Leeds performer Bethany Hare lands 'dream' role on Hollyoaks

Now 20 and after years of performing, mainly as a singer - and raising thousand of pounds for charity - Bethany Hare has landed her "dream" job as a character on Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks.

The former Horsforth School pupil has announced she is set to play the role of Cher - the long-lost daughter of Sylver McQueen, played by David Tag, and will be appearing on our screens very soon.

Bethany told the Yorkshire Evening Post: "I am so delighted to have joined the case of Hollyoaks, it is a dream come true. All the cast has made me feel so welcome."

Bethany had just started on the soap when filming was suspended due to the coronavirus lockdown - causing a slight delay to her highly anticipated air date.

She said: "I’m definitely missing filming and the rest of the cast. We all have a chat which is nice so everyone is still in touch. I’m very excited to get back to filming and seeing everyone again as everyone is so nice and has been so so welcoming."

Bethany was just 10 when a video of her singing the song Smile while dressed as Charlie Chaplin went viral.

She went on to harness her new-found fame to help raise money for charity, netting around £40,000 for Martin House Children's Hospice at Boston Spa, near Wetherby.

In 2012, aged 12, she launched her own charity called Bethany's Smile which supports children with life-limiting and life-threatening illness and their families.

Bethany, who has spent the past eight years singing free at charity events across the country, is an ambassador for the charity which has so far raised around £150,000.

She told the Yorkshire Evening Post she has been throwing herself into her singing while living in lockdown back with her family - having moved to Liverpool for the Channel 4 soap before the pandemic hit.

She said: "I’m trying to be as productive as possible so I have been doing lots of songwriting and music which has been so fun and have definitely learnt a lot. I’ve also been trying to learn guitar which I am loving."

She added: "It’s definitely a very strange time but I’ve been trying to make the most of it. As filming is down in Liverpool so it gives me lots of time to spend with my family."

Bethany's mum, Yvonne said: "I am extremely proud of Beth, she has worked very hard since the age of six on her performing arts, singing, dancing and drama so she is living her dream.

"We were excited and sad when she moved to Liverpool so it was quite nice to get her back home with us for some extra time. Beth is desperate to get back to filming though. We cannot wait to see her on Hollyoaks."

Earlier this year, Bethany released a single, under the name Bethannie, called The Idea of Love.

She has sung at a string of prestigious events, including Hollywood actress Eva Longoria's Global Gift Gala for Variety GB in London in 2015.

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