FORMER Hollyoaks star actress Bronagh Waugh is taking a step into politics.
The actress, who has been best known recently for her role as Sally Ann Spector in the BBC’s psychological thriller The Fall, has joined the DUP.
However, voters shouldn’t get excited because it’s all just an act.
As she gets set to hit the promotional trail for her new Cinemagic Christmas movie A Christmas Star Bronagh has joined the cast of BBC Radio Ulster’s satirical political comedy Number 2s.
Produced by the Hole In The Wall Gang Limited the actress says she’s excited to be working with the team who gave her her first break in acting.
Bronagh will play new ‘number two’ Grainne in the comedy who is ‘number two’ to her ‘number one’ DUP Minister McCoubrey, played by Ian Beattie.
Bronagh will star alongside existing cast members Michael Condron (as number 2, Ricky), Marty Maguire (SF Minister O’Hare) and Patrick Fitzsymons (as Permanent Secretary to the office of the First and Deputy First Minister Tony Hunt). Actress Diona Doherty also joins the cast of the comedy as work placement Carmel.
Bronagh said: “I am thrilled to be joining the Number 2’s team. It is always a pleasure to get an opportunity to get home to Northern Ireland and I’m delighted to be working on a show with such a fantastic cast and team of writers.
“The Hole In The Wall Gang gave me one of my first jobs after drama school, so it’s great to be back working with them again and dipping my toe in the waters of sitcom.”
Comedian Tim McGarry from The Hole In The Wall Gang said Northern Ireland’s recent political developments meant a rewrite of the scripts and characters was needed.
He added: “Since the first series Stormont has descended into a mess calling for a rewrite of both the script and the characters, changes have been made such as adding Bronagh’s character Grainne and Diona Doherty as a character with no clue about politics, who has come in and will wreck the place even more.”
Meanwhile Bronagh is looking forward to her latest movie A Christmas Star to hit cinemas.
Produced by Northern Ireland children’s charity Cinemagic Bronagh stars as Maria O’Hanlon alongside some of the country’s best up and coming young stars as well as Cinemagic patrons Hollywood superstar Liam Neeson (narrator), former Coronation Street star Suranne Jones (Miss Darcy), Pierce Brosnan (Mr Shepherd) and Downton Abbey star Rob James-Collier (Pat McKerrod).
The cast also cameo roles and bit-parts by showbiz names including Dermot O’Leary, Kylie Minogue, Paula Malcomson, Julian Fellowes, Ross King and more.
The film tells the story of Noelle (played by young actress Erin Galway-Kendrick) who believes she has the gift to perform miracles.
But according to producers “when conniving developer McKerrod threatens her peaceful life she and her friends determine to use this gift to thwart his plans and save their village”.
Bronagh said: “I have been involved with Cinemagic for a number of years, both as a participant and now as a patron, and I am so impressed with the work that it does with young people who want to get into the creative industries.
“A Christmas Star is a delightful script and I love the whole concept of actors like myself working alongside the young cast and crew on this film.”
A Christmas Star is in cinemas on November 13. The Hole In The Wall Gang’s Number 2’s is on BBC Radio Ulster every Saturday at 10.30am.