Hollyoaks legend Danny Mac’s life away from screen – from famous wife to Strictly confession
As Hollyoaks icon Mark 'Dodger' Savage makes a shock return to the Channel 4 soap, the Mirror takes a look at actor Danny Mac's life away from the fictional Chester suburb
Dodger Savage (Danny Mac) is returning to Hollyoaks (Image: Channel 4)
It’s been nearly 10 years since Hollyoaks fans said goodbye to Mark ‘Dodger’ Savage – the cheekiest chappy in Chester with an eye for the ladies. Now Dodger is set to make a surprise return to the village, with his return scenes due to air early in the new year.
Played by Bromley-born actor Danny Mac, Dodger kept viewers on their toes with his complicated love life, which saw him bed a number of the soap’s fieriest women. He was also at the heart of some truly wild twists and turns, including inadvertently fathering a child with his estranged twin sister Sienna Blake (Anna Passey).
The last time fans saw Dodger was way back in 2015 when he courageously took the blame after daughter Nico Blake (Persephone Swales-Dawson) murdered his villainous brother Will Savage (James Atherton) in a desperate act of self-defence.
As Dodger prepares to make his return, there looks to be plenty more to come from the natural-born charmer. And his off-air counterpart Danny has also been pretty busy…
Danny is married to a fellow Hollyoaks star ( Image: Getty Images for Stella Artois)
The couple have welcomed two children together ( Image: Getty Images,)
Danny is married to fellow Hollyoaks star Carley Stenson, however, the pair never actually worked together, with Carley having left the year before Danny joined. Instead, Danny first met Carley when she was starring as the iconic Elle Woods in Legally Blonde: The Musical in 2011.
Six years later, the couple tied the knot in an intimate woodland wedding, with Danny describing the social day as ‘perfect’ during a 2017 interview on Lorraine. Danny told Lorraine: “It was the perfect day. It really could not have been better, it was fantastic weather and it was all outside. We had a wonderful time, it could not have gone better.”
In another interview with Hello! magazine at the time, Danny recalled the moment he saw his bride walking towards him. He remembered: “Carley looked truly sensational and so happy. It was such a lovely moment that I’ll never forget. I actually put my hand out to tell her to slow down as it was all going too quickly and I wanted to cherish it. Carley thought I waved and so she waved back.”
The lovebirds have since gone on to welcome daughter Skye Bella in June 2021, and, in June of this year, they introduced their second child to the world – a little boy named Beauie Mac. Posting an adorable photograph of themselves leaving the hospital with Beauie via Instagram Stories, Danny wrote: “Welcome to the world, son… well done Mummy. Thank you!”
Musical theatre endeavours
The soapstar has enjoyed success in the world of musical theatre ( Image: Helen Maybanks)
Danny has been involved in a number of interesting projects, including a string of musical theatre productions. He was nominated for ‘Best Actor’ at the WhatsOnStage Awards for the part of Joe Gillis in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s touring production of Sunset Boulevard, which he played from September 2017 to April 2018.
Musical theatre buffs may also recognise Danny from his stint as Edward in the 2020 London premiere of Pretty Woman: The Musical, and Nino in the musical adaptation of the whimsical French film Amélie.
Strictly confession
Oti and Danny proved to be a fantastic team ( Image: PA)
Danny claims he was ultimately pleased not to have won ( Image: BBC/Guy Levy)
Danny proved himself to be a talented dancer in the 2016 series of Strictly Come Dancing, which saw him partnered with Oti Mabuse. The pair shone in the ballroom, but ultimately missed out on the glitterball trophy, coming in second place behind champions Ore Oduba and Joanne Clifton.
Rather than lament missing out on a victory, Danny later remarked that he had been pleased not to win – fearing it would damage his career. Speaking with The Sun in 2017, Danny admitted: “I always say I didn’t lose, Ore won. And Oti and I won on the Strictly tour, so I got a version of the trophy.
“My mum has it on her dining table, so every time I go home I see it in all its glory. I actually think it was probably best for my career that I didn’t win. I mean, Ore will never be able to get away from the Strictly winner thing, even if it’s been the making of him.”
Excitement ahead of long-awaited return
Hollyoaks fans can expect fireworks as Dodger returns ( Image: TV Grab)
A source advised The Sun that Dodger’s return will be a dramatic one, with an eventful family reunion on the cards. This insider shared: “Bosses are really keen to solidify the clans in the village and bringing Dodger back and reuniting him with his sisters and dad and very dangerous grandmother is the cherry on top for them.
“Danny’s really excited to be back filming and back on the show. It’s a really exciting time under Hannah (producer Hannah Cheers) and it was the perfect time to return.”
Meanwhile, Digital Spy reports that thespian Danny is ‘thrilled’ to be back in the action-packed suburb, where there looks to be more surprises in store. Danny divulged: “After a decade away, I’m thrilled to be returning and reuniting with my incredible co-stars, old friends and a character very close to my heart.
“Dodger escaped, leaving a great deal behind. I’ve always wondered whether he could return and who he might have become in the 10 years since he ran away. Now that he’s back, there’s a lot to uncover, but one way or another, we will finally find out.”
