Given that Lime Pictures gave Ricky virtually no leeway when he was in SCD, I cannot understand why they'd be prepared to let him out of his contract early so he can do the tour. They will be working on an exit story for his character and, given the new profile Strictly has given him, will want him on screen as much as possible before he leaves. Channel 4 is even using a Strictly-style trailer to promote Hollyoaks - which speaks volumes.

So there was not really much point in asking Ricky anyway - he is under contract to Lime and they want their pound of flesh before he leaves Hollyoaks. They certainly don't want him unavailable to them because he is on tour around the country.

That is why this 'story' in The Sun seems extremely unlikely and is, I would wager, more likely to have been built on a desire to knock the BBC ...

Not for one minute do I believe Ricky said any such thing.

It was clear on Saturday night and he and Chris competed with good spirit and friendliness and he would not have squandered the goodwill he built up with snide comments about Chris.

It's just incredible how many people take what's in the Sun, Mail, People etc as gospel.

And quite scary when you come to think about it. Anyone who ever doubts that the media control the country just needs to have a read of the DS forums.

I'm sure if he could find time to practise for the show he could have found time to do some of the tour dates- funny how both Ali & Chris are doing it - were they the BBC's expected finalists?