Emmerdale's Danny Miller answers YOUR fan questions

From Digital Spy

When Digital Spy was given the chance to catch up with Emmerdale favourite Danny Miller this week, we decided to hand control of the interview straight over to the fans by calling for questions on our Soap Scoop Twitter account (@soapscoop).

Of course, we ended up getting way more questions than we could actually use in one interview, but here's how Danny replied to our pick of the best questions from the viewers.

Who's best for Aaron – Robert, Jackson or Ed?

"I would say definitely Robert! For a number of reasons really, but mainly for the chemistry the two characters have on screen. They also write so very well for them and opposites do attract.

"I'd say Jackson and Ed were maybe a bit too soft and let Aaron get away with things too much. With Robert, he's met his match and they're both very aware of it. I've also had much more time with Ryan Hawley to evolve it into the relationship that it's become."

If you could pick a storyline for Aaron, what would it be and why?

"I always quite liked the idea of Aaron adopting, and then Liv came in. So I'd quite like to see more of Aaron being a father figure for Liv when she eventually comes back into the show. I think that's something that could bring a lot of joy, but also probably a lot of frustration if Liv causes trouble. We saw little bits of that when Liv was first introduced.

"Isobel [who plays Liv] has had to go off for a while to do her GCSEs, but when she comes back, there's so many stories we can choose to use. She's a really talented actress and I'm hoping that I can support her in a storyline, rather than Aaron being at the forefront of it.

"It would definitely be something quite light and humorous and one that possibly doesn't involve Aaron being dragged into misery again, but the storyliners are so great that they often find light and shade in a lot of the storylines."

Could Aaron's spice addiction be explored again?

"It's always there as an option. It's something they could possibly explore in a few months' time, a few years' time – whatever they want, really. I do think that Aaron learned from his mistakes, as he saw what it did to Robert and particularly Liv when he saw how disappointed she was in him.

"That's not to say that Aaron might not go and purchase some or want to smoke some in the future – but maybe he doesn't, we don't know at the moment. There's so many different options that we could explore with it.

"I think we raised awareness of spice and what it's doing to people in prison. The media is also doing a good job of highlighting how dangerous it is as well, so maybe we can add to that."

What's one thing you've always wanted to try but have been too scared to?

"To be honest, it's skydiving. Years ago they gave me the option to do it in shot for an episode of Emmerdale, but I just couldn't do it. Marc, who played Jackson, did it on his own but I've always regretted it ever since.

"I'm absolutely terrified of heights, so maybe it's something I'd like to do in the future... although even saying it scares me! But I would absolutely love to overcome my fear of heights."

What's the one thing playing Aaron has taught you?

"Now that Aaron has started to see the counsellor, for me it's that talking about things and allowing people into your feelings and emotions helps massively. I wouldn't ever say I've been depressed, but whenever you get low, it's always good to talk to people and speak out.

"I never really used to express my feelings and talk to people about how I felt, until we started to look into Aaron seeing a counsellor and trying to deal with his issues. So it's taught me that, as they say, it's okay to talk, it's okay to cry, it's fine to allow people in and let them try to help you."

Do you have a favourite funny scene from the past year?

"I think it was when Paddy went to tell Aaron about his mum and the fact that they were seeing each other again. He was trying to get around to how they might have slept together! It's just because Dominic Brunt never ceases to make me laugh, ever!

"Aaron finds Paddy so funny and hilarious that he just laughs in his face, but actually it's partly Danny laughing at Dominic. Dominic knows exactly what he's doing to make me laugh!

"I've missed doing a lot of humorous stuff with Paddy. Paddy gets on Aaron's nerves sometimes and Aaron is quite open about letting him know that! I like that relationship."

Would you like to get more into directing and perhaps direct an episode of Emmerdale?

[Is that your real name, Emma?]

"I do make some stuff myself. It's something I've become more interested in as I've got older and it's something that I'd like to make more of an impact in. I've learned so much here at Emmerdale that it's made me much more interested in creating, as opposed to being in the creation.

"It's definitely something that I'd like to do, because it's always nice to have another string to your bow and be able to know how to edit and direct. Some stuff that I've made is probably too dark for 7pm, but I'd love to get involved in directing with Emmerdale one day and hopefully that's something that will happen, particularly because I know the show inside out. But at the moment acting is the main priority."

Do you believe Robron will be okay in the end?

"I think they will. The infidelity makes things very messy. It's a betrayal and it's something that Aaron just doesn't stand for, so I think they'll have to deal with their problems. But Gordon was the reason that he went to prison and he always taunts him and haunts Aaron in a spiritual way, which has stuck with him. If he loses Robert, it means that Gordon wins again, so there's always that avenue that needs exploring again.

"Aaron has got to start growing up and realising that he needs to make a go of things and can't just walk away. The fact that Robert has cheated does change things, so it could be a lot of hard work. Of course they'll never be the same, but it can be very close to it and a truce can be made there.

"I think it could go either way. It could go down the road of splitting up or really making a go of it, it just depends what the guys upstairs think! But once the news about the baby comes out, it changes things completely because it's a constant reminder of what happened."

What's your favourite karaoke song? We've also been encouraged to pass on a compliment about your singing voice...

"No I don't have a nice singing voice! (Laughs.) Particularly if I've had a few beers, that's when I'll get up and go on the karaoke. I'll usually try to murder a Frank Sinatra song like 'My Way'. In my head I sound exactly like him, but when you watch the footage back, evidently not! So it's usually a classic like that, or 'New York, New York'.

"I've been known to do an 'Amarillo' as well, just because you can get the crowd involved. But other than that, I try to stay away from singing as much as I can – it's not a highlighted talent of mine!"

What's your favourite scene you've ever filmed?

"I would probably say the train crash with Jackson. I always remember filming the scene where Aaron is running down that track heading towards Jackson. It was late in the light, there were lots of stunts, it was up in Nottingham and it was so far away from the Emmerdale village that it felt very different.

"Another one is the scene where Aaron told Chas about Gordon's abuse. The reason for that is the director just let us shoot it. We didn't rehearse it and Lucy [who plays Chas] didn't really know what was going to be said. She didn't have to speak much until the end, so she asked whether she could just hear it on the day.

"It felt very authentic, very serious and it really added to the emotions of it. We really went for it."

Would you like Pauline Quirke to come back?

"It'd be great. I'm not sure Pauline would do it, but it'd be amazing. We've always said that we'd love to have Pauline back. During the time she was here, she was just sensational and I learned so much from her in life and in acting. She was just so good to have around as a mentor.

"Jackson is buried in the village, so there's every reason that Hazel would come back to visit her son's grave and maybe see Aaron. It'd be a great little dynamic to reintroduce. She became a little bit of a mother figure and that riled Chas, so there'd be something to explore there too."

What's the best thing about working with Adam Thomas?

"It's probably the only time I get to have a genuine laugh! Aaron is very different around different people and Adam Barton really does bring out the best of him. I think there's obviously a little bit of me and Adam Thomas in there just messing about, so we always get quite light stuff.

"Adam often jokes that Aaron isn't there to support Adam enough, but hopefully the tables can turn and he can be there to support Adam a bit more. Adam is his best mate in the world, so the best thing is just the laughs that we get."

One from us – how does it feel to be shortlisted for Best Actor at the Soap Awards?

"With the talent that was up on the longlist, I'm overwhelmed. I've said it before, but it never stops being such a surprise and it's also such an overwhelming feeling that people are obviously voting for me. I'm so very thankful and grateful for all the support."

Votes for the British Soap Awards can be cast via the ceremony's official website.

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