An ex Emmerdale star and lead in The Bodyguard has sent a message to Leeds audiences after controversy at Manchester show earlier this year.
Earlier this year a "mini-riot" broke out during the show tour when former Pussycat Doll Melody Thornton began performing 'I Will Always Love You' and a woman began singing the words over her. Police were called to the scene and theatre goers said the incident was "disrespectful" and "awful".
Singer Melody will perform back-to-back shows at Leeds Grand Theatre this week alongside former Hollyoaks and Miles De Souz actor in Emmerdale, Ayden Callaghan, who has shared what that moment was like for the actors on stage. "Things went over the line," he said.
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42-year-old Ayden plays Frank Farmer in the show and said he is a "huge fan" of Kevin Costner - who played the role in The Bodyguard film. The character of Frank is a former Secret Service agent turned bodyguard hired to protect superstar Rachel Marron from an unknown stalker.
Speaking about the Manchester controversy, he told Leeds Live: "The audiences have been absolutely sensational. There are always going to be some people who go too far. My main thing was that situation lead to arguments, anyone with two brain cells knows the police didn’t come for singing. It was the arguments, that was the bad thing.
"I think we all get carried away. We want everybody to enjoy it and want everyone to be a safe, the show is very lively but sometimes things go over the line."
Ayden says he is "looking forward" to return to Leeds - where he lived while shooting Emmerdale. The dad-of-two says before every show the cast meet around 1pm to go through a technical rehearsal and get ready for the show.
The Bodyguard tour is Ayden's first role back in theatre in 12 years. He added: "People are loving the shows. It feels like I am walking out onto Wembley stadium when I am out there.
"I would never rule out returning to soaps but if you gave me a choice right now, I would love to do another play after this."
He added: "I nearly did The Bodyguard a few years back. I loved the film as a kid so getting to do it was an iconic role for me. Playing a title role, those are the things you do your drama school training for - I am not a musical theatre performer so the opportunity to do that was great."
Ayden, who is married to actress Sarah-Jane Honeywell, added: "I lived in Leeds when I did Emmerdale, so I am excited to return. Last time I was there some of the cast came down. The theatre is so beautiful."
Ayden said: "Theatre is where I started as an actor. It is the greatest pleasure and a challenge it is just you and that audience and you get to take that character on. In Emmerdale you are just shooting scenes and very rarely is it in order.
"In soap world it is so open ended, and for most part you are just seeing what happens. You are just flying blind. But with theatre it is nice to tell the whole story."
Ahead of being back on tour, Ayden spent time in La Manga, Spain with his wife and two young children. The family stayed at a friend's holiday home and were spotted enjoying some downtime at the beach. Ayden flew back to the UK and is back on stage just hours later.
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