13 soap characters who had no business being so ripped
AKA hot men with shirts off. You're welcome.
Actors face big pressure these days to stay in shape – who knows when Hollywood could come calling to cast a fresh-faced soap star in the next big action movie? The soaps themselves are also pretty shameless when it comes to writing in any old excuse for their male cast to strip off. But when you really think about it, aren't these lot just a little bit too buff for their roles?
Keanu Taylor (EastEnders)
When the Taylors first joined EastEnders, the bosses really hammered home the point that they were struggling to make ends meet and every penny counted. But it certainly didn't look like Keanu was giving up a pricey gym membership to help pay the electricity bill...
Keegan Baker (EastEnders)
Keanu's half-brother Keegan seems to attend the same gym. Seriously guys, give skint Karen those pennies instead!
Jack Branning (EastEnders)
Okay, so Jack is a former policeman and did once own a boxing gym – but where does he find the time for so much exercise these days in between his day job, planning constant marriage proposals and being a single dad?
Ryan Connor (Coronation Street)
Ryan's gym body doesn't quite match his lazy and "can't be bothered" on-screen attitude... plus, would he really look this good after so many years of drinking beer and cocktails in Ibiza? The jury's out.
Billy Mayhew (Coronation Street)
Corrie fans had no idea that busy vicar Billy was such a gym freak, until he paraded around in a bath towel. The tattoo also came as a surprise to some!
Cassius Grady (Neighbours)
Cassius knew he'd be jailed for life if he didn't find his missing medallion, which implicated him in a murder. But it didn't stop him seemingly spending 3 hours a day in the gym when he could have been searching for it.
Ross Barton (Emmerdale)
Ross was never shy about his looks, but we never actually saw him put the work in for those abs. Where did he find the time in between his criminal acts, sarcastic quips and serial moping?
Harry Thompson (Hollyoaks)
While it's certainly not implausible that Tony's son would take care of himself, his gym body never seems to disappear despite his ever-changing circumstances in the show. Such as regularly being skint, occasionally homeless and facing the stress of being banged up for murder.
VJ Patterson (Home and Away)
He may not be in the show anymore, but we couldn't not mention the surprise of Leah's son transforming from a little kid to a full-blown soap hunk in the space of just a few months thanks to a convenient recast. Did nobody notice his growth spurt?
Peter Beale (EastEnders)
Accepting the Ben Hardy version of Peter as Ian Beale's son always seemed like a bit of a stretch... even if he probably did get his five-a-day after so much time on the fruit and veg stall.
Joey Branning (EastEnders)
Hmm... did he really inherit the genes of his dad Dirty Derek?
Milo Entwistle (Hollyoaks)
Milo was an unlucky-in-love geek for most of his time in Hollyoaks, but let's just say he definitely wouldn't have looked out of place on the show's hunks calendar... if it still existed.
Prince McQueen (Hollyoaks)
Prince also often has "money worries" storylines, but he's another soap character who didn't get the memo that a gym membership is NOT compulsory when you're strapped for cash.
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