HOLLYOAKS star James Redmond looks unrecognisable with a beard and grey hair after landing a new role in The Outlaws.
The actor – who played Rory ‘Finn’ Finnigan on the Channel 4 soap between 1997 and 2002 – posed for a photo alongside director Stephen Merchant.
The TV star said he was chuffed to be starring in the in the second series of the British comedy thriller.
The Bristol-based series – which has already proved to be a hit – centres on a group of minor offenders thrown together in a community payback scheme.
James, who wore a patterned shirt and a pair of jeans, looked very different from his time in Hollyoaks.
He smiled for a photo next to comedian and writer Stephen and captioned the photo: “Season 2 of ‘THE OUTLAWS’ launches next month on BBC One and @bbciplayer in the UK and on @PrimeVideo internationally, later this year.
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“Great script, stellar cast & lush locations.
“Over the moon to have been cast in an episode. Fair play to the multitalented @StephenMerchant.”
Fans were thrilled to hear that James had landed the role, with one writing: “Well done. Delighted for you. Seething with envy.”
Another posted: “I loved the first series, cannot wait for the second one.”
A third added: “Blimey! That’s come round quick, looking forward to it!”
Finn appeared on and off on the Channel 4 soap from 1997 and 2002.
In 2013, James returned to star in the sixth series of Hollyoaks Later and also turned up for Tony’s wedding to Diane during the show’s 20th anniversary celebrations in 2015.
James also appeared in BBC One’s Casualty as Abs Denham from 2003 to 2008 and again in 2016.
The first series of The Outlaws aired in October, it centres on a group of minor offenders thrown together in a community payback scheme.
They include Little Englander John (Darren Boyd) who repeatedly makes prejudiced remarks in front of Rani (Rhianne Barreto) and Christian (Gamba Cole).
Stephen, whose family hail from Bristol, previously said: “More than anything I’ve done before, it was a real team effort in terms of trying to engage all that stuff.
“I certainly think I’m mindful of everything that we put in the show and what our agenda is and how it might be perceived.
“I think things have changed and my own opinions have changed over time. I’ve been doing this for 20-odd years.”
The characters also include cocaine-snorting celebrity Lady Gabby (Eleanor Tomlinson) who Stephen based on diva supermodel Naomi Campbell.
And arguably the star signing of The Outlaws is Christopher Walken who plays ageing criminal Frank.
Christopher said: “I’m a fan of Stephen’s. We met at my house and I was very taken with him.
“It’s very good writing: you can tell that, if you’ve been doing it for as long as I have.
“I stand in my kitchen, and I read the lines out loud and these were very good words.
“I’ve been in England many times in my career, not to Bristol. It’s a terrific place.
