A soap actor has made a film claiming reality TV shows have created a generation of web abusers.
Dominic Power made the movie drama Medicine after leaving Emmerdale and before landing his role in Hollyoaks.
The title refers to claims would-be reality TV show contestants are asked if they take any medication. Dominic, 49, who plays Dave Chen-Williams in C4’s show, said he made the film after noticing a sharp rise in online trolls off the back of shows such as ITV ’s X Factor.
He said: “Saturday night TV talent shows would really upset me because I’ve worked with guys with learning difficulties that I recognised in some of the contestants.”
Dominic claims some hopefuls were “humiliated” on shows, adding: “It is medieval. I am one of those people that if someone falls over I don’t laugh I worry and panic they’ve hurt themselves.”
ITV, which axed X Factor last year, has strongly denied claims it exploited anyone on the programme.
The show is set for a revival on Channel 5. Medicine is awaiting an official release date. In it, a young woman takes revenge on another woman who was responsible for devastating social media trolling five years earlier.
Dominic who joined Hollyoaks in 2021, said the film had been gruelling to make.
He said: “On Emmerdale I said I’m going to write and learn to make films and for years that has been a passion.”
The star, whose Dales character Cameron bedded Chas Dingle, won Inside Soap’s Best Bad Boy award in 2013. He then took a break from acting.
Dominic added: “I didn’t have an agent and I threw myself into making films for education.”
He has also appeared in The Bill, loves being on Hollyoaks and has settled into life in the North West, where the programme is filmed. He said: “After a nine year hiatus from soap it’s nice to be back. I wasn’t sure I could still do it, it’s nice to know the cogs get oiled quite quickly.
“I love the people, the environment, and being in Liverpool. Everything is just beautiful. Everyone says when you are in a soap it becomes like a family and it does.
“I’m having a ball and happy to stay as long as they like Dave to be here.”
