshua-Anthony).
The Liverpudlian actor, 63, , who boasts an almost 40-year soap career, will make his debut on the E4 soap almost 35 years to the day since his first appearance on Brookside.
Louis played father-of-two Mick Johnson in the soap from 1989. The programme aired from 1983 to 2003.
He also starred in several episodes of Last Of The Summer Wine as PC Walsh and Casualty as Mike Bateman.
Louis Emerick, 63, has joined the cast of Hollyoaks as Donny Clark, the father of established characters Vicky Grant (Anya Lawrence) and Andre Grant (David Joshua-Anthony)
The Liverpudlian actor played Mick Johnson in Channel 4 soap Brookside from 1989 to 2001, pictured here with on-screen children Leo (Leeon Sawyer) and Gemma (Naomi Kamanga)
His very first soap appearance came in 1985 when he appeared in short-lived ITV medical drama The Practice, which lasted just 47 episodes.
Louis has appeared in four episodes of Doctors between 2002 and 2020 – each as different characters.
In 1986, Louis appeared in Coronation Street as a white van man and he returned to the cobbles in 2018 for a more prominent stint as Mike Thornberry, Liz McDonald’s love interest.
April will mark Louis’s second visit to the Village; in 2012, he played a policeman in Hollyoaks spin-off Hollyoaks Later.
His new character Donny will make a surprise and unwelcome appearance at estranged daughter Vicky’s 18th birthday party this month.
Scott Drinkwell, played by Ross Adams, has been Vicky’s foster dad for over a year, and was planning to announce his decision to adopt her at the party Donny will crash.
Donny’s arrival comes not long after Andre dropped the bomb to Vicky that he was actually her half-brother.
Speaking about his character, Louis said: ‘Donny is coming back to see his son and it collides with his daughter’s birthday, which is very emotional as it’s the first time he has met her.
He also starred as PC Walsh in several episodes of Last Of The Summer Wine and Mike Bateman in Casualty (pictured in 2005)
Sharing his delight at re-joining the cast of Hollyoaks, Louis said: ‘It has equally been moving for me personally. I was there when Hollyoaks began.
‘We sat with the Brookside and Hollyoaks crew and watched a screening of the first ever episode in 1995.
Louis finished: ‘It is so exciting to be back with this vibrant cast and crew, back on the set where it all began.’
He is currently starring as Mr. Meacher in G’wed, a comedy about working class Liverpudlian teenagers which tackles sexuality, diversity, and class differences.
Louis’s debut as Donny on Hollyoaks airs on E4 on April 9, and will be available to stream on Channel 4 from the day before.
In 1986, Louis appeared in Coronation Street as a van driver and he returned to the cobbles in 2018 for a much more prominent stint as Mike Thornberry, Liz McDonald’s love interest
