Kristian Ealey: Hollyoaks and Brookside actor dies aged 38

Hollyoaks star Kristian Ealey has died aged 38.

The actor first rose to fame playing Matt Musgrove on Brookside between 1998 and 2000 before the character appeared on Hollyoaks from 2000 to 2004.

Ealey - who reportedly had a young son - was also the lead singer in rock band Tramp Attack, playing alongside future Zutons frontman Dave McCabe.

He even made an appearance as Beatles drummer Ringo Starr in a John Lennon biopic.

His cause of death remains unknown.

Former Brookside stars Leon Lopez and Suzanne Collins paid tribute to Ealey on Twitter.

Collins added: "I'm very privileged to have called him a friend.

"There were a gang of the young ones who grew up on the set of Brookside, we called ourselves the Brooki Brat Pack and have an incredible bond.

"We were together nearly every day on set and we socialised out of work together, we became family".

She described Ealey as "full of life, full of smiles and so full of music".

Actress Gemma Atkinson, who starred alongside Ealey in Hollyoaks, and musician Pete Wylie also took to social media to post his condolences.

Hollyoaks production company Lime Pictures told Digital Spy: "Many crew worked with Kristian on both Hollyoaks and Brookside and enjoyed following his musical success after leaving the show.

"The news has been met with shock and sadness on set and everyone's thoughts are with his family at this time".