'Hollyoaks' actor shocked by plot research

Hollyoaks star Nico Mirallegro has admitted that he is shocked by the research he has done for his role on the Channel 4 soap.

The 17-year-old actor spent two months reading up on schizophrenia after being told that his character Newt would start to experience symptoms of the mental illness. As well as studying books and internet sites, Mirallegro watched films about the disorder and spoke to real-life sufferers.

"I didn't know anything about this illness at all, nor did any of my friends," Nico told the Liverpool Daily Post. "But I've found out that around one person in 100 will experience it at some time, and so, in an average secondary school with 1,000 pupils, there are about 10 that could be affected.

"That really shocked me, and had me thinking 'maybe I already know someone who could be affected and I don't even realise it'. It's really opened my eyes to the suffering that people go through and what a terrible effect this illness can have on someone's life."

Mirallegro was recruited for the part of Newt last year after being talent-spotted at his Saturday morning drama class. He postponed his plans to go to college after winning the role.

"The chance to play this part came out of the blue," he explained. "I was not expecting it at all, but while it's been an incredible opportunity for me I've also been conscious of what a responsibility it is to try to accurately portray what a young person with this illness can go through."