Kieron Richardson set for stage role

Kieron Richardson has signed up for play \'Band of Gold\'.

The \'Hollyoaks\' star will play abusive husband Steve Dickson in the stage adaptation of the 1990s ITV drama, and while he was nervous about his audition, he is excited to tackle the tough role.

He told Digital Spy: "I\'ve never done theatre before. My old acting teacher works with the casting director who was putting the cast together for \'Band of Gold\' and thought I would be right for the role.

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"I went to audition and I haven\'t had an audition for nearly 13 years, so I was absolutely bricking it! Especially auditioning in front of someone like [the original show\'s writer] Kay Mellor, who for me is a legend as well. I was so nervous. I came away thinking, \'No way, no chance\', but I was offered the role.

"I had to ask \'Hollyoaks\' if I could do it and our executive producer Bryan Kirkwood, being the supportive boss that he is, said: \'Yes, absolutely.\' He\'s letting me do it and I can\'t wait."

Despite being set for a four-month stint from November to March treading the boards, Kieron, 33, was keen to point out he won\'t be leaving his soap role as Ste Hay.

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He added: "There\'ll probably be a few weeks where I\'m just doing the tour, but then I\'ll obviously be straight back to \'Hollyoaks\'.

"I know people will automatically think I\'m leaving the show, but it\'s absolutely not the case. I am \'Hollyoaks\' till I die.

"Literally, they will have to kill me to get rid of me! I can\'t imagine ever saying, \'That\'s it, I want to hang up Ste\'s tracksuits for good.\' I\'m really grateful that Bryan is letting me do this alongside \'Hollyoaks.\' "