Hollyoaks hunk Duncan James reveals he fears his acting career is at risk after back injury
HOLLYOAKS star Duncan James has revealed his acting career is under threat due to a major back injury.
He told the Sun’s Bizarre column he recently went for a scan which turned out worse than expected and has had to turn down offers for upcoming roles as a result.
The Blue star, 38, has previously admitted nerve damage from wearing heels in a theatre show almost stopped him from joining the cast of the Channel 4 soap.
Speaking at the launch of Jason Gardiner’s latest stage production Ruthless!, Duncan said: “I think because I haven't kept up my physiotherapy and I've been working so much I haven't been able to do what I need to do so my back's still bad.
“I had an MRI scan recently which was a bit unfortunate because I was hoping things might be better than they are and they're not.
“So I've got to figure out what I'm going to do now with my back – but it's not great.”
Duncan has told how he suffered a massive back injury when doing drag in Priscilla Queen of The Desert in 2015 and 2016.
And he almost lost his life in June 2016, when vital fluid from his brain began pouring out of an old surgery wound and almost killed him.
But doctors were able to relieve the trapped nerve in his spine and get the leak under control when he was rushed to theatre.
Duncan, who plays Ryan Knight in the Channel 4 soap, has admitted he is considering more surgery when he eventually leaves Hollyoaks.
He told the Sun he recently had to turn down job offers for roles because he could not endure the pain.
Duncan said: “It's not so bad when I'm on tour with the boys (Blue) it's just doing a show again. I can't dance in a pair of heels.
“I was up for a part in Kinky Boots and I couldn't do it because it's a part where I'm in heels again and I can't put that strain on my back. It's really bad.
“It's a bit of a worry for me because it's my life. My life is about doing what I do and I've been doing it since I was five years old. All you can have is your health and it affects everything.
“I need to get my back sorted because it's a big worry. It's scary.”