‘I used to be dark – it’s my natural colour!’ confesses 25-year-old Danielle.

‘Maybe I’ll go blonde again in the summer, but for now I want to be sophisticated and serious for the winter – and find myself a man!’

Not that she’s sitting by the phone twiddling her thumbs. Danielle is currently at her busiest, having set up her very own modelling agency, and she’s been looking at young hopefuls in a bid to find Britain’s next big glamour model.

Meanwhile, one of her pals, ex-Hollyoaks actress Ciara Janson, is equally in demand – she’s recently had the chance to play a Doctor Who assistant with one of the  original Timelords, actor Peter Davison.

‘It’s been amazing, but you won’t be seeing me, though – it’s for the new audio books,’ says 21-year-old Ciara, who played Nicole Owen in the Merseyside soap: ‘Now I’m about to fly off to Canada to attend a Doctor Who convention – which I’ve been told can be madness, as they’re mobbed by the world’s most fanatical Doctor Who geeks!’

So little time, so many questions… we decided a gorgeous girlie lunch was on the cards and where better to brighten a dull November afternoon than with a taste of Eastern exotica at trendy Thai restaurant and lounge bar Piya Piya in the heart of London?

Between hot and spicy mouthfuls, our tasty twosome discussed boyfriends past and present, Big Brother memories – and bossing around young model hopefuls!

Danielle, we’ve heard rumours that you’re engaged to DJ Ironik – is this true?
No, no, no! I’m really good friends with Ironik and we were going out on the town, but not really dating. I was just showing him around.

He keeps himself to himself at home, so I said: ‘Come out with us and enjoy yourself,’ and he had a really good time.

Then people starting saying that we were engaged. I did have a ring on my engagement ring finger.

It wouldn’t fit on any other finger, so that started the rumours – so maybe it’s partly my fault! But I should be able to wear a ring on whatever finger I like!

Were you sad to split up with Jermain Defoe earlier this year?
Of course I was sad, but at the end of the day he cheated on me, and I’m not going to let that happen and let someone get away with that.

I’m too good for that. I’ve got so much going on in my life right now, I don’t need someone bringing me down.

Cheryl Cole seems to have forgiven husband Ashley, though – do you think she did the right thing?
I think she went the right way about it. She had time to herself, she did what she needed to do, she’s carried on with her career and she’s gone from strength to strength.

She’s married, which is a totally different situation, and she seems to be happy now – so I’m happy for her.

Do you think you would like to get married some time?
Yes, I definitely want to get married. Just finding the right person is so hard. I always find the ones with baggage!

Especially with the industry that I’m in, people don’t take me too seriously, but I’m sure I’ll find someone some day.

I’ve always said I’d never go out with a footballer, but I’m just in that circle of friends, we all go out together, and I live near a whole load of footballers. But these days they seem to have more issues than me!

So are you back on the dating scene?
I’m not going out just to look for someone. That’s where I always go wrong – when you look, you never find. I want somebody to find me, and hopefully they won’t be an a***hole like the rest!

Ciara, how are you fixed up in the romance department?
I have a lovely boyfriend, he’s an actor called Griffin Stevens, and he’s currently starring in Jersey Boys, the musical about the group the Four Seasons, at the Prince Edward Theatre in London.

We met when we were both appearing in a murder-mystery play, Bad Blood.. He was playing my boyfriend and soon became my real boyfriend!

We know you best as Nicole Owen in Hollyoaks – were you sad to leave a couple of years ago?
I do miss everybody on the show, but I’d played her for three years – and she annoyed me a lot as a character.

She was quite bitchy sometimes and because she was also a schoolgirl she very naïve and immature, and I felt it was time to move on from that kind of role.

I left in typical Hollyoaks fashion – my on-screen brother Sam Owen, killed about five of the cast – he set the pub on fire where everybody happened to be that night.

My last line in the whole show was: ‘Goodbye, Hollyoaks!’ which was a bit ridiculous! There is the chance to go back, however, which is always nice to know. 

What have you been doing since leaving the show?
I’ve been very busy, I’ve just finished recording a new animation series for Disney, The Famous Five, based on the Enid Blyton books.

The original Famous Five have all grown up, and now it’s about their kids. I’m sure there’s a lot of controversy from hardcore Famous Five fans, as it’s not like the original.

This lot are really cool – I play a character who’s ten years old! She’s a tomboy called Jo.

We gather you’re also a Doctor Who girl, following in the footsteps of Billie Piper and Freema Agyeman?
Well, once again it’s only my voice you’ll hear – I’ve just finished recording some Doctor Who audio books. I play his new sidekick called Amy.

Peter Davison, one of the best Timelords of all time, is the Doctor in it, so it‘s been amazing. I’m just about to go to some weird Doctor Who conventions in Chicago, along with Peter and the whole cast, and then another one in Los Angeles in February, which I‘m really excited about.

I’ve been told they’re really mad affairs attended by all these weird fans whose life is Doctor Who and nothing else!

Danielle, tell us about your new modelling agency…
It’s called Irresistible Talent – which means we’re looking for girls who are irresistible! I’m a director of the company, but I’m really hands-on.

Are you doing a bit of a ‘Coleen’ – as with her TV show, Coleen’s Real Women?
Yes, we’re hoping to do our own TV series next year, where we go to six different places around the country, searching for Britain’s next big glamour model.

We also want to find the next big plus-size model, hopefully getting a contract with an underwear company like Ultimo, for example.

We had a casting day the other day, and I got to speak to all the girls personally. It’s more or less down to me who joins or not, but obviously with the opinion of the other directors.

Isn’t it hard to be the judge of who does or doesn’t get through?
I know how hard it was to become a model, but at the end of the day I’m there to help them, and if I don’t think somebody has got what it takes, then I’ll be honest with them. I do find it really hard, though. I don’t like being a bitch!

Aren’t some girls who turn up just no-hopers, though?
It’s really hard for me to tell some girls that they haven’t got through, but I don’t want to give them false hope. Maybe it’s just the fact that they haven’t got what I want right now, and they’ve got to grow up or they’ve got a lot of learning to do.

It’s coming up to two years since your notorious time on Celebrity Big Brother – what are your memories of that now?
I just think the whole thing was blown out of proportion by the media. I also think the editing of the show had a lot to do with it. I think that whole experience has made me the person I am today, it’s made me stronger than ever.

It was a learning curve for my life, and it’s made me grow up. Before I went in the house, I was young and naïve. Now, I wouldn’t say I was more educated, but in my life I am.

Are you in touch with anyone from the show, like Jade?
Not really, because I’ve been so busy. When I was still going out with Teddy Sheringham, we went to see H in his stage show, Fame, and met up with him afterwards, which was lovely.

I have also seen Carole Malone and Cleo Rocos, and I went for dinner with Jermaine Jackson and his wife a few months ago.

Ciara, you’re doing panto at Christmas – oh yes you are!
Yes, I’m playing Cinderella – no pressure there, then! It’s with Denise Nolan as the Fairy Godmother, and CBeebies presenter Phil Gallagher as Buttons.

I’ve not done panto before and I’m terrified. And all you get off is Christmas Day. I am really looking forward to it, though. I’ve never sung publicly before, so that’s my main terror.

PIYA PIYA THAI RESTAURANT AND LOUNGE BAR, 1 OLIVER’S YARD, CITY ROAD, LONDON EC1Y 1HQ. TEL: 020 7490 4613, WWW.PIYAPIYA.CO.UK

‘CINDERELLA’ IS AT THE BUXTON OPERA HOUSE FROM DECEMBER 12 TO JANUARY 3 2009.. FOR TICKETS, PHONE THE BOX OFFICE ON 0845 127 2190 OR VISIT WWW.BUXTONOPERAHOUSE.ORG.UK.


SEAFOOD TEMPURA
A crispy Thai seafood medley - irresistible when served with a sweet chilli dipping sauce.

40g prawns
40g scallops
40g cod or other white fish
40g squid
30g flour
10g corn flour
20g rice flour
Pinch of salt
Pinch of baking powder
Oil for cooking (enough to fill half a large pan)

1. In a large stainless steel bowl, mix the flours, baking powder and salt. Gradually add 200ml water and whisk until you have a thick batter. Prepare all the fish together and make sure it is all roughly the same size, as this will be important when cooking. Make sure each fish piece is coated evenly with the batter.

2. In a thick-bottomed pan or fryer, half fill the oil and bring up to 190˚C. (Test by dripping some batter in – if  ready it will start to fry straight away.) Add fish pieces slowly, using tongs – this will stop you dropping the fish into hot oil. Once the fish is cooked, place on some kitchen towels and leave to dry. Serve with some sweet chilli dipping sauce and fresh limes.

BARBECUED SEA BASS IN BANANA LEAF

An exotic fish dish. Make sure you use banana leaves large enough to wrap around the fish.

 2 x 250g sea bass fillets
1 clove of garlic
1 shallot
1 stalk of lemongrass
10g ginger
1 tsp sugar
Pinch of salt
1 tsp soya sauce
2 rectangles of large banana leaves
Vegetable or sunflower oil

1. For the spice paste, crush and mix together the lemongrass, ginger, chopped garlic, chopped shallot with the sugar, salt and soya sauce. Divide the paste, rubbing it evenly all over the sea bass fillets.

2. Lightly blanch the banana leaves in boiling water for 30 seconds to make them more pliable. Dry well and oil on one side lightly. Place the banana leaves on a flat surface with the oil side up and then gently place the sea bass in the middle of the wrap. Preheat your grill or barbecue to a medium heat and cook for 5-7 minutes turning over until cooked. Serve immediately with sliced limes, grated carrot and sliced salad, or steaming rice or noodles.

BANANA FRITTERS

Banana fritters are always a favourite – be prepared to make them more than once!

4 bananas (not too ripe)
110g plain flour
Good pinch of ground nutmeg
1 egg yolk
2 egg whites
4 tbsps milk
4 tbsps water
Vegetable oil

1. Sift the flour and nutmeg into a mixing bowl with a pinch of salt. Add the egg yolk, milk and water and use a wire whisk to beat the mix to a smooth, thick batter. Allow to stand for a few minutes. Whisk the egg whites in a grease-free bowl with a clean whisk, until they hold their shape. Fold into the batter.

2. Heat some vegetable oil in a wok or deep-sided frying pan to a depth of 2cm. Peel and halve the bananas, then dip the pieces into the batter to coat them. Add two or three pieces to the hot oil at a time and fry for 3-4 minutes, turning them over with a slotted spoon. Lift out the pieces and drain on kitchen paper. Cook the remaining pieces in the same way. Serve the warm banana fritters with honey or ice cream.