Paul Danan claims he was given Valium to help him combat drug withdrawal symptoms while appearing on the first series of Celebrity Love Island.
The former Hollyoaks quickly developed a reputation for sparking drunken rows while appearing as one of 13 star contestants on the short-lived show in 2005.
But Danan, 40, admits his aggressive outbursts were the result of the wild, drug and alcohol fueled lifestyle he temporarily left behind while the filming show in Fiji.
Admission: Paul Danan claims he was given Valium to help him combat drug withdrawal symptoms while appearing on the first series of Celebrity Love Island
Speaking to Berkhamsted Revisted: A Teenage Diary Podcast, the actor revealed he suffered withdrawal symptoms shortly after arriving in the South Pacific.
'I was fine mentally, it was more just asking, "Do you have any problems,"' he explained. 'At that time I didn’t realise that I probably did have a few issues with addiction. I suppose he must just have thought, ‘You seem all right'.
'I was kind of realising all this in front of the nation. When I first got there I was actually going through some serious withdrawals and I remember actually crawling to the Beach Hut in the first few days and I was shivering and shaking going, "Oh my god, I don’t know what’s going on with me?"'
Volatile: The former Hollyoaks quickly developed a reputation for sparking drunken rows while appearing as one of 13 star contestants on the short-lived show in 2005 (pictured)
Fiery: But Danan (far right) admits his aggressive outbursts were the result of the wild, drug and alcohol fueled lifestyle he temporarily left behind while the filming show in Fiji
The actor claims his unexpected withdrawals prompted show bosses to give him medication in a bid to alleviate his symptoms.
He added: 'Then they gave me some Valium and it just chilled me out and the next day I was fine and that was it. That was the end of my kind of cluck. I didn’t even know.'
Paul joined stars including Calum Best, Abi Titmuss, Lee Sharpe, Lady Isabella Hervey, Liz McClarnon and Michael Greco when the show originally launched.
Opening up: The actor revealed he suffered withdrawal symptoms shortly after arriving in the South Pacific, prompting show bosses to give him medication in a bid to alleviate his symptoms
It was won by club promoter Fran Cosgrave and TV presenter Jayne Middlemiss, but it is perhaps best remembered for Paul's regular drunken outbursts.
Reflecting
