Kieron Richardson takes on new role away from Hollyoaks as he addresses outcome of missing Ste story

Kieron Richardson takes on new role away from Hollyoaks as he addresses outcome of missing Ste story | Deputy Soaps Editor Published September 29, 2026 12:13pm Updated September 29, 2026 12:13pm Kieron is at the centre of a big Hollyoaks story (Picture: Lime Pictures) Hollyoaks fans are working overtime to try and figure out what happened to Ste Hay, who unexpectedly vanished before their very eyes as he strolled through a shopping centre just a few weeks ago. But while Ste’s whereabouts is unknown, star Kieron Richardson can be found over on CBeebies, playing a part worlds away from the tracksuit-wearing chef as he voices a key character in Rafi The Wishing Wizard. ‘It’s has been good for me to be nervous again!,’ he told Metro. ‘To play a completely different character in an opposite genre, and to get involved in a new area of the industry for me. ‘It’s been a long time since my first day on the job and I loved getting to see the behind the scenes and how much passion and creativity goes into animation.’ Animated series Rafi The Wishing Wizard follows seven-year-old Rafi and her two dads on daily adventures, which – according to Kieron – is every bit as ‘exciting as it sounds’. ‘It’s colourful, magical, it’s funny, it’s got loads of heart. And at the centre of it is Rafi and her family…. Living in Manchester, running a bakery with one wish a day! Kieron, who in real-life has two children with husband Carl Hyland, plays Jake, one of Rafi’s dads. ‘I’m the sensible dad who airs on the side of caution,’ he said. Kieron plays Jake, one of Rafi’s dads, in Rafi The Wishing Wizard (Picture: CBeebies / BBC) ‘It’s actually really nice for me to play a role that my kids can watch. Jake gets a lot more attention in our house than I do…. The kids would love it if ‘Jake’ could pop round one day as his baking is far better than mine!’. Having played Ste on Hollyoaks for two decades, Kieron is no stranger to telling stories which start conversations and change people’s perceptions – and he’s doing so again with Wishing Wizard. Ask Metro Use AI to go deeper into the stories you care about – powered by Metro and trusted publications. Perhaps the most groundbreaking thing of all about the show is it doesn’t feel the need to explain why Rafi has two dads. Her family is never depicted as anything other than normal – which is exactly the way it should be. ‘Having not just a show but an animation with “Two Dads” is huge!,’ Kieron enthused. ‘We can hopefully just call ourselves “Parents” soon. As more of the world recognises that is what we are. The feedback from the LGBT+ community has been overwhelmingly positive. To see and hear how happy it’s made little ones, and families seeing families like theirs on screen is such a wonderful feeling. I’m so proud of what team Rafi have achieved Quote Quote ‘What I love about Rafi is that it quietly shows kids that families come in all shapes. Everything is learnt, so the more we see it, the less it’s about “Oh looks it’s two dads” and more “it’s simply parenting.’ Rafi The Wishing Wizard – which dropped a batch of brand new episodes on BBC iPlayer this month – has proven a hit with audiences since its debut in February. ‘As soon as I heard the theme tune last year I knew it was going to be a hit’, said Kieron. ‘Any parent knows CBeebies is constantly on in the background whether you are cooking or cleaning and those songs get stuck in your head and Rafi’s is definitely catchy!’ To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video ‘The feedback from the LGBT+ community has been overwhelmingly positive. To see and hear how happy it’s made little ones, and their families seeing families like theirs on screen is such a wonderful feeling. I’m so proud of what team Rafi have achieved.’ Rafi is yet another achievement for star Kieron, who has been incredibly busy over the past year. Not only is he filming Hollyoaks, in which Ste remains a pivotal character, but he’s also proven a dab hand at presenting Hollyoaks Unwrapped and recently he launched a podcast with Sienna Blake star Anna Passey. ‘I’m super thankful to be able to do such a variety of things,’ he said. ‘The creative side of me is always looking at what else – I’m the kind of ‘wake up in the middle of the night with another bright idea’ person ….but right now I think I’m busy enough with new episodes of Rafi the Wishing Wizard, filming, Lady & The Camp podcast, School runs and the countdown to Christmas!’ Kieron is best known for playing Ste on Hollyoaks (Picture: Lime Pictures) And speaking of filming, just what lies ahead for Ste? The much-loved character vanished in the middle of a shopping centre just weeks ago, with speculation rife both among show characters and fans regarding what happened to him. ‘It’s a mySTEry?,’ joked Kieron (I see what you did there!) as he teased a fresh and original outcome to the story. ‘My lips are well and truly sealed, but what I can say is Hollyoaks is never afraid to be the first to try something new!’ Deals of the Day I tried L'Oréal Paris's new PDRN serum and my skin looked glossier after one use This new Cricut gadget turns your favourite photos into stickers in minutes From kitchen hatches to burgundy walls – the biggest home trends for 2027 Oodie’s cosy blanket sale has arrived just in time for Christmas shopping Save over £700 on Simba's top-rated mattresses in this limited-time sale All new Rafi: The Wishing Wizard is available to watch on CBeebies and BBC iPlayer now. Hollyoaks streams Mondays to Wednesdays from 6am on Channel 4’s streaming platform, or catch episodes on TV at 7pm on E4. If you’ve got a soap or TV story, video or pictures get in touch by emailing us soaps@metro.co.uk – we’d love to hear from you. Join the community by leaving a comment below and stay updated on all things soaps on our homepage. Arrow MORE: Hollyoaks star confirms explosive ‘super ambitious’ event to end Ste story Arrow MORE: Leah in serious danger in Hollyoaks as sinister stalker closes in on her Arrow MORE: James spirals in Hollyoaks as he makes confession about missing Ste The Soaps Newsletter – Weekly Sign up for exclusive spoilers and interviews, handpicked by our Soaps Editor.