Former Hollyoaks and Celebrity Love Island star Paul Danan blamed his inability to find ‘the right person’ on his ADHD diagnosis, which he received just a few years before his tragic death
Late actor Paul Danan admitted prior to his death that his romantic relationships had been impacted by his ADHD condition.
The former Hollyoaks star confessed getting his ADHD diagnosis as an adult helped him understand why he was “still single” and shared his regret at not discovering he had the behaviour disorder earlier in life.
Paul’s death at the age of 46 was announced on Thursday, with tributes pouring in for the dad-of-one from fans and famous friends. A statement from Independent Creative Management said: “It is with heavy hearts that we share the tragic news of the passing of Paul Danan at just 46 years old.
“Known for his television presence, exceptional talent, and unwavering kindness, Paul was a beacon of light to so many. His untimely departure will leave irreplaceable voids in the lives of all who knew him. During this difficult time, we kindly request respect and privacy for Paul’s family, friends, and colleagues.”
Speaking in an interview in 2022, Paul recalled how it was only when he discovered he had ADHD that he realised just why his romantic pursuits were often dramatic and ended in disaster. “It’s affected my relationships throughout my life and that’s why I’m still single,” Paul said after getting diagnosed in 2019.
Paul, who was linked to famous women like Kelly Brook, Katie Price, Mel Sykes, Emma Bunton and Isaballe Hervey, went on to add to The Sun: “If you’re with someone who doesn’t understand you and I’m not understanding myself, it’s only now that I can talk about it and I can learn more. I was a very late diagnosis and […] I wish I would’ve known earlier.”
Last year, Paul opened up further on social media and revealed he was serious about settling down and finding “the right person”. “Even though ADHD is a super power where you can zone in on something that you like and then you can do your best at it, anything you don’t like you won’t want to do so you lose all interest,” he admitted.
Paul added: “That goes for people and relationships too. If you’re not bothered, your attention span is not there. We [those with ADHD] can’t regulate our emotional mind very well, so we say things without pausing and thinking, whereas most people would have that filter where they think: ‘maybe I shouldn’t say that.’ We use the very emotional mind, we’re very impulsive and we just say what we’re thinking without thinking: ‘that might offend them or upset them’ – and then afterwards feel terrible about it and realise on reflection.”
The former soap star died the day before he was due to appear in court on drugs charges. Paul played bad boy Sol Patrick from 1997 to 2001 on the Channel 4 soap and was later known for his reality TV appearances, including on Celebrity Big Brother and Celebrity Love Island.
A spokeswoman for Avon and Somerset Police said officers were called to an address in Brislington, Bristol, at about 5.20pm on Wednesday, “where sadly a man in his 40s was declared deceased by paramedics”. She added that the death “is not being treated as suspicious and officers are preparing a file for the coroner”.
Paul had been due to appear for a plea hearing at Warrington Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, after being charged with being in possession of several bags of cocaine and a “quantity” of cannabis, according to court documents. He was also accused of driving whilst under the influence of drugs on October 2 last year, in Warrington, Cheshire. Paul had been open about his struggles with addiction, with entering rehab and trying to recover.
He had appeared on ITV’s Celebrity Love Island as a contestant in 2005 and 2006, but did not win either series. He also appeared in the 2006 ITV2 reality show Calum, Fran And Dangerous Danan, in which he, former Westlife bodyguard and Celebrity Love Island winner Fran Cosgrave, and Calum Best, travelled across the US.
In 2017, Paul took part in Channel 5’s Celebrity Big Brother, when he was evicted early, and said at the time he hoped the series would give him a “second chance” at his career. He regularly called for his return to Hollyoaks, and later began the podcast The Morning After With Paul Danan, which lasted from 2019 until 2023.
A statement on Twitter (X) from the Hollyoaks account said: “Paul brought to life Sol’s journey from teenage tearaway to leading man with such charm and heart that no matter what trouble Sol was in, you were always on his side. It is a testament to Paul that his character is held with such great affection.”
In 2020 he started a drama workshop, Morning After Drama, which grew from online sessions during the pandemic to workshops in London, Oxford and the South West.
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