
Paul Danan's heartbroken brother reveals when star relapsed on drugs before his death saying ‘he didn't mean to die'
PAUL Danan's brother has spoken about the TV star's final weeks before his death earlier this year.
The former
Hollyoaks
and Love Island star, 46, was
Bristol
in January, with the
a "combined toxicity" of
drugs
, including heroin, methadone and cocaine.
Advertisement
5
Paul Danan's brother Jamie has spoken about the star's final weeks
5
The actor died in January from a combination of illicit drugs
Credit: Getty
5
Paul had been 'clean' in the weeks leading up to his overdose
Credit: Rex
Now, his older brother Jamie has opened up about what a 'sweetheart' Paul was, describing him as "a sweet, lovely guy.'
Jamie has organised a charity football match this weekend in honour of his brother to be hosted by Fattys Bar in Essex.
'He drove me mad sometimes but I loved him so much," Jamie told
'He was just a genuine sweetheart. There was less than two years between us. It's kind of like losing my twin."
Advertisement
paul danan
Jamie added: "It's still raw. I'm genuinely very broken by this, I'm not gonna lie. It's just surreal.'
Paul's brother opened up on his final weeks, including being sober at a The Prodigy gig in Brixton just weeks before his death from drug misuse.
'I had probably my best night out with him,' Jamie said.
'He was totally clean. He was very close with Liam from Prodigy. He was sort of like an honorary member in some ways."
Advertisement
Most read in TV
Jamie added: "It was amazing, but, sadly, he couldn't maintain his clean time.'
He attributed Paul's lifelong drug misuse to being "troubled" and that's why "he relied on drink and drugs.'
'That pressure was just taken off him in the end. He certainly didn't mean to die. Just whatever happened, happened, unfortunately."
Jamie explained that people who have experienced addiction in the family could relate to his sentiments and they had always hoped Paul would "overcome" his addictions.
Advertisement
Paul rose to fame in 1997 playing badboy Sol Patrick on Hollyoaks for four years.
He was also a contestant on Celebrity Love Island in 2005 and 2006.
Paul's other TV appearances included, Celebrity Big Brother, Celebrity Coach Trip and sketch show, The Kevin Bishop Show.
5
Paul rose to fame on Channel 4 soap, Hollyoaks
Credit: Getty
Advertisement
5
He was a regular fixture on British TV sets and was a beloved character on the small screen
Credit: Rex
GETTING HELP:
If you think that you have a drug addiction then please contact your GP.
You can also
If you are having trouble finding the right help, call the FRANK drugs helpline on 03001236600
Or
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Irish Sun
35 minutes ago
- The Irish Sun
Actor from Netflix's The Crown is convicted FRAUDSTER who stole £20k, lied about being military hero & wore fake medals
AN actor who appeared in The Crown has been accused of stolen valour after posing as an officer in the Army reserves. James Yeates, 42, even attended an Honourable Artillery Company dinner in full Intelligence Corps mess dress. 5 Actor James Yeates, 42, has been accused of 'stolen valour' Credit: Facebook 5 Veterans launched an investigation after a tip off Credit: Facebook Pictures showed him wearing three medals - the Queen's Diamond, Platinum Jubilee and King's Coronation medals - at the swanky do. Other online photos saw him posing in Intelligence Corps fatigues. But the convicted fraudster was exposed after veterans launched an investigation following a tip-off. In reality, the actor had never served a day of his life in the army. Read more News Instead, he had purchased the medals on eBay. In an online profile he boasted: "I'm a fully trained, enthusiastic and versatile actor, l'm also a current serving officer in the British armed forces (reserves)." When The Sun confronted him he hastily amended the bio to read: "I'm a fully trained, enthusiastic and versatile actor." On another site, Backstage, he wrote: "Alongside being a professionally trained and working actor, I am also a current serving officer in the British Armed Forces (reserves)." Most read in The Sun His email auto-signature also read: "Major James Yeates, Co-Founder, Military and Aviation Advisors." But veterans say there is no record of him ever serving in the reserves and no mention of him in the London Gazette which lists every officers' commissions. Brit mum who 'scammed her SON' arrested after victims watched Netflix show Extra Yeates, who posted photographs of himself on the set of the Crown in 2018 and 2019, suggested the picture of him at the mess dinner was from a film set. But Yeates also claimed his firm, Military and Aviation Advisors, had worked on the film, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, but there is The Walter Mitty Hunters Club, who led the investigation, is now calling for a new law, the Stolen Valour Act, to make it a criminal offence. A spokesman said: "The sole reason we exist is because of people like Yeates. "If there were ever a strong reason for a stolen valour act, this is a prime example. "Yeates clearly has a well documented history for dishonesty, going by his past endeavours, and the undeniable evidence trail. "But to impersonate a serving Major in the Intelligence Corps, regular or reserve. "Wearing the uniform, rank, and medals, which Yeates has not earned, and taking in genuine veterans, and those still serving, when he had never even stepped foot in a training establishment or served one day in the armed forces is a step too far. "His deliberate actions are disrespectful to the service community and to those who paid the 5 James was previously jailed for fraud in May 2015 Credit: Instagram 5 Veterans felt disrespected by James' actions and called for a 'stolen valour act' Credit: Instagram 5 James has run several failed businesses Credit: Instagram Yeates, of Dorking, Surrey, escaped jail in 2006 after he took more than £20,000 from customers' bank accounts after his business collapsed. He blew £22,650 within three days and later admitted using criminal property and transferring criminal property at Guildford Crown Court. A He was later jailed for 12 months in May 2015 for He bought first class flights to Los Angeles to shoot a video which he hoped would encourage talent to join his YouTube network Jey Management. Last night, Yeates told The Sun: "Some comments I've made in the past may have been misunderstood or taken out of context. "My focus has always been on working professionally and in good faith. " He added: "At no point have I intentionally misled anyone, nor have I attempted to benefit professionally from any misrepresentation."


The Irish Sun
an hour ago
- The Irish Sun
Anita Dobson admits major EastEnders return took lots of persuasion and why she agreed to come back
ANITA Dobson has opened up on her shock EastEnders comeback for this year's 40th anniversary celebrations. The legendary actress left fans gasping and open-mouthed when Advertisement 5 Anita Dobson has admitted that her EastEnders return took lots of persuasion Credit: Getty 5 She reunited with her co-star Gillian at the glitzy Soap Awards Credit: Getty 5 She made a shock cameo as Angie Watts in February of this year Credit: BBC As Sharon was left almost crushed in the horror Queen Vic explosion, Now, in an interview at the British Soap Awards, Anita has admitted that her grand soap return did take some persuasion as Chatting to The Sun alongside co-star Gillian Taylforth, who plays Kathy Beale, Anita admitted: "It took a lot of talking because I wanted it to be right and I didn't want to do it if it wasn't going to actually work. "So we did have a bit of chatting over the script and it just felt like the right time." Advertisement Read More from the Soap Awards She also confirmed she would not be back for any future cameos as she revealed she viewed her one-off return as a final outing for Angie. Anita said: "It was a nice way to say goodbye to Angie for me. Her return as Angie was kept such a closely-guarded secret that even most of her co-stars were unaware it was happening until it aired on-screen in all its glory. Co-star Gillian added to The Sun on the red carpet: "We knew nothing about the scene that she did with Tish [Dean, Sharon Watts]. Advertisement Most read in Soaps Exclusive Exclusive "When we watched it, we all went, 'Wow, this is what the 40 th is all about! This icon coming back to our show!' "Absolutely amazing, and I truly mean that." Patsy Kensit breaks silence on EastEnders role and begs for a soap return after confessing it was her 'dream job' Anita's comeback proved all the worthwhile after it managed to bag the Soap Award for Scene Of The Year. It was one of a whopping eight awards that EastEnders managed to pick up on the night amid their current soap dominance. Advertisement ITV's offerings Emmerdale and Coronation Street suffered badly, with the Dales-based soap taking home just two awards, with Corrie only being awarded the Outstanding Achievement Award prize. Hollyoaks ended the night in second place after collecting a total of three gongs. The British Soap Awards airs tonight at 8pm on ITV. British Soap Awards 2025: Winners List Here's who took home trophys at the 2025 British Soap Awards Best Single Episode - Eastenders: Phil's Psychosis: The Mitchells In 1985 Best Young Performer - Emmerdale - Amelia Flanagan as April Windsor Scene Of The Year - Eastenders: Angie Watts' Shock Return Best Newcomer - Hollyoaks: Isabelle Smith as Frankie Osborne Villain Of The Year - Eastenders: Navin Chowdhry as Nish Panesar Best Family - Hollyoaks: The Osbornes Best Dramatic Performance - Eastenders: Steve McFadden as Phil Mitchell Best On-Screen Partnership - Eastenders: Rudolph Walker & Angela Wynter as Patrick & Yolande Trueman Outstanding Achievement Award - Coronation Street: David Neilson Best Comedy Performance - Eastenders: Patsy Palmer as Bianca Jackson The Tony Warren Award - Emmerdale: Mike Plant Best Storyline - Hollyoaks: Sibling Sexual Abuse Best Leading Performer - Eastenders: Lacey Turner as Stacey Slater Best British Soap - Eastenders 5 Anita as Angie in the 1980s Credit: BBC Advertisement 5 Her comeback clutched the Scene Of The Year prize Credit: Shutterstock Editorial


The Irish Sun
an hour ago
- The Irish Sun
Inside Christine McGuinness' fall-out with Chelcee Grimes after the footballer branded her ‘fake' in feud
CHRISTINE McGuinness was branded "fake" by ex-pal Chelcee Grimes after the pair fell out following their close friendship. It's been revealed how 5 Chelcee liked a comment branding Christine 'as fake as they come' Credit: Getty 5 She also blasted her former pal for 'copying her' Credit: Splash 5 The two women were previously incredibly close Credit: Instagram Despite their once tight bond, the two women are thought to have "little to no contact" these days. And last year Chelcee teased a new romance on Instagram before liking a damning comment about Christine. It read "Christine is fake as they come, Chelcee deserved so much better. More on Christine McGuinness "Christine can keep trying to get attention and fake a new romance." The former pals met while taking part in ITV's The Games in 2022 - months before Christine and Paddy announced their shock split. Last year Writing on Instagram she said of Christine: "Honestly just gotta laugh at this point. Copies everything I do." Most read in Showbiz Christine recently opened up about having Speaking on the How To Fail podcast, Christine said: "It shouldn't matter somebody's gender. Christine McGuinness struts in barely there bikini after quitting Celebs Go Dating "It never mattered to me, which was why once me and my ex-husband were separated and I met people, I didn't properly date. 'It was more like blurred the lines of friendships for me, that was normal. "It felt comfortable because I'd done that as a teenager and I, as a teenager, I dated both men and women." Last month Christine, who shares twins Leo and Penelope, eight, and 11-year-old Felicity with Paddy, made 5 They met on ITV show The Games Credit: Shutterstock 5 Christine split from Paddy months after the show Credit: WireImage