Philip Ashley Taylor Dawson (known as Ashley Taylor Dawson) is an English actor and singer who played Darren Osborne from September 1999 until late 2000, returning in October 2003 and playing the role until the present day. Ashley has also portrayed Darren in season 2 of Hollyoaks Later, as well as the spin-off miniseries, Tom's Life. Ashley took over the role from Adam Booth. Ashley was also a member of pop band allSTARS* (which Thaila Zucchi was also part of), which is why Ashley took a break from the role between 2000 and 2003.
Ashley has also appeared in Star Street (a TV show about allSTARS*), Northern Soul and The More You Ignore Me.
In September 2013, Ashley was announced as a contestant on the eleventh series of Strictly Come Dancing partnered with Ola Jordan. They were voted out in the quarter-finals, on 8 December.