Hollyoaks - Brendan Brady (played by Emmett J. Scanlan)

Brendan Brady is perhaps the most fascinating character ever to grace the hallowed streets of Hollyoaks Village. At times terrifying, at times hilarious, always weird, he never fails to have us entertained. Finish with a handle-bar moustache and a large-collared shirt (always unbuttoned) and what you have is, quite frankly, a Hollyoaks legend.

Almost as soon as he arrived in the village we were gripped by his dark,tumultuous relationship with Ste. Too afraid to come out as an openly gay man, all-too-often Brendan's frustration manifested itself in violence.

Apart from Ste, the other loves of his life are his sister Cheryl and his sons, of whom we've met one - Declan. Declan came over to Hollyoaks to live with his Dad permanently, but when it became clear that Brendan was having a negative influence on his lad he decided that he had to return home. Declan wouldn't have any of it, but, in a heroic sacrifice, Brendan made his own son think that he didn't love him, just so that he could protect him.

Brendan's made a fair few enemies since coming to Hollyoaks too - you can take a look through all of his sparring partners in this gallery.

Cue the arrival of Brendan's mysterious prison buddy Walker, who turned out to be an undercover cop. Hell-bent on seeking revenge for the death of his younger brother Cam, who was left severely brain damaged after he bought drugs off Brendan, Walker made it his life mission to hurt Brendan through his loved ones...

Walker got further underneath Brendan’s skin in Hollyoaks Later 2012, when we found out that his father Seamus abused Brendan as a child. Unsatisfied with Brendan’s emotion pain (and the fact he almost died in a massive explosion) Walker then attempted to kill Ste, but accidentally shot Riley (RIP), before drugging Declan and disappearing from the village.

Ste and Brendan reunited in Dublin in December 2012, and Stendan became one of the village's favourite couples. The dream of happily-ever-after always seemed just out of reach for the duo though, and when arch-nemesis Walker secretly returned to finish what he started, it became impossible. In his quest for vengeance, Walker forced his side-kick Kevin to plant drugs in Chez Chez, stir up trouble between Stendan and even accuse Brendan of sexual assault.

When Brady discovered his adversary was the puppet-master behind his crumbling world, Walker abandoned the smoke and mirrors and went straight for him. Holding Brendan and Seamus at gunpoint, Brady was forced to confront his father about their abusive past.

When Walker escaped arrest, he led Brady away from the village for their final, bloody showdown. Amongst the brutal fight, Brendan pushed Walker back and he met his demise as a train hit him. After returning to the village, Brendan knew it wasn't over.

Cheryl found out about Seamus' tirade of abuse, and ultimately shot him to protect her brother. Determined to look out for his sister, Brendan confessed to her crime himself and went out in a blaze of glory, surrounded by armed police. Brendan now resides in prison.

About Emmett J. Scanlan

Prior to his role on Hollyoaks, Emmett had just finished filming a movie called Charlie Casanova where he got to work with first time Director Terry McMann, who had won Best Script at the Cannes film festival. Emmett also recorded an eight episode TV series called The Phone with Justin Timberlake, which was shot all over Los Angeles, Seattle and Boston.