Hollyoaks

Hollyoaks is a British soap opera set in and around the fictional Chester suburb of the same name and filmed mainly in nearby Liverpool. Hollyoaks was originally devised by Phil Redmond, who also devised shows such as Brookside and Grange Hill.

Hollyoaks began in 1995. The soap is centred around a former 1950s technical college which is now a college of higher education called Hollyoaks Community College (often mistaken for the real-life University of Chester) with the characters and main target audience generally being in their late teens or early twenties. Produced by Mersey Television, the show currently broadcasts at 6:30pm every weekday on Channel 4 with an omnibus edition on Sundays. Channel 4's Welsh equivalent, S4C, broadcasts the Sunday omnibus only. Hollyoaks is known for launching the careers of Will Mellor, Gary Lucy, Jeremy Edwards and James Redmond.

Hollyoaks has received numerous awards over the years and raised awareness of issues such as teen pregnancy, abortion and male rape. Also it has recently been focusing on major concerns such as date rape. Hollyoaks is also shown in countries such as Canada on the BBC Kids channel.

Current characters

Taylor-Burton Family

• Liz Taylor - Andree Bernard

Liz is the archetypal overwrought mother of teenagers and spends her life trying to maintain the peace between her offspring, whose father committed suicide, and husband Richard's children. She often plays the role of mediator in the almost constant disputes and attempts to discipline the children, which only recently began to work.

She has a difficult relationship with stepdaughter Darlene, made worse when Darlene found out that her brother Ali had (accidentally) stabbed school bully Stephen "Macki" Mackintosh, but told everybody she suspected Liz's son Justin. Darlene changed her story in court, which contributed towards Justin being acquitted of killing Macki. Liz was grateful to Darlene for this. After Justin returned home, Liz chucked Richard out for an affair with a colleague but said Darlene could stay with them.

Her name is a reference to actress Elizabeth Taylor's marriages to actor Richard Burton.

• Justin Burton - Chris Fountain

A troubled teen, Justin began misbehaving and smoking cannabis after his father's death. He constantly hurt his family and hid behind Liz, who felt obliged to support him. However, after pushing step-sister Darlene through a plate glass window, Liz sent Justin off to boot camp.

Since then, he has calmed considerably, completed his GCSEs at Hollyoaks Comprehensive, and recently reconciled with Darlene and Ali, becoming fast friends with his step-siblings. He was framed by Macki for blowing up the local high school but later proved his innocence, although Macki was not identified as the culprit. He and step-brother Ali were bullied by Macki and his gang which dramatically ended with Ali stabbing Macki before being knocked down by a car and killed.

In his haste to cover up for his step-brother, Justin led the police to believe it was he who had stabbed Macki and he was arrested for murder. He was bullied on remand in youth detention and escaped whilst on a trip to the dentist. He spent a month on the run but was eventually caught when the police followed his sister Mel as she brought him provisions. Justin was then back in prison awaiting trial. He would be visited in secret by Becca Dean, his teacher. Justin was found not guilty of murder and returned home.

He had a relationship with Nicole Owen, whom he dumped in order to pursue Becca. Becca confronted him about his treatment of Nicole and he and Becca ended up sleeping together. Becca was worried he would tell her husband Jake Dean.

Justin is the same age as Becca's sister Nancy, with whom he has started a relationship to make Becca jealous.

• Sophie Burton - Connie Powney

Justin's older sister Sophie has had to cope with the suicide of her father and the death of her step-brother Ali, plus breakup of her mother Liz from her stepfather Richard. Sophie has a twin sister, Mel, and her step-sister, Darlene, Richard's daughter, still lives with the family.

Although identical twins, Mel and Sophie are polar opposites; Sophie is quiet and introverted and often gets annoyed by her siblings' behaviour and lack of consideration for her needs.

Sophie and Mel were both drugged with GHB by Andy Holt. Mel was raped, although Sophie escaped this.

• Melanie Burton - Cassie Powney

Sophie's twin sister Mel is outgoing and speaks her mind. She and Sophie manage to get along despite irritating each other a lot of the time, and she shares her twin's ire at the lack of respect they get from the rest of the family.

Mel has recently had alcohol problems but got her act together following some unprotected sex when she was drunk which left her fearing she had an STI. Andy Holt raped Mel after drugging her and her sister Sophie, which had a catastrophic effect on Mel, who turned to alcohol again to try to escape from her problems. Mel was hospitalised after falling into an alcogol-related coma on New Year's Eve 2005, which led Liz to discover that she had been raped.

• Darlene "Lennie" Taylor - Sarah Lawrence

Darlene is the daughter of Richard and the brother of the late Ali. They arrived in Hollyoaks in November 2003, leaving behind their mother and two younger siblings, Ethan and Georgina.

Justin scarred her by pushing her through a plate glass window while under the influence of drugs, but after Justin got clean they became closer.

Just as Richard had cheated on his first wife, he also cheated on Liz. Darlene found out and kept this a secret for a while however eventually broke down and told her boyfriend Craig Dean. She later told Liz herself.

Despite knowing that Ali had stabbed Macki, Darlene lied in court and said it was Justin because she did not want her brother to been seen as a murderer. She later changed her story and told the court what really happened and Justin was freed. After Justin's trial, Liz kicked Richard out of the house because of his affair however told Darlene she wanted her to stay. Darlene accepted and still lives with the family.

Dean-Osborne Family

• Frankie Osborne (formerly Dean) - Helen Pearson

Impulsive and slightly flaky, Frankie was hit hard by the departure of her husband Johnno, who left her to marry his pregnant 19 year old girlfriend. She is now married to Jack Osborne and is now living there after being evicted from her home for failing to pay the bills. Frankie is the mother of Jake, Debbie, Steph and Craig Dean.

• Jack Osborne - Jimmy McKenna

The proprietor of The Dog In The Pond public house, twice married Jack is typically a no-nonsense bloke who often clashes with his son Darren over his ill thought out plans and impulsive behaviour. Currently he is also providing a home for the Deans after their eviction from their home, He was sceptical at first. He is now married to Frankie and are both enjoying a happy relationship.

• Darren Osborne - Ashley Taylor Dawson

Very impulsive and not blessed with a lot of forethought, Darren has a tendency to make enemies due to his headstrong nature and his arrogance. Darren also feels constantly hard done by and seeks to prove himself through get rich quick schemes and forcibly asserting his independence in order to try and win Jack's approval.

• Craig Dean - Guy Burnet

Fiercely protective of his family and friends since he was left devastated by the knowledge that his father was having an affair. Craig is intelligent and crafty and often willing to turn his hand to scams and manipulation to get his way. He is in a relationship with Darlene Taylor. His birthday is June 10.

• Jake Dean - Kevin Sacre

Usually hard working, caring and honest, Jake has a habit of acting without thinking. This is notable in his affair with Lisa whilst he was going out with Becca (to whom he is now totally devoted), which jeopardised their relationship, but they are now married and he is determined to do the right thing by her no matter what it takes.

• Becca Dean (née Hayton) - Ali Bastian

Caring, emotional and slightly naïve, Becca is also very clumsy. She is married to Jake and finishing her final year studying teacher training. Her and Jake have experienced tension in their relationship, most recently after Jake found out she had been visiting ex-student Justin, who has an unrequited crush on her, in prison. She is also known as being somewhat of a pushover and struggles to say "no" to anyone in trouble even if it means she puts herself in a difficult position, which it usually does.

• Steph Dean - Carly Stenson

Flighty and extremely extrovert, Steph thinks very highly of herself and her own abilities. She tends to consider herself better than her peers and sometimes comes across as selfish, though she does try to help with other people's problems. This, however, usually leads to her simply annoying those who she talks to, as she will typically lecture them in a superior manner or bully them into doing something that she wants to do. Steph was the only girl to survive an attack by serial killer Toby Mills. She has epilepsy as a result of the attack.

Steph has acted in a television commercial for rugs and, like her older sister Debbie, enjoys singing. Although she complains about them, she maintains a close relationship with most of her family, the only exception being her father Johnno, who impregnated and ran off with a nineteen-year-old and her baby half-brother, whom she has never met. Steph is currently going out with tidy, organised Cameron Clarke, much to everybody's amusement as the two are polar opposites.

• Nancy Hayton - Jessica Fox

Becca's younger sister. Nancy is a bit tactless, always speaking her mind. She struck up a close friendship with Nicole. Unlike her sister, Nancy isn't afraid to have her opinion known, and has warned brother-in-law Jake not to mess Becca around or he will have her to deal with.

Ashworth/Fletcher Family

• Neville Ashworth - Jim Millea

The rarely-seen father of the Ashworths.

• Suzanne Ashworth - Suzanne Hall

Your archetypal modern mother: protective but pragmatic, reassuring but occasionally reckless. Her sprawling family give her plenty to wax lyrical about.

• Rhys Ashworth - Andrew Moss

First arrived in Hollyoaks to inspect the new family home (previously owned by the Hunters). He had a very brief romance with Sarah Barnes until he discovered she is the same age as his little sister and a schoolgirl. He is best friends with Gilly.

• Hannah Ashworth - Emma Rigby

After a difficult start in Hollyoaks, she has now made friends with Nancy and Sarah. While she gets on well with older brother Rhys she has no patience where her other brother Josh is concerned. Her new friends have given her fresh confidence but she is still not as outgoing and fiesty as Nancy. She is also a successful model and actress in real life.

• Josh Ashworth - Sonny Flood

When the family moved into the Hunters' old house, he got the smallest room and after that didn't appear for a while. Has been turned down by Nancy and Sarah and rumours exist that he may turn out to be gay.

• Jamie "Fletch" Fletcher - Sam Darbyshire

Best friends with Josh Ashworth (they are cousins). Currently at Hollyoaks Comp trying to pull any money making scam he and Josh can think of.

Owen Family

• Carrie Owen - Jac Croft

Warm and caring, Carrie feels deeply for her children and will go to great lengths to protect them even though her interfering can earn her little gratitude at times. Carrie is intelligent and will usually act as though she is naive or unaware of what is going on in her children's lives, whilst she is really picking up more than she lets on. She only becomes involved when she feels it is absolutely necessary and tends to let her views go unnoticed much of the time.

• Rob Owen - David Prosho

Carrie's estranged husband. He recently returned after finding out about Russ's cancer. Originally ostracised from the family because he refused to believe Sam's innocence when he was imprisoned, Rob returned after Russ warned him that he could be at risk from cancer, and after Nicole begged him to stay. Rob's return almost split the family again as Sam refused to accept him at first. He was forced to change his mind after Rob rescued him on a climbing trip when Sam was unable to scale the rock face on his own.

• Sam Owen - Louis Tamone

Not the most empathetic person, Sam is suspicious and sees persecution all around him where there is none. He feels let down by Rob for not believing in him and tries to lead a clean-cut lifestyle because he feels that he has something to prove. Despite being a bit self centred, Sam was a major help to Russ in getting over his cancer. He almost split the family up by threatening to walk out when his father returned. Currently, he is wracked with guilt due to taking part in drug rape, after being tempted by his friend, Andy Holt.

• Nicole Owen - Ciara Janson

Chronically insecure, Nicole is easily led but still capable of sticking up for herself and her friends. She is also perceptive and intelligent like her mother. Almost went through with breast enlargement because of her insecurities. Went on the run with Justin after he escaped from prison and gave evidence in his favour at his trial. Considers herself Justin's girlfriend although she isn't. She has very strong views and has become a vegan, but is annoying her family by trying to push her beliefs onto them.

• Russell "Russ" Owen - Stuart Manning

Russ is easy-going and very at home with himself. He also exhibits a very mature nature when necessary. He is a popular ladies man and unafraid to make his views heard. Russ recently suffered from testicular cancer and had one testicle removed as a result. This left him depressed for a while, during which time, his brother Sam supported him. Russ is in love with Dannii.

Hutchinson/Cunningham Family

• Mandy Hutchinson - Sarah Dunn

Mandy has grown from a naive schoolgirl to a respectable married mother-of-one. She survived domestic abuse by her father and a poisoning attempt from former best friend Laura Burnes. On New Years Eve 1999, she delivered her half-brother Tom when her mother went into labour while giving Mandy a driving lesson. After the death of Mandy's mother and stepfather in a car crash, Mandy gained guardianship of Tom, although he now lives with Mandy's stepbrother Max.

Mandy is married to Tony Hutchinson, who promised her late brother Lewis he'd look after Mandy. Mandy and Tony's relationship has been strained; after a miscarriage, Mandy started to hit Tony. However, they both received counselling and have resolved their difficulties. They eloped to Rome to marry. Although Mandy always thought she would never have children, she and Tony have a baby daughter, born two months premature. Mandy suffered post natal depression and it took her a while to bond with her daughter, but she now loves her.

• Tony Hutchinson - Nick Pickard

The only original character still in the show, Tony is married to Mandy. Their relationship has been a troubled one and Tony has suffered domestic violence from Mandy however the couple resolved their difficulties and married in Rome. After a miscarriage, Mandy gave birth to a baby girl, Antonia, and Tony is a doting dad.

• Grace Antonia Hutchinson

Born two months early to Mandy and Tony, their baby girl is named Grace. She is doing very well, considering her premature birth. Mandy suffered post natal depression for a while however now loves her baby, while Tony has always been a doting dad. Grace was christened recently; and Becca Dean is a godmother while Max, OB and Dominic are godfathers, Grace was originaly going to be called Antonia however Mandy wasnt very keen and thus a compromise was made. Antonia is now her middle name.

• Max Cunningham - Matt Littler

Max has grown from a cheeky, carefree teenager to a caring young man. After his father's death, he took over the shop his father had owned. Max has got over unrequited love for his stepsister Mandy and a relationship with Anna that saw him take on a fatherly role towards her baby son, Charlie. Caring for Charlie helped prepare Max for looking after his half-brother Tom full time, which he has done since the death of his father and stepmother. Max's close friend OB helps him with this.

• Tom Cunningham - Ellis Hollins

Tom's short life has already been full of trauma. He is the only child his late parents had together, although they already had six adult children between them. His mother went into labour when giving half-sister Mandy a driving lesson! After the death of his parents Tom lived for a short while with Mandy, but now lives with half-brother Max. Tom has survived both the car crash that killed his father and the fire he started while playing with fireworks. Tom felt so guilty for the latter event that he ran away from home but Mandy found him and brought him back. Tom is a lot happier now; he has started school, is getting on well with Max, and has recently become an uncle to Mandy's baby girl.

• Dominic Reilly - John Pickard

Dominic is the long-lost brother of Tony. Dominic and Tony have only just found out they are brothers; they previously believed they were cousins. Tony initially struggled with the revelation of the relationship but is now coming to accept it. John Pickard is the real-life brother of Nick Pickard.

Barnes Family

• Mike Barnes - ???

Mike is the patriach of the family, though often answers to his wife. He quit his job recently.

• Kathy Barnes - Sarah Jane Buckley

A concerned mother, Kathy tries to do her best for her wayward, whimsical offspring. Her good intentions are often mistaken for meddling, however, and the worsening plight of her husband Mike is certainly not helping things.

• Sarah Barnes - Loui Batley

Defying her mum's wish for her to become an Olympic swimmer, Sarah is enjoying spending her time socializing and mixing with the opposite sex. Always looking for the next big adventure, she is avowedly inventive and spontaneous - but more than willing to fall under Nancy's less than charitable influence.

• Amy Barnes - Ashley Slanina-Davies

Amy enjoys playing the part of troublesome teenager and rebellious younger sister to the full. As such she's not always held in the best regard by the rest of her family.

Other Characters

Characters in this section dont go under any family categories as they are on there own or are seen less.

• Freddy Watson - Greg Kelly

Freddy is studying English literature and an animal rights campaigner. He arrived in 2005 and has a less than secret admirer in Zara Morgan, an avid protestor on anything and everything. He has since shown a sinister side and an obsession with revenge against the college for animal rights. He has been using Zara to do this.

• Gilly Roach - Anthony Quinlan

Rhys's best friend from school and also the wannabe boyfriend of Jessica Harris after they snogged at a Halloween party.

• Olivia Johnson - Rochelle Gadd

Olivia split up with her long-term boyfriend recently before moving to Hollyoaks to study history. She is finding it hard to adjust to student life. She has become close friends with Jessica Harris, but lives in her shadow as she is not as outgoing as her friend.

• Jessica Harris - Jennifer Bidall

A student of marketing and advertising, Jessica is confident, beautiful, headstrong and determined to always get what she wants. At first she couldn't be parted from her mobile phone (and her link to boyfriend Mark) but over time it seems she is drifting apart fom her long-term boyfriend.

• Mark Jury - Ash Newman

Headstrong and articulate, Mark has already ruffled feathers during his short time in the Village. He speaks his mind, takes no prisoners, and expects others to treat him the same. Having shown up without warning on Jessica's doorstep, Mark is doing his best to try and build bridges with his ex, to the extent of switching courses at HCC to be with her.

• Cameron Clark - Ben Gerrard

Cameron is intelligent and tidy. He went out with Lisa for a long time but has also been out with Steph, to the amusement of Zara, as Cameron and Steph are polar opposites. He suffers from obsessive-compulsive disorder, which manifests itself with constant washing, showering and cleaning. His girlfriend, Steph, discovered this using a virtual doctor as Cameron couldn't bring himself to see a real one.

• Joe Spencer - Matt Milburn

Joe is outgoing and extremely self confident. He's easy going and flexible, with little time for rules or regulations. He is also smitten with ice-queen Louise Summers, despite the fact she has shown no interest in him. He has an estranged relationship with his father, an alcoholic who used to abuse his mother.

• Sam O'Brien (O.B.) - Darren Jeffries

Best friends with Max and, like Max, has grown from being cheeky and carefree to a more mature individual. However OB is still prone to practical jokes and delights in using childish humour to charm Max's child half-brother Tom.

• Jeremy Peterson - Simon Cole

Jeremy has had problems fitting in at the easy going, lack of routine and structure, busy life at University, as his background was aristocratic, wealthy and rural and is a viscount. He is fascinated with computers and studying a computer design course.

• Louise Summers - Roxanne McKee

Opinionated and outgoing, Louise is highly self-motivated however can be intimidating. She is studying psychology. Works as an administrative assistant at the college despite the fact she hates students and all their petty problems. She is feisty and has very few female friends, except for best friend Becca Dean, as she is extremely flirty and a man-eater. Louise was drugged by Andy Holt, but managed to escape being raped. She recently spearheaded the campaign to find the village rapist.

• Claire Devine - Sammantha Rowley

Hired for New Years party now with a full time job at The Loft, a love interest for Max.

• Michaela Jones - Hollie-Jay Bowes

Mischevious when she wants to be, calculating when she needs to be, Michaela is nonetheless a loyal friend and close ally to those she thinks matters.

Recent characters

• Dannii Carbone - Christina Bailey

Dannii left after being raped by Andy Holt and Russ was unable to believe her, They parted on Russ telling Dannii he and Sam murderd Andy.

• Zara Morgan - Kelly Greenwood

Zara left in December 2005 to help survivors of the tsunami of Boxing Day 2004.

• Lee Hunter - Alex Carter

Lee first appeared with the rest of the Hunter family in 2001. He is the son of Les and Sally Hunter, and the brother of Dan, Ellie and Lisa Hunter. He is mischievous and self-centered at times, but he can also be very caring. His best friend is Bombhead, who moved in with Lee and his family after the death of his mother. Lee often offers to help him with something but doesn't, or ignores his needs, but he cares a lot about his friend. His mother Sally once told Bombhead that Lee "loves you like a brother", and this appears to be true.

Lee left Hollyoaks in December 2005 with Zara Morgan. He was the last of his family still living there; his parents had moved to Cyprus, his brother had died, and his sisters had moved away.

• Dan Hunter - Andy McNair (Deceased, December 2004)

Dan died while follwing his dreams to be a professional racer

• Ali Taylor - Luti Fagbenle (Deceased, August 2005)

Ali Taylor was ran over while running away after stabbing Stephen "Macki" Mackintosh.

• Stephen "Macki" Mackintosh - Paul Holowaty (Deceased, August 2005)

Macki was stabbed by Ali after Macki had made him endure months of bullying and racial abuse.

• See Also Hollyoaks past characters

Around Hollyoaks

• Hollyoaks Community College (HCC)

Perennial haunt of many an over-eager fresher, aspirant young professional and full-time student wannabe.

• SU Bar

Ultra-popular watering hole for the Village's expanding population of further education acolytes. Never seems to close.

• The Dog In The Pond

Long-established local for Village patrons old and new, scene of many a dramatic denouement and thunderous tantrum. Uniformly known merely as 'The Dog'.

• The Loft

Ever-controversial night spot which attracts just as much revelry as ribaldry. Prone to burning down for no reason.

• Il Gnosh

Latest incarnation of the local cafe, currently pitching itself at the cosmopolitan Europhile rather than denizens of the greasy spoon. Formerly Gnosh Village (pronounced vil-arzh).

• Drive 'n' Buy

Enduring convenience store that sells everything as long as it's in stock. Goes through owners at an increasingly rapid rate.

Air Times

• Channel 4: Monday to Friday on Channel 4 at 6:30PM

Also an omnibus is shown on Channel 4 on a Sunday a varied times (Usually: 9.25AM or 10.00AM)

• E4: Monday to Friday - 7.00PM

(This is the "First Look" episode and shows the episode for the next day or Monday)

Hollyoaks "Official" Website

The new version of Hollyoaks.com was launched on the 5th of December 2005 as part of their yearly spruce. It also marks the point of a merger between the web teams and the closure of the 'original' forums on the 19th.

• Unofficial sites can be found in the external links section.