Emmerdale star John Middleton has taken on a new role as Hollyoaks’ Froggy Black who is a far cry from Ashley Thomas
He portrayed much-loved vicar Ashley Thomas in Emmerdale for two decades, but now John Middleton has embraced a far more sinister character as Fraser “Froggy” Black – grandfather to villain Grace Black and her sister Clare Devine – in Hollyoaks.
Following years behind bars in Longmere Prison, Froggy has finally been released – and is making a beeline straight back to the centre of his broken family. “He does want to bring the family together,” John, 71, explains.
“For what purpose, that’s yet to be revealed. But he wants to restore the relationship between Clare and Grace.”
One of the standout aspects of his fresh role, John reveals, is collaborating with Tamara Wall and Gemma Bissix, who portray Grace and Clare. “They ask me, ‘What do you tell your wife when you go back home?'” John reveals.
READ MORE: Emmerdale’s Mack ‘not dead yet’ as John’s twisted plan ‘uncovered’READ MORE: ITV Loose Women’s Christine Lampard announces huge change minutes into show
“I say, ‘I don’t tell her anything. I sit in a corner, occasionally hugging my knees and rocking backwards and forwards,'” he quips. “They’re a laugh to work with!” reports the Mirror.
Froggy made his debut appearance in the Chester-based soap in early August, spotted behind bars with Tom Cunningham, whom he’d mentored as a financial adviser.
When his granddaughters were detained for their involvement in Clare’s husband’s trafficking operation, the family reunion was frosty. Nevertheless, Froggy remained determined to charm Grace – despite his loathing for Clare.
Now, John hints that Froggy could potentially devastate the village. “He knows things, particularly about one particular person,” John reveals.
“The past being revealed would be catastrophic for their present. He knows something about people he’s most closely working with, which is going to be revealed. He knows a lot of secrets, he knows where all the bodies are buried – quite literally. His past is possibly murderous, his present is possibly vengeful. Froggy is totally unpredictable. You never know what he’s going to do next.”
He continued: “He’s an incredibly manipulative person so the fact he’s got enemies doesn’t bother him. The fact that he has control over his enemies is essential to him.”
This isn’t John’s first brush with Hollyoaks . In 1997 he popped up as Cindy Cunningham’s doctor – a role he admits he’d forgotten about. His soap career was then peppered with cameos. In the 1990s he appeared twice in Coronation Street – first as John Hargreaves, the driver who accidentally killed Lisa Duckworth, and later as a hospital consultant. Even Emmerdale wasn’t entirely new to him when he took on Ashley’s role.
“I was a policeman about a year and a half before becoming Ashley,” he says. “But Froggy is a completely different character, which is why I’m doing it.”
John says the whole Hollyoaks team made his transition easy. And though he still struggles with nerves, executive producer Hannah Cheers has assured him he’s in the right place. “You adjust quickly to it and it was helped because everyone here is lovely,” he says.
“My first few scenes, I was nervous. I was completely reassured when I bumped into Hannah and she said, ‘I really love what you’re doing. ‘ That was a great relief!”
Emmerdale is on ITV1 and Hollyoaks is on Channel 4
#Emmerdale #legend #rocking #corner #takes #sinister #Hollyoaks #role
