Kieron Richardson first exploded onto our screens as Hollyoaks favourite Ste Hay back in 2006.
The troubled character has been at the centre of several storylines including joyriding, domestic abuse, a baby kidnapping plot, drug dealing, HIV, far right radicalisation and a gay relationship.
He was initially portrayed as a "bad boy" type character although he's changed over the years.
The issue of domestic violence has been portrayed through the character on two occasions: the first was his violence towards girlfriend Amy Barnes (Ashley Slanina-Davies), and the second when he suffered abuse from his boyfriend Brendan Brady (Emmett J. Scanlan).
Ste has subsequent relationships with Rae Wilson (Alice Barlow) and Noah Baxter (Law Thompson) which become subject to love triangle storylines involving Brendan.
Away from Chester, Kieron is married to partner Carl Hyland and the couple are parents to twins Phoebe and Chase.
Daily Star has taken a look into Kieron's life away from the Channel 4 soap.
Coming out as gay
Ste's gay storyline prompted Kieron to come out as gay back in 2010.
The soap star revealed to Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby on ITV's This Morning that, like his on-screen character Ste, he is gay as well.
He said at the time: "I am gay in real life and at 20 years old I kind of accepted it myself and now I can finally relate to my character Ste that he is 20 and he's going through things that I went through in my past."
The former Dancing on Ice contestant has since revealed that he was inspired to come out by X Factor winner Joe McElderry, who came out the same year.
Kieron told BANG Showbiz in 2010: "I'd never seen anyone my age say it before and then when Joe McElderry came out and said it I thought, 'Maybe I can be young and come out and say I'm gay and it's not going to affect my career.'
"I'd say he helped me in the fact that he was a similar age to me. Seeing him do it really inspired me."
In 2014, Kieron expressed his dismay and anger after being targeted with homophobic abuse on Twitter.
He received a number of insulting messages following a mix-up involving his namesake, footballer Kieran Richardson.
Kieron received dozens of tweets from football fans who confused him with Villa's new signing, but the humorous mix-up took a darker turn when he saw that a number of the messages contained homophobic remarks.
The actor was later named Rising Star of the Year at the Out in the City/G3 Readers Awards, which recognise outstanding commitment to promoting equality and diversity in relation to the LGBT community.
Lavish wedding
Kieron announced his engagement to long term boyfriend Carl Hyland in July 2014, after being together for several years.
Speaking to The Mirror at the time, he said: "I just got engaged. It’s really exciting.
"We’ve been together for over seven years so it’s not a shock."
The happy couple tied the knot in a star-studded wedding in the Peak District in April 2015.
In beautiful photos from outside the Buxton Dome, Kieron and Carl could be seen proudly surrounded by their 12 bridesmaids – who all wore stunning wedding gowns.
Hollyoaks' babes Stephanie Davis, Jennifer Metcalfe, Jorgie Porter, Jazmine Franks, Gemma Merna and Bronagh Waugh were among the bridesmaids wearing white dresses along with blonde star Emily Atack, who Kieron met on Dancing On Ice.
Co-stars Fabrizio Santino, Anna Passey and Stephanie Waring were also at the fancy nuptials.
Iconic band The Drifters performed at the couple’s reception, and there was also a catwalk show.
Baby joy
Kieron announced in 2016 that he and Carl were expecting twins via surrogacy after four previous failed attempts at starting a family.
The TV star shared the exciting news on Instagram, with a festive-themed video in which the couple unwrapped a board with the announcement on.
"Merry Christmas to us thanks to the British Surrogacy Centre," he penned as the caption.
With I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday playing in the background, the camera pans across a sparkly Christmas tree that revealed two "Baby on board" signs.
The camera then pans out to include Richardson and Hyland in the shot and they unwrapped a board reading: "Twins coming 2017”.
Kieron and Carl hosted a fun-filled fourth birthday party for Phoebe and Chase earlier this year.
They went all out for their little ones as they decked out a room with a teepee full of colourful pillows, incredible balloon displays, and candy of all sorts.
The Hollyoaks star took to his Instagram feed to share several photos from the happy day for his social media followers to see.
Kieron's first snap showed a gorgeous photo of the family standing in front of a unicorn-themed balloon display, which boasted colours of yellow, green, pink, purple, blue and white alongside an artificial grass pad.
Gorgeous family home
Kieron and Carl and their adorable twins live in Manchester close to the Hollyoaks set.
The soap star regularly gives his fans an insight into his life at home on Instagram.
Pictures from inside the gorgeous home reveal that he lives in a luxury house that comes with a huge garden, complete with lawn furniture and a patio.
His cosy front room boasts plush sofas and a giant TV.
The twins also have playroom that would be any child's dream.
Kieron and Carl also have a huge dinning table and comfy chairs for entertaining.
In the kitchen, there is a posh Swan vintage fridge that is stocked with protein drinks.
Working with hubby
Kieron and Carl worked together to film a documentary about opened about life as same-sex parents called Raised By Queers.
During the documentary, Kieron talked viewers through the exciting months ahead of the twins' birth, along with the struggles he and husband Carl have faced due to being same-sex parents.
With the birth filmed for the documentary, the Hollyoaks actor said: "In that moment right there, our lives had changed forever."
Excitedly speaking out about how he felt, he admitted: "I feel like words you could never describe in a million years. It's the most surreal experience ever."
Earlier this year, Carl was brought in to film Hollyoaks as a body double.
He popped by the Liverpool set in May to act as John Paul McQueen's stand-in,
Due to COVID concerns and social distancing rules between actors, body doubles brought in by shows who require characters to be closer during certain moments are typically family members of the existing cast.
Hollyoaks airs weekdays on Channel 4 at 6.30pm followed by first-look episodes on E4 at 7pm.
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