Hollyoaks

Hollyoaks is a British television soap opera which was first broadcast on 23 October 1995, on Channel 4. Originally devised by Phil Redmond, who has also devised shows including Brookside and Grange Hill, the programme is set in and around the fictional Chester suburb of Hollyoaks and is centred around a local higher education college called Hollyoaks Community College with the characters generally being in their late teens or early twenties. Since 1995, the cast has expanded from just seven major characters to approximately 50 cast members. Tony Hutchinson is the only remaining original character.

The programme is responsible for launching the careers of Will Mellor, Natalie Casey, Gemma Atkinson, Gary Lucy, Elize Du Toit, Dannielle Brent, Jeremy Edwards, Terri Dwyer, Ali Bastian, Sarah Jayne Dunn and James Redmond.

The soap is currently produced by Bryan Kirkwood.

Characters

Production and broadcasting

Hollyoaks is produced by Lime Pictures (formerly Mersey Television) and filmed mainly at studios in Liverpool. The show currently broadcasts at 18:30 each weekday on Channel 4, with an omnibus edition on Sunday morning, usually at 9.50am but this time often varies. At 19:00 each weekday, Channel 4's digital only sister station E4 airs a 'First Look' feature, in which viewers are able to watch the next episode to be shown on Channel 4 the following day. In addition, E4 also shows the omnibus on Saturday and daily repeats each weekday at 16.30. The Welsh fourth channel, S4C, broadcasts the Sunday omnibus only. UK television channel, Channel 4 aired its first episode of Hollyoaks in high definition on 2 June 2008.

Hollyoaks is also broadcast in other countries, including Canada (BBC Kids channel), Norway (TV2 Zebra),Sweden (TV400),Finland (Sub),Ireland (TV3),South Africa (MNET Series),the United States of America (BBC America, from June to November 2007 (episodes continued to be available on the BBC America website before being discontinued in June 2008), Turkey (e2) and parts of Eastern Europe. Episodes from September 2006 through August 2007 were also available on Joost. It had also aired in New Zealand (C4), but was discontinued due to lack of viewers.

The title sequence

On 26 February 2007, the programme launched a revamped title sequence. This new sequence can readily undergo minor changes - usually caused by characters leaving or joining the programme. March 2008 saw an updated "style" to the titles, with a purple background and new character segments. On 14 July 2008, the title sequence was updated again, with more new characters added and also changes to existing character segments.

Music

Hollyoaks is the only major British soap to make use of incidental music. Each episode usually begins with a current or recent chart song, and other songs are used during the show (and sometimes at the end of the show instead of the theme tune). Current chart songs are not used in the international version of the show; instead library music and a selection of purposely-composed songs are used. The main theme was written and performed by Steve Wright, who also produced music and themes for Brookside, Grange Hill and other Lime Pictures productions.

A "Hollyoaks" soundtrack CD was released in 2001, containing music used in the programme. In 2007, The Alphites were the first band to perform on the show. In March 2008, the band Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly also featured in Hollyoaks, performing as part of a Battle of the Bands contest.

On the 23rd of March 2008 a spin-off music show was broadcast, featuring four bands playing on the sets of Hollyoaks: One Night Only played at the Dog, Rochelle in the Loft, The Guillemots in the SU bar and The Courteeners in the Hollyoaks cast and crew canteen.

Locations

Issue-led storylines

Over the course of the show's history, "Hollyoaks" has dealt with a number of storylines based upon serious issues. Given the large and established proportion of young viewers, some feel that the soap is an ideal platform to show a variety of life-problems. A telephone helpline number is often displayed after episodes that feature a particular emphasis on a story that may have affected viewers.

A 2007 episode that showed a number of the characters falling ill at a party due to carbon monoxide poisoning helped make a viewer of the programme realise that the symptoms of illness she had been feeling were caused by a potentially fatal carbon-monoxide leak in her home. By being made aware of the effects from the episode, she was able to receive medical treatment that would save her life.

Storylines that the soap has dealt with include drug addiction, murder, arson, hit and run, abortion, suicide, homelessness, financial problems, interracial relationships, racism, religion, bisexuality, homosexuality, homophobia, sexual confusion, alcoholism, drug abuse, rape, male rape, cancer, molestation, child abuse, domestic violence, anorexia/bulimia, incest, sexual harassment, bullying at school, bullying in the workplace, carbon monoxide poisoning, living with epilepsy, HIV, pupil/teacher relationships, self harm, schizophrenia, OCD, gambling addiction, shoplifting, fostering, teenage pregnancy, Sudden infant death syndrome, miscarriage, and surrogacy.

Awards

Hollyoaks was the only soap to be nominated in every category at the 2007 British Soap Awards. It went on to win 3 awards at the ceremony: 'Villain of The Year' for Gemma Bissix's portrayal of Clare Devine, 'Best Comedy Performance' for Gemma Merna and her portrayal of Carmel McQueen and 'Sexiest Female' for Roxanne McKee. McKee also won the award for Sexiest Female at the Inside Soap Awards 2007.

Hollyoaks was named Broadcast of the Year at the 2007 Stonewall Awards, held at London's Victoria and Albert Museum. The award was based on John Paul McQueen (James Sutton) and Craig Dean's (Guy Burnet) gay affair storyline. Stonewall, an organisation that campaigns for equality for gay men and women, praised the show for its "sympathetic and convincing handling" of the "gritty and emotional" storyline.

Hollyoaks scooped five awards at the first Digital Spy awards in March 2008. James Sutton and Guy Burnet won best storyline for their gay affair storyline. Roxanne McKee scooped sexiest female, Gemma Bissix won best exit and Ellis Hollins won best child actor. James Sutton also won another award for most popular actor.

Hollyoaks swept the boards at The British Soap Awards 2008, where they won 6 awards, more than any other soap. The awards included Spectacular Scene of the Year for Clare Devine driving herself and Katy Fox off a cliff, Best Exit for Clare Devine, Best On Screen Partnership for Max Cunningham and Sam "OB" O'Brien, Sexiest Female for Roxanne McKee, Best Actor for Chris Fountain and Best Actress for Emma Rigby.

Hollyoaks specials

The show also features occasional late-night spin-off editions, which feature more dramatic or controversial plot lines; these generally do fit into the Hollyoaks universe, and are considered canon. There are also a number of DVD and Video specials.

DVD/Video Specials

Hollyoaks: Off on One (1998)
Hollyoaks: Indecent Behaviour (2001)
Hollyoaks: Dance Workout (2004)

Collaboration Videos

Brookside: Double Take (1999)

Late night

Hollyoaks: Breaking Boundaries (2000)
Hollyoaks: Boys Do Barca (2000)
Hollyoaks: Leap of Faith (2003)
Hollyoaks: After Hours (2004)
Hollyoaks: In Too Deep (2005)
Hollyoaks: Crossing The Line (2005)
Hollyoaks: No Going Back (2005)
Hollyoaks: Back From The Dead (2006)

New media content

Hollyoaks Extreme Challenge (2006)
Hollyoaks Backstage (2007)
Hollyoaks Special: Summer's Got A Secret (2008)
The Hollyoaks Music Show (2008)
Runners (2009)

Spin-offs

Merchandise

Books

Hollyoaks: Coming Together (1996)
Hollyoaks: Can't Get the Girl (1996)
Hollyoaks: New Friends (1997)
Hollyoaks: Friends and Families (1997)
Hollyoaks: Luke's Secret Diary (2000) Luke dealing with life after being raped by Mark Gibbs
Hollyoaks: Lives and Loves of Finn (2000)
Hollyoaks: Running Wild (2002): About what Ellie Mills (née Hunter) did before she came to Hollyoaks and the real reason she returned.
Hollyoaks: Seeing Red (2002): about Lisa Hunter self harming.
Hollyoaks: Truth or Dare (2006): about Hannah Ashworth, Nancy Hayton and Sarah Barnes on a school trip to France. Although Nicole Owen is featured on the cover she does not appear in the book as she is still in shock after Andy Holt's attack.
Hollyoaks: Playing with Fire (2006): this follows the storyline of Becca Dean and Justin Burton's affair.
Hollyoaks: Fame Game (2006): about Steph Dean and Debbie Dean in London on a search for stardom.
Hollyoaks: Guilt Trip (2006): about Nicole Owen's struggle for a normal life and Sam Owen's plan and action for revenge.

Calendars

Since 2001, the current cast of Hollyoaks has produced two annual calendars. One is entitled 'Hollyoaks Babes', which features the female cast, and the other 'Hollyoaks Hunks', which features the male cast.

Fragrance

It was announced on 15 September 2008 that the soap is to launch its own 'his' and 'her' fragrance. The fragrance will be available from The Perfume Shop and Superdrug from 30 September 2008.