Click on picture for the Official Channel 4 Hollyoaks website.
Hollyoaks is on every week day at 6.30pm on Channel 4. After each episode you are able to watch the next episode on E4 at 7.00pm and this is called "First Look".You can also watch the day befores episode on E4 at 4.30pm and this is called " Catch Up".
A Review of a Hollyoaks Episode
Hollyoaks was first broadcast on Channel 4 on 23 October 1995. It was originally created by Phil Redmond, with such shows under his belt as Brookside and Grange Hill. It is currently produced by Lucy Allan, who replaced Bryan Kirkwood only this year.
It is set in the city of Chester however is based in fictional suburb they call Hollyoaks village. The cast originally consisted of 7 main characters which can be seen in the original trailer but it has now spread to approximately 50 cast members. Hollyoaks has a predominantly young cast in comparison with the other main competitive soaps meaning it covers the niche in the market attracting a very large teen audience.
Gemma Merna, who plays Carmel, admitted to the Daily Star that she felt the show is underrated: "We are completely underrated as a show, which is so frustrating. People just think we are gorgeous models who have nothing else to offer. But the truth is we have some seriously talented actors and we're fed up with being the little sister to Corrie, Eastenders and Emmerdale. We're fighters and we're so passionate about what we do. We have the balls and just go for it. And I think we should get credit for that!"
Hollyoaks deals with a lot of relevant issues to teenagers in their storylines offering facts and help throughout the script and also a helpline at the end for people in need or more assistance. This has been hugely successful in raising the profile on such issues as Anorexia and HIV and Aids in the recent years. It also most recently made history by being the first soap every to have a non linear week where the storyline did not play in a chronological order. This storyline showed Newt wake up with blood on his hands and Gaz hit over the head. You then pieced together the information over the week to finally find out it was actually Anita who attacked him. A recent unfortunate coincident arose at the end of October when Newts attempted suicide by jumping into a disused reservoir reflected a suicide pact of two teenagers jumping into the River Clyde. The show immediately apologised and stated that it was a mere coincidence due to filming being 8 weeks prior to air.
Hollyoaks is the only soap to contain incidental music which sets the scene for each episode. It has featured many popular bands and even helping turn songs into hits. The main theme was written and performed by Steve Wright and was remixed for the new opening credits in 2007. A lot of bands have also featured in episodes including Mcfly, Get Cape, Wear Cape, Fly and the Guillimots.
Settings...
Hollyoaks is set around an area of Chester and the main square is called the village. There are many local shops, resturants and a club for meeting pionts. The local facilities include:
Hollyoaks Village used by all the characters.
Hollyoaks High School where storylines for the younger cast members are set.
Hollyoaks Community College where the university students live and study.
SU Bar where the University students have a drink and also host gigs and parties.
The Dog in the Pond the pub where the older characters go for a drink.
The Loft the swanky nightclub which holds host to different nights and many dodgy dealings.
Il Gnosh the posh italian resturant where people have lunches and dinners.
Drive 'n' Buy the local general stores
Evissa an upmarket beauty salon
Dee Valley Police Station where people are taken when their misdeeds finally catch up with them.
Dee Valley Hospital where people go following disasters, accidents or attempted murders.
Tan & Tumble a new twist on the laundrette with a tanning booth available whilst you wait.
M.O.B.S a juice bar serving smoothies and refreshing drinks.
Relish a burger bar near to the SU bar aimed at strapped for cash students.
Call centre a new work place for many of the ex students.
Cast and Characters...
Here are a few characters and the actors that play them as described by the producers...
The Hollyoaks Hunks...
Zoe's younger brother Archie is a cheeky chap who loves to wind his sister up. But no more than he loves trying to woo the ladies
Calvin has been taking care of his troublesome family since his mother's death in a hit and run accident. Formely the upstanding village PC, Calvin was sacked from the force after his attempts to uncover the dealings of gangster Warren Fox ended in shambles.
Kris went through a traumatic couple of months – first finding out that his brother Malachy is HIV positive and then discovering his father's dead body was used as a prop in the Osbornes' fraud scam. Kris seems to have reverted back to his usual feisty self, however, and was most recently involved in a bi-sexual love triangle with Nancy Hayton and Ravi Roy!
Darren finds it easier making enemies than he does friends, what with his constant scheming and dangerous gambling habit. Darren got both himself and his dad Jack into huge trouble as he persuaded Jack to fake his own death for insurance money. Jack got caught out, and both faced time in prison.
Jake became increasingly disturbed following the death of his wife Becca in prison. He married Becca's younger sister Nancy, but she left him after he attempted to rape her. Jake was put in a psychiatric hospital after he tried to commit suicide and take Becca's son Charlie with him. | The Hollyoaks Babes...
Kind-hearted Carmel was devastated by Niall's attack on her family and the subsequent death of younger sister Tina in the explosion that he engineered. The pressure of finding out about Niall's abandonment and of Myra not choosing her to survive has caused tension between Carmel and her mother ever since. Carmel's marriage has also been through a rough period after her husband Calvin mistakenly accused her of cheating.
Anita is the youngest of the Roy family, and has become firm friends with school buddies Theresa McQueen, Lauren Valentine and Newt. She's a sensitive soul but has her big brothers and sister to watch out for her!
It seemed that Steph had finally found happiness with old friend Max until she was widowed on their wedding day after a drunken Niall accidentally ran Max over. Following Max's death, Steph became involved with Niall - until she realised he was a vengeful murderer! Steph witnessed Niall committing suicide after she told him she didn't love him, and returned to the village attempting to get over her trauma
After struggling to recover from anorexia Hannah decided to go a little wild recently, heading off on tour with a band and returning hitched to Darren Osborne! Her family very much disapprove of Darren and following their many attempts to get her to divorce him; a fed up Hannah packed her bags and moved in with her husband.
Hayley is student Zak's younger sister, who has turned up to study a course at HCC. Zak is incredibly over-protective of Hayley as he worries over her disability, but Hayley soon proved she can easily look after herself. However her recent pregnancy may cause trouble... |
Archie Carpenter played by Stephen Beard
Calvin Valentine played by Ricky Whittle
Kris Fisher played by Gerard McCarthy
Darren Osborne played by Ashley Taylor-Dawson
Jake Dean played by Kevin Sacre
Carmel McQueen played by Gemma Merna
Anita Roy
Steph Cunningham played by Carley Stenson
Hayley Ramsey played by Kelly-Marie StewartThis is the launch trailer for Hollyoaks from 1995 which shows the characters introducing themselves. This is something to consider when creating out own trailer.
