'I was Hollyoaks' sexiest star and now I'm working as a teacher'

Jeremy Edwards kick-started his career as a teenage model, gracing the pages of popular magazines, before becoming the ultimate heartthrob of the 2000s.

Crowned as ' most attractive star for his role as Kurt Benson on the hit soap, his striking good looks and undeniable charm propelled him into the spotlight.

His high-profile relationships also made headlines, particularly his romance with S Club 7 singer Rachel Stevens.

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However, life has taken a different turn for the 52 year old, who now relishes his role as a devoted father to his two children, Scarlett, seven, and Teddy, four, whom he shares with his wife, Lydia Metz.

Reminiscing on his showbiz days, Jeremy told The Sun: "I had the best time of my life when I started out; I was going to elite showbiz parties," Jeremy reminisces. "I was young, good-looking, and had loads of money - the money was insane - so make of that what you will."

He added: "But now things are different. I'm a husband, a dad, and my kids are my main priority. I like to be around for them as much as possible - having breakfast together and doing the school run. Although, I do still hear mums at the school gates saying, 'Yeah, I fancied him when I was younger'."

Jeremy’s rise to fame wasn’t just limited to the screen as his relationship with hit singer Rachel captivated the nation, earning them the title of Britain's number one celebrity couple - even eclipsing Posh and Becks.

In the early 2000s, Jeremy and Rachel were the golden couple of the celebrity . Their love story was straight out of a fairytale, with Jeremy popping the question to Rachel on at London's Dorchester Hotel after just 18 months of courtship.

He disclosed that he declined a £2 million pound proposal for his wedding to be showcased in a magazine.

However, after three years as a couple and one year engaged, they chose to go their separate ways - and eight months later he met his present wife Lydia.

Reflecting on the past, Jeremy now thinks his ADHD, diagnosed four years ago, had an impact on the split and his ability to handle the strains of stardom.

Currently, Jeremy balances four ventures, including educating neurodiverse students at the UK Film Academy, authoring books, acting, and presenting on the teleshopping channel Ideal World.

He's also initiated, TWIST: The Way I See Things on his TikTok page @jeremytwist, which delves into pressing issues in Britain, from homelessness and mental health to inequality and the cost-of-living crisis.

Hollyoaks streams Mondays to Wednesdays from 6am on Channel 4' s streaming platform, or catch episodes on TV at 7pm on E4 .