TIERS OF JOY

As Shieldinch prepares for two celebrations, actor Darren Brownlie is overjoyed that he will play a major part in same-sex nuptials on mainstream TV after years of never seeing it

- HEATHER GREENAWAY

SOAP weddings always pack an emotional punch and none more so than River City's much-anticipated double whammy next week.

Viewers have been eagerly waiting to see Mikey share his big day with mum Bernie and dad Mulvaney, who have found love after four decades apart. 

Darren Brownlie, 39, who plays Shieldinch favourite Mikey Duffy, admits the double wedding is one of his favourite ever River City scenes.

The actor said: "I grew up watching the soaps and lived for all the big weddings so to be part of the wedding of the year in River City was magical.

"It's not often you play a character who is tying the knot with the man of his dreams on the same day his mum and dad are saying, 'I do', after being separated for 40 years.

"When Mikey came to Shieldinch, he had no idea who his biological parents were, so to find them and for them to rekindle their love and share his wedding day is brilliant only in soapland."

Darren, who starred in The James Gang with James Nesbitt, Helen McCrory and John Hannah, added: "Apart from Mikey's dad going missing on the morning of the wedding, the drama in the episode isn't around the people getting married.