VIVA Chats To Hollyoaks Star Jamie Lomas After Exclusive Fitness Shoot

Following his eagerly anticipated return to Hollyoaks after 5 years, Jamie Lomas talks to VIVA about his impressive achievements during his time away from the show and what it’s like to be back.

You left Hollyoaks in 2011. What inspired your return to the show?

I was in LA shooting a film and I received an email from Hollyoaks asking if I would be interested in returning from the show and that’s how it came about.

What was it like returning to Hollyoaks after your time away?

Yeah it’s been great, I’ve been away from the show for 5 years now so coming back is like starting with a blank canvas. We’ve got some amazing actors on the show at the moment so I’m really enjoying being back.

Since you left Hollyoaks a lot has changed. Who were you most happy to see again?

I was happy to see all the old cast, Nick Pickard, Ashley Taylor Dawson, Jimmy McKenna, and numerous others. But I was also very happy to see a lot of the crew again who are like a family. I was there for such a long time, it’s such a cliché, but we are just like a family.

You have been away from Hollyoaks for 5 years, what have you been up to in that time?

Yes I was away for 5 years. I’ve been up to loads of different things. I did EastEnders for a year, I’ve done numerous stage productions, I was on tour doing a play for 6 months, also I was in LA doing different things, and I also did a show called Stella.

You recently followed a nutrition plan with Eat Elite. What was that like?

I had to be very strict with my food but fortunately I had the company Eat Elite making my food for me so I didn’t really have to think about it too much, just used to have to put it in the microwave and I was away.

What other kinds of sports do you prefer?

I absolutely love boxing it’s a huge passion of mine. 

I’ve been fortunate enough to train with some amazing boxers including Jamie Moore, who is one of my close friends, and Spencer Oliver when I was doing EastEnders who is also a close friend of mine. 

You have set up your own acting school. What made you want to do this?

I was over in LA I just wanted to do something – I realised acting is a profession you can always rely on and I wanted to give something back. So I met up with my business partner Mike and we decided to set up First Take Media Group and it’s going from strength to strength. I think the motivational side of the school is very important and we focus on that quite a lot.

What was your thought process behind it all?

Our thought process behind it all was to help people in the pitfalls and things you don’t really get taught at normal acting schools. I think because broth Mike and I have been in front of the camera 15 years each, we’ve got the opportunity to pass on that knowledge and things that you might not ordinarily know and I think that is vital as an actor.

What can people expect from the acting school?

People can expect a very positive environment where actors thrive and are willing to come in and express themselves and not feel embarrassed and just thrive and you can get in touch with us by contacting www.firsttakemediagroup.com

Actor Jamie Lomas will be joining our very own VIVA Ems, Boxer Jamie Moore, MD of Vital Management Laura Graham, Actresses Katie McGlynn and Hollie-Jay Bowes and Actor Anthony Quinlan in #TeamVital to take on The Manchester Sleepout 2016 charity event.

The challenge is to sleep out for one night only, on 4 November, to highlight the hardships faced by homeless people every night and raise vital funds to support the Booth Centre’s work helping homeless people move off the streets and to realise a better future.

You can sponsor them here: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/teamvitalsleepout and follow the Facebook Page.

Credits:

Photography Rosie Hardy, Art Director Laura Graham, Grooming Cassie Lomas. Shot on location at Hallam Mill in Stockport.
The shoot was produced by Vital Publicity.
Jamie did a 12-week training programme with ICAN PT in Wilmslow.
His nutrition was managed by Eat Elite 
He has recently started boxing again, and trains on a regular basis with former light middle weight champion Jamie Moore at David Lloyd in Cheadle and at his boxing gym in Astley.