Hollyoaks - Weekdays 6.30pm C4, 7pm E4

The nature of the show though means a high-turnover of cast is inevitable - and considering Brian Kirkwood came in to shake things up, it's not surprising a couple of years later most of the cast are relatively new.


I can't say though that I'm pining for anyone who's gone. In fact, they could do with getting rid of more of the oldies IMO who struggle to fit into the show now - with Tony top of that list. I was also thinking tonight they might as well have killed Russ off as there is little reason for him to remain.

More spoilers...



http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/a77542/mystery-christmas-arrival-for-hollyoaks.html
http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/a77533/first-look-hollyoaks-niall-rafferty.html

Also, interview with Bryan Kirkwood:

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/a77573/bryan-kirkwood-hollyoaks-producer.html



He reveals quite a bit (arguably too much actually) - but interestingly says they are planning an alternative version of the theme to use when the main upbeat version isn't appropriate.

Ooh, interesting...





Bigger spoiler - which I think we knew but had probably forgot:




Interestingly though is talk of more experimental episodes, including the possibility of 24-style real-time episodes and confirmation they are to begin to dedicate some episodes to exploring characters backgrounds, with one planned for Newt, Ste, Warren and Darren.


That is a very good interview on DS - but as I said he reveals alot, so if you don't like spoilers avoid it!

Interesting points. When I started watching Hollyoaks in 2000 there was certainly more of a long-term family element, with the Cunninghams the lynchpin of the show and to a lesser extent the Richardsons, the latter becoming absorbed into the Cunninghams. Yes we still have the family element, but no-one really long term apart from the Deans. The Hunters - come and gone, the Owens, one left, likewise with the Burtons, one Valentine has already gone after only a few months and now the Barnes are about to fracture.

Interestingly, the Ashworths are still all there despite having arrived earlier than the latter two - maybe they'll be around for some time?

The older characters are vital for Hollyoaks as they represent the continuum. The show has never really recovered from the departure of Gordon Cunningham while Tony has altered and not for the better - how has he ended up dating an ex-con that only a few years ago he'd have looked down on?

The biggest problem with Hollyoaks, however, remains its vanity, and it's a pity they can't be told to cast more "average" looking people whom the audience would be able to see themselves in.

It was nice to see most of the students, or a studentish age mixing with each other. I really enjoyed the carbon monoxide episode.

I can't say I miss Mr C at all. Yes, he left a big void initially and it was never really filled, but in the last year the "oldies" have gone from strength to strength in different ways - Myra McQueen, Leo Valentine and Mike and Kathy Barnes in particular.


From that interview the executive producers seems to be a fan of the Ashworths, rating both Emma Rigby and Andrew Moss (Hannah and Rhys) very highly - and they're at the centre of another big storyline in the next few weeks.

He makes a very good point, using Craig and Darren as an example, of a number of characters and actors who were badly used by his predecessors and given poor storylines, remaining in the background.

I'd say the Ashworth's fell into that category too - but then the background work was done for the big storylines now. The Hannah storyline for example was planned up to 18 months before it really began on screen, allowing the backstory to be developed over why Hannah develops an eating disorder.

The Valentine kids also have their own storylines coming up - he describes Danny and Lauren as adding "light and shade" to the family to fill the gap left by Sonny.


Tony - agree that him and Jacqui McQueen don't really make sense, but then again Tony hasn't really had a type over the years. And although I still think it's time for him to go, I agree with what Bryan Kirkwood says in how they've developed the character from the buffoon he was in recent years through storylines like Grace's death.

Emma Rigby is justifiably held in high regard, as her recent performances has shown. Not since Lisa Hunter have we had such a compelling story of someone in an intense state of mental anguish. But Andrew Moss - what does he really bring to the show? Not much really other than a pin-up face.

Myra McQueen - great strong matriarchal character - reminds me of Sandra Gough's Nellie Dingle. And interesting to see Brian Bovell as a laid-back useless dad after years as a twisted DC in The Bill.

That's it - been bugging me for 12 months where he came from!

He was also one of the flies in a Big Brother sponsorship one year.

The last couple of episodes have begun building up to bigger stories to come, especially with the hint of a rift between Myra and her mother due to something that happened when she was 14.

Also the first signs today of linking Warren, Darren and Ste through their childhood experiences, which will feature in a special episode in the forthcoming weeks.


Anyway - the main point in this is to ask does anyone remember Tessie?

I have very vague memories of him having an ex who wanted some money and nearly splitting him up with whoever he was with at the time but I don't know if that would have been Tessie, or for that matter if that actually happened!

If it did happen though I am sure it was way back in the day...

I vaguely remember Tessie - im sure she was in it around 1998/1999.