Hollyoaks co-star pays tribute to ‘wonderful’ pregnant actress who died in M66 crash

Paul Dadan has paid tribute to pregnant Hollyoaks actress Frankie Julia Hough, who died following a car crash on the M66.

Frankie Julia Hough, 38, from Chadderton in Oldham, was struck by a speeding motorist after she had pulled over onto the hard shoulder to answer a phone call. She had been driving southbound on the motorway, near Bury, at around 3.10pm on Saturday, May 13, when she suffered serious injuries in the crash.

Frankie, who played Jess Holt in the Channel 4 soap died in hospital two days later. She, along with her two sons, Tommy, nine, and Rocky, two, and nephew Tobias, four, were all transported to hospital via air ambulance following the incident. Tommy and Tobias are thought to have been put into induced comas.

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Frankie, who was pregnant at the time of the incident, was described as being a ‘shine of light’ and a ‘dedicated, fierce mother’ by her family. Paul Danan, who co-starred with Frankie on Hollyoaks, has now added to the tribute to the actress, reports The Mirror.

“I just heard the most shocking upsetting news I’ve heard in such a long time,” Paul, 44, wrote in a post which included a photo of a smiling Frankie alongside snippets of their time together on the Channel 4 programme.

“Another good friend who was such a special person has sadly passed away while carrying her unborn baby and her 2 little boys and nephew who were in the car too. They had a terrible car accident.”

Paul added: “She was driving on the M66 when a car must have crashed in to them. This wonderful actress played the character “Jess” alongside me for nearly 4 years in @hollyoaksofficial her real name is Frankie Hough and i adored her. I feel so lost right now. #RIPFranki.”

He added: “Here is a link to donate some money for these poor little boys she has left behind who are currently fighting for their lives and will be slowly realising that their mummy isnt alive anymore. Just incomprehensible… #totallydevastated

“ps (sorry about the shots, they’re bad quality as they are screenshots from a video i have of some of our best scenes and story lines we had together in #Hollyoaks probably the best time of our lives!”

The actress, who appeared in the soap from 2000 to 2001, also starred in Merseybeat, Heartbeat, Where the Heart Is and Wire in the Blood.

Frankie and her unborn baby were laid to rest on June 9th. Her family have set up a GoFundMe page with a target of raising £60,000 for the young boys’ recoveries and to “help build back our family in memory of our angel”.

In a post on the fundraising page, which has now raised more than £52,000, the family said: “Words cannot express what her family and friends are going through now, not to mention her poor boys who now have to grow up without their mummy and sister they never got to meet. This is devastating! Frankie touched the lives of so many with her beautiful kind soul! Heaven has gained a true angel! May she rest in eternal peace with her baby girl!”

Earlier this week Adil Iqbal, 22, admitted to causing the death of Frankie by dangerous driving.

He has also admitted causing serious injuries to Frankie Jules-Hough’s son, Tommy. However, he has not yet entered a plea into the charge of causing serious injury by dangerous driving to her nephew Tobias in the incident on May 13.

Mr Iqbal, of Hope Street in Accrington, will face sentencing on July 19, where he will also be arraigned for the final count.