Danny Miller, best known for playing Aaron Dingle on Emmerdale since 2008, has revealed that he does not want his eldest son to watch the ITV soap. The actor shares three children with his wife Steph Jones: 3-year-old Albert, 2-year-old Edith, and 6-month-old Vincent.
During a recent episode of the You Don’t Know You’re Born podcast, which he co-hosts with former Coronation Street star Brooke Vincent and radio presenter Nigel ‘Wingman’ Clucas, Danny opened up about balancing work and parenting. The conversation turned to whether their children understand what they do for a living.
‘Albert’s now aware of it because he’s taken a real interest, not forced whatsoever, in performing arts. Dancing and singing, which I’m not interested in, and acting,’ Danny explained. ‘He likes all three of them, so I hone in on that, saying that I am an actor, that’s my job. But we’ve not really touched on it, and I also wouldn’t want him to watch [Emmerdale] because it would be confusing.’
He elaborated that Albert would be confused to see his dad kiss someone who isn’t Steph, whether that person is a man or a woman. ‘It’s nothing to do with the fact that it’s a man, but I obviously have to kiss my on-screen husband, so that’s a conversation we need to have at some point with him. But also, he’d be going, “Why are you not kissing mummy?” Because that’s all he sees, is kissing mummy. So even if it was a girl, the sexuality of the character doesn’t matter.’
Brooke agreed that it would be confusing for children to see their parents kissing someone they don’t know, regardless of gender. Danny added, ‘It’s either that or I’m punching somebody, which as a parent you don’t want!’ To which Brooke responded, ‘Or you’ll be crying, and they’ll ask why you’re upset.’
Danny also shared that when fans stop him for photos while he’s with Albert, it sparks conversations about his job. ‘There are moments where he’s looking and thinking, “Why does that person want a picture with you and not me?” and that’s when the explanations come that this is my job,’ he said.
In 2023, Brooke returned to the Coronation Street set with her son Mexx, then three, and shared photos on Instagram. She is set to join the cast of Hollyoaks in the coming weeks, and discussed her concerns about transitioning from being a full-time mum to working again. Danny and Wingman offered advice, and Danny made Brooke tearful with his praise.
