Inquest resumes into the death of reality star Paul Danan

RTÉ News​

28-05-2025

An inquest is resuming into the death of Hollyoaks and reality TV star Paul Danan.
The actor, 46, played bad boy Sol Patrick from 1997 to 2001 on the Channel 4 soap and was later known for his appearances on reality TV shows, including Celebrity Big Brother and Celebrity Love Island.
The actor died from a cocktail of drugs, including cocaine and heroin, after being found unresponsive at his home in Brislington, Bristol, on 15 January this year, a previous hearing heard.
His body was identified at the scene by his partner, Melissa Crooks.
Coroner's officer Alexis Camp said: "The circumstances are that Mr Danan was found unresponsive at his home address.
"Emergency services attended and confirmed he had sadly died. A post-mortem has taken place and samples have been removed for further analysis.
"No note was left."
The court heard that the provisional cause of Danan's death is the combined toxicity of heroin, methadone, codeine, pregabalin, cocaine and zopiclone, contributed to by benzodiazepine use.
The inquest is resuming at Avon Coroner's Court in Flax Bourton, near Bristol, before Assistant Coroner Deborah Rookes.
It is listed as a documentary inquest, which means evidence is likely to take the form of written statements rather than oral evidence from witnesses.
Danan had been due to appear for a plea hearing at Warrington Magistrates' Court on 16 January after being charged with being in possession of cocaine and cannabis, according to court documents.
He was also accused of driving while under the influence of drugs on 2 October last year, in Warrington, Cheshire.
The actor had been open about his struggles with addiction, with entering rehab and trying to recover.
Danan appeared on ITV's Celebrity Love Island as a contestant in 2005 and 2006 but did not win either series.
He also featured in the 2006 ITV2 reality show Calum, Fran And Dangerous Danan, in which he, former Westlife bodyguard and Celebrity Love Island winner Fran Cosgrave, and Calum Best travelled across the US.
In 2017, Danan took part in Channel 5's Celebrity Big Brother, when he was evicted early, and said at the time he hoped the series would give him a "second chance" at his career.
He regularly called for his return to Hollyoaks and later began the podcast The Morning After With Paul Danan, which lasted from 2019 until 2023.
In 2020 he started a drama workshop, Morning After Drama, which grew from online sessions during the pandemic to workshops in London, Oxford and the South West.
His other appearances included on E4's Celebrity Coach Trip and Channel 4 sketch comedy programme The Kevin Bishop Show.
Danan discussed his substance abuse and recovery on ITV's The Jeremy Kyle Show in 2019, which he said began when he was a teenager.
He said he had to "work hard at it every day to keep in recovery".