ichard Blackwood admits "it\'s a dream" to work alongside Kelle Bryan on \'Hollyoaks\'.
The 47-year-old actor joined the cast of the Channel 4 soap in January as Felix Westwood - a past love interest of his friend\'s character Martine Deveraux - and has settled into the role sooner than expected having known his co-star since his teenage years.
He told RadioTimes.com: "We\'ve known each other for well over 20 years. When I was 17 I was at college with two members of Eternal, the band Kelle was in. We\'ve had a connection since then and from when I did MTV.
"We are very good friends and also did a play together over 10 years ago, so the chemistry is there and we are totally comfortable with each other. Whatever the scene requires it works, it\'s a dream to act alongside someone you get along with it as it resonates and shows on screen."
The former \'EastEnders\' star makes his debut on Friday\'s (27.03.20) E4 showing of the programme only for his character to discover the children - triplets Mitchell Deveraux, Celeste Faroe and Toby Faroe - he thought had been given away at birth have pretended Martine wants to reconnect as a way to lure him to the village.
He explained: "It\'s big! It throws him a loop because Celeste has got him to the village under false pretences, he has no idea he\'s going to see them. But it gives him a vulnerability from the start which connects him to the audience. Seeing this kids really gets to him."
However, it\'s his longtime friendship with Kelle that has helped the on-screen lovers to prepare for their latest storyline.
Speaking of Kelle\'s character, he said: "She is that one person we all have in our lives who can see right through him. He will always be straight and real with her because of the love and respect they had at a time when he had nobody. His connection with Martine is genuine, he doesn\'t try to lie to her."
