Hollyoaks star Angus Castle-Doughty reveals he battled an eating disorder and body dysmorphia after stripping off for a nude scene in Netflix show

Hollyoaks star Angus Castle-Doughty reveals he battled an eating disorder and body dysmorphia after stripping off for a nude scene in Netflix show

As a lifestyle expert, I strongly believe that everyone’s journey to self-love and body positivity is unique and often shaped by personal experiences. Angus Castle-Doughty’s story of battling an eating disorder and body dysmorphia for years is both heartbreaking and inspiring. It takes immense courage to share such a deeply personal experience with the world, especially when it comes to something as stigmatized as mental health issues.


Angus Castle-Doughty, an actor on Hollyoaks, has shared that he’s struggled in secrecy with eating disorders and body dysmorphia for the past five years. This revelation came to light following his participation in a Netflix production where he had to take off all his clothes.

The actor, aged 29, played the role of the villainous Eric Forster in the Channel 4 soap opera, and more recently revealed that following his request to shoot a nude scene for the 2019 show “Shadow And Bone,” he became fixated on diet and physical fitness.

Though nobody had advised him to do so, Angus expressed to The Mirror his strong resolve to attain a body with absolutely no body fat. In response, he started skipping morning meals and visited the gym not once, but twice daily. Unfortunately, his planned nude scene for the production was ultimately removed.

In his initial discussion about his condition, he expressed, “Previously, I believed I had let myself down if I didn’t maintain a slim figure. Consequently, I missed out on creating precious memories due to my excessive preoccupation with food and working out.”

Angus shared that penning a fictional movie named “Dis-Morph-Ick,” based on his personal journey, has led him to view his body in a new light. He expressed gratitude towards his partner and former Hollyoaks actress, Niamh Blackshaw, for her encouragement during this process.

Hollyoaks star Angus Castle-Doughty reveals he battled an eating disorder and body dysmorphia after stripping off for a nude scene in Netflix show

Hollyoaks star Angus Castle-Doughty reveals he battled an eating disorder and body dysmorphia after stripping off for a nude scene in Netflix show

The actor shared that he faced self-doubts when informed about filming a nude scene in “Shadow and Bone.”

I couldn’t contain my excitement when he shared that it wasn’t about feeling insecure about baring it all on camera for the role. Instead, his passion drove him to push himself to the absolute limit and give everything he had to offer for the part.

In the weeks prior to filming, Angus diligently followed a rigorous diet and exercise routine. He restricted his meals to just two a day and worked out at the gym twice daily, totaling six sessions per week.

In my perspective, the actor’s determination to transform his body against anyone else’s request is truly commendable. He shared that he had the drive to reduce his body fat from roughly 10% to a leaner 6%, an achievement that speaks volumes about his dedication and discipline. However, the twist of fate came when the scene was ultimately not included in the final cut. The irony is bitter-sweet; on one hand, he accomplished something remarkable for himself, yet on the other hand, it went unnoticed by the audience. This experience underscores the importance of personal growth and self-motivation, even when the end result may not align with our initial goals.

After completing filming for “Shadow and Bone,” Angus persisted in his rigorous new diet, consuming only 1500 calories daily, disregarding the concerns of his mother Lynne, a former ballet dancer, who had warned him against it.

Starting in August 2020, Angus started being less strict with himself. However, once he secured the part of Eric on Hollyoaks, he grew anxious about his looks.

The actor confessed that not being able to work out as frequently during filming made him feel disappointed when he watched himself on screen. He found it hard to break his routine even after leaving the soap opera in 2023.

Around two weeks ago, Angus mentioned that he had started having breakfast once more. He continues with his workouts, but not as frequently as before, which is now only once a day.

Hollyoaks star Angus Castle-Doughty reveals he battled an eating disorder and body dysmorphia after stripping off for a nude scene in Netflix show
Hollyoaks star Angus Castle-Doughty reveals he battled an eating disorder and body dysmorphia after stripping off for a nude scene in Netflix show

I’m thrilled to share that I’ve decided to kickstart a crowdfunding campaign to bring my short film project to life. This captivating tale follows the journey of a young man being drawn into the fascinating world of fitness. Together, we can make his story come alive on the screen!

Angus describes his movie as “still under development,” but composing it has brought him therapeutic benefits.

As a lifestyle expert, I’d rephrase that statement like this: I’ve followed the soap opera scene for quite some time now, and I was taken aback when the newcomer on Hollyoaks made waves with his disturbing portrayal of Eric. His character seemed to be fixated on Maxine Minniver, harassing her relentlessly, and even threatening other women in the village. The way he expressed his deep-rooted misogynistic beliefs left a bitter taste in my mouth, making me question the show’s creative direction.

Earlier this year, it was announced that Channel 4 would be making some adjustments as a result of budget reductions. This meant that the number of Hollyoaks episodes weekly would decrease, with each episode being shorter in length.

With the recent developments, unfortunately, came the announcement that several jobs would be eliminated, affecting both cast and crew members. Notable departures from the soap include Stephanie Waring, Ross Adams, and Emma Rigby.

The soap has planned a dramatic time jump a year into the future to apparently explain some of the exits, after reports up to 20 characters would be leaving the village.

In May, it came to light that Hollyoaks was the most recent soap opera to face severe budget reductions. The show’s management is considering reducing their staff by approximately 40%.

A major surprise event is anticipated to unfold before the time leap, marking the beginning of the show’s new phase.

Previously this year, Hannah Cheers from Hollyoaks announced: “As we discussed shifting to three weekly episodes, we recognized the need for a smooth storyline and character transformation process. This idea kept resurfacing as it was audacious, innovative, and uniquely suited to represent Hollyoaks.”

Hollyoaks star Angus Castle-Doughty reveals he battled an eating disorder and body dysmorphia after stripping off for a nude scene in Netflix show

In the newest format of three interconnected episodes, we encounter a unique narrative style that allows characters to have extended screen time.

As a devoted follower and believer in the intelligence of our audience, I recognize the importance of delivering high-quality content that resonates with them. To accomplish this, we must introduce a new structure in a thoughtful and engaging manner. By advancing the show’s timeline permanently by a year, we open up an endless array of potential stories, allowing us to serve our audience with fresh and captivating content.

It is with deep regret that we must bid farewell to some cherished Hollyoaks residents sooner than anticipated.

A lengthy sequence of farewells for our characters and an exaggerated stunt scene may not be considerate towards them or our viewers, and it didn’t seem fitting with the storyline.

“Additionally, we’re looking forward to revisiting beloved characters and were thrilled by the prospect of how this could be accomplished.”

Read More

2024-07-24 03:04

Previous post First trailer for It’s Always Sunny star’s new Netflix comedy
Next post Honkai: Star Rail Yunli Build Guide: Best Relics, Light Cone, Team Comps, and more