Why Paul Danan was removed from Love Island as controversial stint remembered

Hollyoaks and legend after previously struggling to breathe and being hospitalised due to an addiction to vaping.

The TV personality rose to fame in 1997 when he landed a role of Sol Patrick on the soap. He held the role of the TV bad boy for four years before he bid farewell to the long-running soap.

But that didn’t stop him from pursuing a career in television. Four years later, he took part in Celebrity Loved Island. Before the beloved dating show was rebooted 2015, a star-studded version hit the airwaves in the early 2000s.

The dating show brought all the drama with a cast of familiar faces – including Calum Best, Liz McClarnon, Abi Titmus and winner Jayne Middlemiss.

Joining them on the sun-soaked Island of Fiji was the soap hunk, who certainly caused controversy on the tension-filled series.

During his time on the show, the TV favourite attempted to win over the likes of Lady Isabella Hervey – a socialite, model and fitness trainer. But his smooth moves failed to win over the blonde bombshell when Paul finished fourth on the show.

Arguably, one of the actor’s most memorable moments was when he had to be removed from the villa by the show’s security. Paul kicked-off when he found himself alone in bed as his fellow islanders refused to share a bunk with him.

Yet the outburst couldn’t have scared ITV producers off too much, as he returned as a contestant on Celebrity Love Island once more in 2006. The news of the actor’s passing was confirmed by his management who issued a heartbreaking statement.

It read: “It is with heavy hearts that we share the tragic news of the passing of @pauldanan at just 46 years old. Known for his television presence, exceptional talent and unwavering kindness, Paul was a beacon of light to so many,

“His untimely departure will leave irreplacable voids in the lives of all who knew him. During this difficult time, we kindly request respect and privacy for Paul’s family, friends, and colleagues. No further comments will be made at this time.”

In 2017, he competed in Celebrity Big Brother and starred in series seven of E4’s Celebrity Coach Trip in 2022. Before his death, Danan had been running a drama group and prison workshops to help those struggling with addiction and mental health issues.

Last year, Danan revealed that he was brought back to life after his “obsessive” vape usage caused respiratory failure. After losing consciousness and collapsing at his home, Danan was given CPR by his family before being rushed to hospital.

The reality star ended up in the ICU with pneumonia and his family were warned he might not “make it through the night”. Danan recalled how the doctor was “so harsh” with him after he woke up, warning him that he risked having to be linked to an oxygen tank later in life if he carried on smoking.

He told : “I was dead — it’s a miracle I’m here. I’m upstairs puffing away on my vape then suddenly I lost my breath and collapsed. My family called for an ambulance and started giving me CPR, then police arrived and took over before paramedics took me to hospital.

“I was on a machine in ICU and ended up with pneumonia. My family were warned I might not make it through the night. I’m so lucky.’

“The doctor was so, so harsh with me. She told me, ‘Paul, you don’t know how serious this was and you are going to be in here for a while now, on this oxygen’. After eyars of smoking cigarettes and all sorts, it’s teh vaping which has done me in. That pushed me over the edge.”

The former reality TV star has confronted a harrowing past with addiction issues, engaging in drugs and alcohol struggles, yet he asserts that he’s been sober for upwards of three years now. Danan abandoned cigarette smoking in 2021 but found himself snagged by the lure of vaping instead.

Danan is survived by his nine-year-old son Deniro.