Hollyoaks' Brendan 'not cut out to be a dad'

Hollyoaks star Emmett J Scanlan has said that he does not think his screen alter ego Brendan Brady has it in him to be a good father.

The soap's bad boy will find his parenting skills put to the test in upcoming episodes when his teenage son Declan arrives, having run away from his mother in Ireland - and he is left feeling like a failure when he struggles to keep him in check.

"Brendan has this incredibly empty feeling inside," Emmett told Inside Soap. "He's trying to be a good father, but he simply can't do it. He can't change the person he really is."

He added that although Brendan loves his son and wants to set him a good example, he finds it difficult.

"It's flattering for Brendan that Declan's come running back. But he obviously has to make it clear to Declan that what he did was wrong, and that he doesn't condone his actions in any way," the actor revealed.

"In fact Brendan and his sister Cheryl plan to send Declan right back to his mother - but in the end, they don't have the heart to do that to him."