Ex Hollyoaks star talks about his passion for teaching

Of course, in most cases it is widely off the mark, with some of the greatest minds such as Albert Einstein, Richard Feynman, JRR Tolkien, Marie Curie, Stephen Hawking … the list goes on … having at some point taught a class. And it certainly doesn't apply to Majid, who joined UEL as a senior lecturer on the BA (Hons) Acting for Stage and Screen course at the start of the new academic year.

The professional actor, writer and director has a string of credits to his name, including a four-year stint on Hollyoaks, the Chester-set soap opera, in which he played the role of Jesse Donovan.

"I've been teaching since I graduated from drama school, long before I joined Hollyoaks. It is something that I am absolutely passionate about," said Majid. "I enjoy it just as much as acting.

"UEL is recognised as being industry facing; we want our students to benefit from professionals who are working in the sector. Being able to practise my craft alongside teaching was one of the things that attracted me to UEL. I was actively encouraged to continue with my acting and directing. It is essential to the University's careers first objective.”

Majid was encouraged into acting by his mother at a young age, but it wasn’t until his second year at Manchester School of Theatre that he finally acknowledged he wanted to be a professional. On graduating, he started to teach part-time and then landed the prized part in Hollyoaks. For many actors a role in a soap is the dream, happy to follow in the steps of Coronation Street's Bill Roach and stay in situ until long-past retirement age. But not so for Majid. After four years, he asked to be written out of the show.

"It was an amazing time in my life. I met my wife. I bought my house … But it wasn't what I wanted long-term," said Majid, who goes by the professional acting name Luke Jerdy.

"When I went into Hollyoaks, I wanted to do three years. I went into acting seeking a variety of parts, that's your training at drama school. You are trained to transform and to become other people. So I never wanted to be in something for life; it always had an end goal for me."