Kenny Doughty in The Au Pair (Image: CHANNEL 5)
The Au Pair airs on Channel 5 from Monday, March 10 and the thriller follows a husband and wife who hire an au pair to help keep things in order at their home. However, shortly after the au pair’s arrival, mysterious accidents start to happen. Kenny Doughty plays Chris, the husband, and he is a 49-year-old English actor and director. He is best known for playing DS Aiden Healy on ITV’s Vera and Sean in Stella.
He was born in South Yorkshire and his career began with minor roles in I Want You and Dinner Ladies. He would go on to complete a UK tour of Simon Beaufoy’s stage play The Full Monty in 2013. In March 2023, he revealed he had stepped down from his role in Vera, writing online: “After 8 years & 35 Vera films I’ve made the difficult decision of handing over DS Healy’s badge. I can confirm I am leaving Vera.
“I want to thank everyone who’s made this amazing time so joyous, ITV, Silverprint, all the brilliant cast and crew BUT of course my buddy & inspiration Brenda Blethyn. The perfect leading star who I owe so much to.
Kenny Doughty and Sally Bretton in The Au Pair (Image: CHANNEL 5)
“I feel lucky to have you as a friend, you make me howl with laughter & have been a rock for me over the years. I can’t thank you enough. Precious times.”
His character played a key role in the series and fans are still devastated following his exit.
He recently disclosed how he left Vera to spend time with his stepdad, who was battling terminal cancer.
The star told inews: “Steve was a glorious, delightful man. I was proud to refer to him as my ‘dad’, not my stepfather.
“He was a lecturer in agriculture when he met my mum and he taught me how to be a better man. It was a no-brainer, choosing to quit work and spend those last six months with him.
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Ashley Jensen and Kenny Doughty are married (Image: Getty Images for BAFTA)
“We built a wooden house together by their home in Ireland and he taught me about wood, joinery, carpentry.”
As for his personal life, in 2006 he married actress Caroline Carver, but they separated in 2017.
In 2023, Doughty married actress Ashley Jensen, known for her roles in Extras, Ugly Betty, Agatha Raisin and Shetland.
The pair had met on the set of Extras and they got married at the historic Priston Mill near Bath.
Ashley first sparked engagement rumours when she wore a ring during an appearance on The Graham Norton show to promote Shetland.
The Au Pair airs on Channel 5 from Monday, March 10 at 9pm