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Richard Blackwood ‘thought there was a catch’ on Hollyoaks after warm welcome

Richard Blackwood says the ‘Hollyoaks’ team have been "so accommodating" to him he felt like there was "a catch".
The former ‘EastEnders’ actor recently landed the role of Felix Westwood on the Channel 4 soap, and he admits it is his first role he hasn’t had to audition for, and says the crew and his fellow cast members have been "so warm" towards him.
He said: "It’s the first programme that I didn’t have to audition for. They offered me the role and it made me know that the work I’ve been putting in over the years they’ve been watching, so I want to thank ‘Hollyoaks’ for that.
"They approached me and said they would love to have me on the show.
"When I had the character meeting they were so hands-on with me, we were supposed to be in there for an hour and we were in there nearly two hours.
"And they were accommodating. I don’t know if it’s an up north thing? They’re so friendly.
"I feel sometimes that they’re so accommodating I feel like there’s a catch.
"They’re the nicest people, the whole team. They’re so warm that when I’m greeting them or when I’m talking them I’m like, ‘Is there something?’ You think they want something. ‘No, we’re just friendly.’
"Londoners, we’re terrible. I drive back to London and the air is hard."
Despite Richard’s positive outlook, he warns his character, a past love interest of Martine Deveraux (Kelle Bryan) and father to her twins, Mitchell Deveraux (Imran Adams) and Toby Faroe (Bobby Gordon) – is "dark".
Speaking on ‘Good Morning Britain’, he added: "He’s a dark character. He grew in a children’s home and you find throughout the story there are things that happened that conditioned him to be how he is.
"He’s a bit desensitised from emotion in that sense.
"End of March you’re going to see me.
"Trust me guys, ‘Hollyoaks’ have gone in."
His comments come after Ross Adams, who plays Mitchell’s on/off love interest Scott Drinkwell, recently said Richard has been telling him what a great reception he’s had on the soap.
Asked if he was happy about Richard’s casting, Ross said: "I was very happy. I’ve met Richard before.
"I did ‘Big Brother’s Bit on The Side’ once a couple of years ago with Richard.
"I think it will be interesting, because he was quite a big character in ‘EastEnders’, and I think coming up to Liverpool will be amazing for him. He loves it.
"He was actually telling me that everyone here in Liverpool was really lovely and so it’s nice."