Hollyoaks - Darren Osborne (played by Ashley Taylor-Dawson)

For a long time Darren found it easier making enemies than he did friends, what with his constant scheming and dangerous gambling habit. Darren got both himself and his dad Jack into huge trouble when he lost The Dog, the Osborne's family business, in a game of poker and then persuaded Jack to fake his own death for insurance money. Jack got caught out and they both spent time in prison.

Since then Darren has being constantly trying to make amends and get The Dog back for his dad and stepmum Frankie. Ditching his once customary string vests and bling, he enrolled in HCC to study accountancy and took over the running of Mobs (later renamed Moobs) in memory of his stepsister Steph and lifelong friend Max (R.I.P x 2). He even bought a dog - Barry - to prove how responsible he was.

Though he was sadly forced to close Moobs, last Christmas his efforts were finally rewarded, when Riley gave The Dog to Darren and Jack to run. The Osbornes were finally back where they belonged!

Getting The Dog back isn't the only example of this newer, more responsible Darren. Ever the big kid himself, he is always on hand with advice for the various youngsters that Jack and Frankie take under their wing. Newt, Duncan and Esther have all benefited from the guidance of the Big O.

That's not all. He turned a corner after marrying Hannah Ashworth, (albeit in a drunken, shot-gun fashion) and became a true friend to her and helped her through her eating disorders.

He became a father of twins to Suzanne Ashworth...did we forget to mention he had a brief affair with her too? Darren named the twins Jack and Francine after his dad and Frankie and was heartbroken when Suzanne took them to Spain - though little did he know that this was because his jealous ex Cindy had bribed Suzanne to go.

Though once upon a time Darren and Cindy seemed destined to be together, it was with Nancy that Darren found True Love. Though they are chalk and cheese - Nancy is uptight, Darren is relaxed, Nancy is responsible, Darren, er, isn't - the couple we like to call Dancy just seemed to work - she even stood by him when he spent all of their rent money on a waterbed, forcing them to move in with Jack and Frankie. Now that’s dedication.

Darren surprised Nancy with a secret Valentine's Day wedding, which naturally included a series of obstacles - Cindy declaring her love, a brief excursion to a casino with Brendan, Nancy's interfering mother Margaret... Eventually, though, Nancy walked down the aisle and they became Mr and Mrs Osborne. Awww!

After a heart-breaking spell whereby Darren and Nancy suffered a miscarriage, the couple looked like they might not make it through the ordeal. But thankfully they did, and Nancy later fell pregnant with baby Oscar. After being the getaway for an on-the-run Mitzeee in Hollyoaks Later 2012, Nancy went into premature labour, with Oscar’s life hanging in the balance.

With Oscar now on the road to recovery, we wish Darren and Nancy all the happiness in the World!

About Ashley Taylor-Dawson

Ashley re-joined the cast in 2003, having left briefly for a career in pop band All Stars.