Fair City's Maclean Burke jokes girlfriend loves Covid restrictions because he can't kiss anyone

The actor plays boy-next-door Damien Halpin on the hit RTÉ soap and couldn’t even kiss his onscreen bride, Mairead Casey, on their fictional wedding day earlier this year as the cast and crew were strictly socially distanced on set.

However, Maclean has said that his girlfriend, HSE worker Cat Nolan, is thrilled with this arrangement.

“She loves lockdown because there is no kissing. She is a great girl and she has an ultra-positive outlook on life. She is now a fan of Fair City and watches it regularly, she has turned to the dark side,” he told RSVP Live.

Maclean added that he thinks viewers will be impressed by the forthcoming court case scenes depicting the long-awaited trial that will hopefully see Will Casey behind bars for abusing Cristiano San Martin.

Damien will be supporting his new wife Mairead as she testifies against Will, her ex-husband.

The actor said: “We arrive back in Carrigstown and everything is put behind us but who do we walk into first, only the beautiful Will Casey, played by John Cronin. Will is that guy that everyone loves to hate because he is just so slippery.

“People will be very impressed with the court scenes we are shooting at the moment, they are just so good.”

It comes after the 42-year-old revealed his amazing body transformation after starting an intense workout regime last year.

Posting some ‘Before and After’ photos on social media, he wrote: “So here are two photos of me, one from September 2018 and one from today after a good workout.

“It’s strange I'm the same person but different in every way and not just the visual.

“Brothers and sisters if your (sic) struggling keep the faith surround yourself with good people and be good to yourself...

“It has been a strange and sometimes very dark journey these last few years, but by just putting one foot in front of the other and not giving into the darkness I have managed to transform...

“My loved ones and good friends have been my rock these past years.

“Experiencing true love and all that is good within it through Cat Nolan has been the glue that has pieced me back together.️.. So remember if in doubt squat it out...” he added.