Ricky about to meet the gods

The former Hollyoaks star, who lived in Billinge, has been announced as the main character in the upcoming TV series version of Neil Gaiman’s bestselling novel American Gods.

He will play the mysterious Shadow Moon, who is released from prison a few days early and after a chance encounter with the god Odin of Norse mythology, undertakes an odyssey around the US.

Fantasy writer Neil, who was born in the UK, but now lives in the US, Gaiman, posted on Twitter: “It gives me enormous pleasure to welcome @MrRickyWhittle to the role of Shadow in @AmericanGodsSTZ. It’s just the beginning of the journey.”

Thanking everyone for their support,Ricky wrote on Twitter: “Blown away by all your support & love,thank you. Let me educate you in the genius of @neilhimself Go read his incredible book #AmericanGods”

American Gods was published in 2001 and received the Hugo and Nebula Awards.

His other work includes Stardust and Coraline, both of which have been made into feature films.

Ricky, who starred as Calvin Valentine in Hollyoaks, moved to Los Angeles a few years ago to further his acting career. In 2014, he starred in the US TV series Mistresses and is also in the post-apocalyptic drama The 100.

He once dated Billinge-born actress Carley Stenson and was also linked to Bruce Willis’s daughter, Rumer, last year.