Ricky Whittle: Don't direct me in soap sex scenes
Hollyoaks and Strictly Come Dancing star Ricky Whittle has admitted he hates being told what to do while filming love scenes. The actor's alter ego Calvin Valentine is embarking on a steamy affair with Mercedes McQueen, and Ricky promised it will be 'very fiery'. He said raunchy scenes are 'actually quite embarrassing' to film, adding: "You're making out with a friend and work colleague in front of 30 people. "The director says, 'kiss her neck. No. Rub your hand down her thigh.' You say 'I know how to do this. This is my bit - I can do this bit. I don't need you telling me what to do'." Ricky went on: "It's embarrassing so you try and block everything out and focus on what you're doing, but it's fun. It's what I'm paid to do." Next week, viewers will see Mercedes' husband Malachy Fisher get a shock when he spies his wife and Calvin in the throes of passion after they cannot resist each other any other. Click here to watch whatsontv.co.uk’s new weekly soaps video preview, the Soap Scoop
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Patrick McLennan is a London-based journalist and documentary maker who has worked as a writer, sub-editor, digital editor and TV producer in the UK and New Zealand. His CV includes spells as a news producer at the BBC and TVNZ, as well as web editor for Time Inc UK. He has produced TV news and entertainment features on personalities as diverse as Nick Cave, Tom Hardy, Clive James, Jodie Marsh and Kevin Bacon and he co-produced and directed The Ponds, which has screened in UK cinemas, BBC Four and is currently available on Netflix.
An entertainment writer with a diverse taste in TV and film, he lists Seinfeld, The Sopranos, The Chase, The Thick of It and Detectorists among his favourite shows, but steers well clear of most sci-fi.