Ashley Taylor Dawson
Dawson in 2022
Born
Philip Ashley Taylor Dawson

(1982-01-11) 11 January 1982
Manchester, England
Occupations
  • Actor
  • singer
Years active1999–present
TelevisionHollyoaks
Starstreet
Strictly Come Dancing
PartnerKaren McKay (2004–present)
Children3
Musical career
GenresPop
InstrumentsVocals
Years active2001–2014
LabelsIsland

Philip Ashley Taylor Dawson (born 11 January 1982), known as Ashley Taylor Dawson, is an English actor and singer. He is known for portraying the role of Darren Osborne in the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, as well as being a member of the pop group allSTARS*.

Early life

Born in Manchester, Dawson grew up in Wilmslow. He attended Ashdene Primary School and Altrincham Grammar School for Boys and joined local drama group Scamps at a young age.[1] He is the brother of singer and guitarist Catherine Taylor-Dawson.[2]

Career

Dawson has played the role of Darren Osborne in Hollyoaks since 1999. Actor Adam Booth originally played the part before leaving in 1997. The character rejoined Hollyoaks in 1999 when Dawson secured the part. Dawson joined Hollyoaks when he was 17 years old after getting his big break with the National Youth Theatre. Since then he has appeared in Hollyoaks spinoffs such as Hollyoaks Later and Tom's Life. He went on to secure the part of Darren following an audition, but soon after left in 2000 to join ALLSTARS*.[3] Dawson re-joined the show in August 2003 after AllSTARS* split up. On playing the part Dawson said "I love playing the bad lad. He's my alter ego".[3]

Dawson was a member of the UK pop band allSTARS*. His college best friend, Sam Bloom, called him up for an audition and invited him over. Byrne Blood Productions (Steps, A1), the management company at that time, was surprised to find that the actor could also dance and sing. Dawson eventually made it in, getting accepted and rising to fame. Dawson and Bloom also shared a flat together. Other than performing, he also appeared in allSTARS*' accompanying CITV television show, STARStreet*. Dawson was featured in other shows as well. He performed with the band on 80s Mania in 2001, and was next seen on episodes of Top of the Pops. He later made an appearance in Never Mind the Buzzcocks, Stars in Their Eyes and RI:SE. While with the group they managed to score four Top 20 singles in their two-year career.

Dawson appeared along with Darren Day in a production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at the Palace Theatre, Manchester, UK. As a teenager, he appeared in a number of amateur productions in his home town, including Wilmslow Guild Players' production of Jack and the Beanstalk[4] in 1996, for which he was nominated for The Barry Phillips Award for the Most Promising Youngster (Male) in the Cheshire Theatre Guild Awards.

In September 2013, Dawson was announced as a contestant on the eleventh series of Strictly Come Dancing partnered with Ola Jordan. They were voted out in the quarter-finals, on 8 December.

In 2014, Dawson released "Playboy Bunny" on Applique Music, produced by Artful and Lempo, reached #1 on JunoDownload and #54 on ITunes, supported on Capital FM and BBC Radio One.

In January 2021, Dawson and John Junior, filmed a video with BBC Radio 5, about a suicide storyline in Hollyoaks. The storyline; When Nancy and Darren, played by Dawson, were distressed about Nancy's partner Kyle taking his own life, this stopped Junior from continuing with his suicide plans. The BBC brought them both together, so that Junior could thank Dawson for saving his life.[5][6]

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1999–2001, 2003–present Hollyoaks Darren Osborne Regular role
2001–2002 Starstreet Ashley Main role
2009 The Wright Stuff Panellist Guest
2009, 2020 Hollyoaks Later Darren Osborne Main role
2013 Strictly Come Dancing Contestant Quarter-Finalist
2014 Northern Soul Paul Film
2014 Tom's Life Darren Osborne Main role
2018 The More You Ignore Me Mr. Desmond Film
2021 Hollyoaks IRL Himself Episode 1 - Hollyoaks saved my life

Radio

Year Title Role Notes
2021 Hollyoaks suicide storyline saved my life[6] Main role BBC Sounds podcast

Personal life

In January 2011, Dawson announced that he and long-term partner Karen McKay were expecting their first child.[7] Their first son was born in March 2011 and their second in October 2013.

Dawson is fond of sports and plays football, tennis, and basketball. He supports Manchester United FC and considered a career as a professional footballer. He currently plays occasional charity football matches with the Hollyoaks All-Stars. He also owns a night club in Wilmslow called Symposium.

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Work Result
2005 Inside Soap Awards Sexiest Male[8] Hollyoaks
2005 Inside Soap Awards Best Villain[8] Hollyoaks
2007 Inside Soap Awards Funniest Performance[9] Hollyoaks
2009 The British Soap Awards Best actor[10] Hollyoaks Longlisted
2009 Inside Soap Awards Funniest performance[11] Hollyoaks Nominated
2010 Inside Soap Awards Best Actor[12] Hollyoaks Nominated
2010 Inside Soap Awards Funniest Performance[12] Hollyoaks
2010 Inside Soap Awards Sexiest Male[12] Hollyoaks
2011 The British Soap Awards Sexiest Male[13] Hollyoaks Nominated
2014 The British Soap Awards Sexiest Male[13] Hollyoaks Shortlisted
2020 TV Choice Awards Best Soap Actor Hollyoaks Pending

References

  1. ↑ McKeever, Katrina (27 July 2005). "Heart-throb pays surprise visit to his old school". Manchester Evening News. Trinity Mirror. Retrieved 25 August 2011.
  2. ↑ "Cream of the well groomed crop". TheNatter.co.uk. Archived from the original on 24 May 2011. Retrieved 25 August 2011.
  3. 1 2 "Hollyoaks hunk is a top totty, and he's local". Liverpool Echo. Trinity Mirror. 24 March 2004. Retrieved 7 August 2011.
  4. ↑ "Wilmslow Guild Players: Jack and the Beanstalk". Archived from the original on 15 June 2009. Retrieved 17 January 2009.
  5. ↑ "Hollyoaks suicide storyline 'saved my life'". BBC News. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  6. 1 2 "5 Live News Specials - Hollyoaks suicide storyline 'saved my life' - BBC Sounds". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 14 May 2022.
  7. ↑ "More Hollyoaks chat from Ashley Taylor Dawson". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi. 20 January 2011. Retrieved 20 January 2011.
  8. 1 2 Barrett, Caroline (8 May 2005). "Soap Baubles; Corrie beauty Nikki sparkles in pounds 100k gems". The People. Trinity Mirror. Retrieved 18 August 2011.
  9. ↑ Green, Kris (3 July 2009). "Inside soap awards 2007 nominations revealed". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi UK. Retrieved 6 August 2011.
  10. ↑ "British Soap Awards 2009: Nominations revealed!". What's on TV. IPC Media. 5 May 2009. Retrieved 6 August 2011.
  11. ↑ "Inside Soap Awards 2009: Nominees page 97". Sky tv. Sky. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 25 August 2011.
  12. 1 2 3 "Hollyoaks 2010 nominees". E4. 13 August 2010. Retrieved 6 August 2011.
  13. 1 2 Kilkelly, Daniel (7 March 2011). "British Soap Awards 2011 voting opens". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi. Retrieved 18 August 2011.
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