HOLLYOAKS star Owen Warner has been left heartbroken following the death of a beloved family member.
Owen, who played Romeo Nightingale in the soap, has shared the sad news about the passing of his pet dog Bumpy with fans.
The actor, 25, posted a poignant photo of Bumpy online before sharing his devastation.
The picture shows the pet pooch laying next to Owen on the sofa with his eyes closed.
Owen is holding one of Bumpy’s paws in his hand as other family members gather in the background.
Sharing the upsetting news on Instagram, Owen wrote: “Nobody can ever prepare you for how much love you can have for a dog, or how much you’ll miss them when they’re gone.”
Alongside an orange heart, he added: “Rest easy ginge.”
In a second post, shared on his Stories hours later, Owen was pictured in a selfie-style shot with his dog.
He said: “Thank you for the lovely messages, Bumpy would love you all.”
Owen, whose last scenes as Romeo played out in Hollyoaks earlier this year, is a keen dog lover.
In February, the I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! runner-up even got into a row with a stranger over two dogs.
Owen was horrified to find the poor pooches locked in a car in an underground carpark, alleging they had been there for several hours.
He told fans on social media: “So I finished the radio show over an hour ago and I am now spending my sat night stood by this car because people don’t know how to look after dogs.”
He then showed a fluffy white dog sat in the driver’s seat.
“Poor little dog was barking his head off and has now settled now. No windows [open],” Owen added.
He then spotted another dog in the back stuck in a tiny crate.
Owen continued: “These poor dogs, man, look at that one in the back in that tiny little cage. I don’t know how long this car has been there.
“I know it’s not that hot so it’s technically not as bad but it’s still bad, man. You can’t leave dogs in a car with no windows open.”
Owen’s video cut to the driver arriving back to the car and a confrontation taking place.
As the pair exchanged heated words, the man grabbed one dog by the neck and attempted to take the actor’s phone from him.
“Don’t touch me bro, I am going to video you,” Owen retaliated. “You have got a little cage like that, no respect or apologies to the dogs?”
Owen then chastised the man for holding the dog in the front round the neck.
From Hollyoaks to Hollywood
James Corden played a caretaker in the early days of the soap.
The former American TV host doesn’t have much positive to say about his time on the soap, claiming it was “hell on earth.”
Since his short-lived time on the show he has gone on to bigger things including smash hit comedy Gavin and Stacey.
Rachel Shenton joined the soap as aspiring glamour model Mitzeee Minniver in 2010.
Over two years her character was sent to prison, got pregnant and had a number of romantic affairs.
Since leaving Hollyoaks she has won an Oscar for best live action short film, The Silent Child.
Rachel has also starred in White Gold and All Creatures Great and Small
Emmett J. Scanlan played gangster turned anti-hero Brendan Brady.
Emmett played the love interest of Steve Hayes, with their romance delighting fans until it turned violent.
Since his departure Emmett has appeared in Peaky Blinders, The Fall, Gangs of London and even appeared in Guardians of the Galaxy
Emma Rigby joined Hollyoaks when she was 15 as Hannah Ahsworth.
Hannah’s eating disorder storyline was the first of it’s kind on TV while other plots included being caught in a fire, gangland drug dealing and running away.
Since leaving the soap in 2010 Emma has gone on to star in ABCs Once Upon a Time in Wonderland as the Red Queen. Other roles include guest appearances in Death In Paradise, Ripper Street and Fresh Meat
Nico Mirallegro got his big break with Hollyoaks starring as emo Barry ‘Newt’ Newton.
Nico’s main storyline in the soap was developing schizophrenia which culminated in a suicide pact.
He left the soap in 2010 and went on to star in My Mad Fat Diary, Our Girl, Rillington Place, The Ark and Common, Penance, as well as the Mike Leigh movie Peterloo and was nominated for a Bafta for his role in period drama The Village.
Ricky Whittle used Hollyoaks as a stepping stone to break America.
He played one of the soap’s resident hunks, Calvin Valentine, from 2006 to 2011 – when he was killed off at his wedding.
After leaving the soap Ricky cracked America starring in teen drama The 100 and America Gods.
He also appeared in Strictly Come Dancing in 2009.
Warren Brown joined Hollyoaks in 2005 for a year as evil Andy Holt.
His stint on the show consisted of date rape storylines and a crime spree, before eventually being killed off.
After leaving Hollyoaks, Warren became a big hitter in TV playing DS Justin Ripley in Luther, as well as major roles in a number of dramas including Liar, The Responder, Homefront and Good Cop.
Wallis Day played Holly Cunningham in the soap for years before leaving.
In 2021 Wallis won the role of Batwoman in DC’s series, taking over from Ruby Rose.
“How long have you been here?” the man shouted, before Owen informed him he has been there for two hours.
“F*** off!” the man yelled, before driving the wrong way out of the car park.
Furious Owen delivered a parting shot, yelling: “Learn to look after your dogs, don’t leave them in the car for that long just because you want to go for a meal.”
Fans were shocked by the video, which Owen shared in February, and praised the star for defending the mutts.
Since leaving Hollyoaks earlier this year, Owen has been working for Hits Radio.
He is in a relationship with his former Hollyoaks co-star Jemma Donovan, who joined Hollyoaks in October 2022 as Rayne.
Jemma is the daughter of singer and Neighbours legend Jason Donovan. Earlier this month, Owen and Jemma joined Jason and the rest of the family on a holiday to Spain.
