Martial arts star Michael 'The Count' Bisping is to make his TV acting debut in Hollyoaks Later. The real life hardman is set to play tough guy Nathan in the late night spin-off of the Channel 4 soap, to be shown on E4 later this month, and is set for a clinch with Hollyoaks babe Candy McCulloch. Mike, 31, told The Daily Star: "Nathan is a bit of a bad boy, but he does have a heart after all. He's a nasty b*****d, which is why I found it so easy to play him." The fighter already has some acting experience and has appeared in a film, which led to him getting the part in the show. He revealed: "I did a bit of drama at school as one of my options, but it was a bit of a doss to be honest. "Last year I did a movie called Beatdown and I had a proper role, a lengthy speaking part. Like anything I do, I throw myself into it heart and soul, and went to acting lessons in Manchester. The acting coach I went to was connected with Hollyoaks, and they got in touch with me and asked if I'd be interested in Later." Mike thought the show would be easy, but admits it was almost as tough as one of his fights. He said: "Being naive about TV, I assumed as it was a five-episode series, we could film it in a week, but it took three months. I didn't realise it was 15 and 16-hour days, six days a week, a hell of a lot of work." Mike makes his TV debut in Hollyoaks Later on E4 at 9pm from Monday, October 25. Click here to watch whatsontv.co.uk's weekly soaps video preview, the Soap Scoop
