Loose Women star Linda Robson has shared that she offered money to help Paul Danan during their appearance on Coach Trip in 2022, as he was financially struggling. The former Hollyoaks actor passed away in January, following years of financial difficulties due to a lack of work.
In a recent interview with Bella magazine, Loose Women’s Linda opened up about the challenging year she’s had so far, dealing with the loss of Paul and her Birds Of A Feather co-star Pauline Quirke’s dementia diagnosis.
The Mail reports that Linda reflected on her friendship with Paul and said Paul had financial struggles while they were filming Channel 4’s Celebrity Coach Trip three years ago.
She said: “I travelled around Portugal with him for 10 days. I loved him – he was such a good boy, he really was.
“Lesley [Joseph] and I looked after him on Coach Trip because he didn’t have any money, so we helped him out with that and then we got him presents for his little boy, DeNir.”
Both Linda and Paul were participants in the 2022 series of Celebrity Coach Trip. Their friendship, however, dates back to their first meeting on Celebrity Quitters in 2010, where they attempted to quit smoking with expert help.
In his last interview with MailOnline in November, Paul said that after leaving Hollyoaks, he moved back in with his parents and took up a job repairing phone screens at a shop due to the scarcity of acting roles. The actor, who rose to fame playing the character Sol Patrick on Channel 4’s leading soap from 1997 to 2001, tragically passed away at the age of 46 in January.
Paul told MailOnline that he regretted his decision to leave Hollyoaks in an attempt to make it big in Hollywood, as he didn’t want to be pigeonholed as a soap star or become ‘the next Ken Barlow’. However, he found the rejection in LA too hard to handle and became homesick, which led him down a dark path of drug abuse that plagued his life.
He admitted that his failure in Hollywood led him to participate in Celebrity Love Island, which he believes negatively impacted his career prospects, blaming ‘snobby’ casting directors for his subsequent lack of work.
In 2020, after becoming homeless, he moved back in with his parents in Essex, having reportedly spent ‘about £1million on rehab and recovery’ over the years. Most recently, he was living in Bristol, where he was teaching drama students while trying to re-establish his acting career.
It was later revealed that Paul was scheduled to appear for a plea hearing at Warrington Magistrates’ Court on the day of his death. He had been charged with possession of several bags of cocaine and a ‘quantity’ of cannabis, according to court documents.
He was also alleged to have been driving under the influence of drugs on October 2 last year in Warrington, Cheshire.
A statement from Independent Creative Management announcing his sudden death read: “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.”