Ricky Whittle as Calvin Valentine

The Hollyoaks actor Ricky Whittle, has announced that he will be participating in the London Marathon this year, running for Virgin Unite.

Whittle who plays the part of Calvin Valentine in the Channel 4 soap, has been busy training in between filming for the show, and has had the advantage of fitness training already after finishing runner-up in the ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ series in December 2009.

However, the actor has also confessed to be recovering from a recent hernia operation which he kept quiet about while practising for the dance show as he didn’t want to go for the sympathy vote.

The charity Ricky is raising funds for is part of the Richard Branson Virgin group enterprise, a non-profit foundation which aims tackles social and and environmental problems.  The marathon is taking place on April 25th 2010.

As Mandy Salter in Eastenders

Nicola Stapleton, who played the part of Mandy Salter in Eastenders from 1992-1994, is now joining the cast of Hollyoaks Later, where she will play the role of Savannah, a friend of Cindy’s from Spain.

Mandy Salter arrived in Eastenders as a 15-year-old tearaway who manipulated and used people to get what she wanted.

In September 2008, the 34-year-old actress, was seen in the Dales of Yorkshire when she acted as Eli Dingle’s friend in Emmerdale, known as Danielle Hutch.

Her first appearance in Emmerdale was in an hour-long special when she was knocked down by a speeding car driven by Eli Dingle.