A Year in Hollyoaks: 2011
Main Arrivals (Regulars):
Esther Bloom, Ruby Button, Noah Baxter, Pete Hamill, Dodger Savage, Will Savage, Dirk Savage, Maddie Morrison, Tilly Evans, Martin ‘Jono’ Johnson, Neil Cooper, George Smith, Callum Kane, Ash Kane, Barney Harper-McBride, Scott Sebeka, Annalise Appleton, Rob Edwards, Bobby Costello, Dennis Savage, Joel Dexter, Jodie Wilde.
Main Departures:
Seth Costello, Jason Costello, Ethan Scott, Gilly Roach, Gaz Bennett, Duncan Button, Heidi Costello, Lee Hunter, Mandy Richardson, Silas Blissett, Rae Wilson, Jamil Fadel, Pete Hamill, Noah Baxter, Anita Roy, Eva Strong, Warren Fox, Carl Costello, Finn O’Connor, Rob O’Connor.
Returns:
Cindy Cunningham, Michaela McQueen, Suzanne Ashworth (temporary), Steph Dean (temporary), Calvin Valentine (temporary), Bombhead (temporary).
Recasts:
Charlie Behan took over the role of Charlie Dean in April. Ela-May Demircan took over the role of Leah Barnes in April.
Births
Francine and Jack Osborne Jr. to Suzanne Ashworth and Darren Osborne (January). Bobby Costello to Mercedes McQueen and Riley Costello. (October).
Marriages
Rhys Ashworth and Jacqui McQueen (May).
Deaths
Kyle Ryder (shot by Warren Fox, February). Rebecca ‘Bex’ Massey (Murdered by Silas Blissett, April). Rae Wilson (Murdered by Silas Blissett, September). Heidi Costello (Murdered by Silas Blissett, October).
Main Storylines:
Silas:
The residents of Hollyoaks were gripped by fear when it appeared that there was a killer amongst them in 2011. After killing India Longford in December 2010, Silas made plans for Lynsey Nolan to become his next victim. Fortunately, Lynsey was saved from harm when Riley Costello, Silas’ grandson, heard her screams and Silas made his escape. However, Lynsey knew that Silas was her attacker, sparking off a game of cat and mouse between the pair...
After killing Bex and Rae, Silas’ sick game with Lynsey stepped up a gear, and he told her that he planned to take another life on Halloween, but Lynsey could save the woman if she could work out her identity. Lynsey’s obsession with Silas cost her her job, home and friends but she refused to give up. Meanwhile, having discovered that Mercedes had been cheating on Riley, Silas kidnapped her and planned to kill her once she’d given birth. As Halloween approached, Silas’ downfall began when he accidentally killed his own daughter, Heidi, mistaking her for Lynsey. The police finally began to take Lynsey’s claims seriously and Silas was arrested, whilst Mercedes was saved just in the nick of time.
Jacqui’s Rape:
Hollyoaks explored the issue of consent in early 2011, when Jacqui McQueen accused Gilly Roach of raping her. Having slept with Jacqui, the girlfriend of his best pal, Rhys, Gilly insisted that their drunken night together was consensual. But with Jacqui insisting that she had not consented, Gilly was arrested and the case went to trial. In a unique move, Hollyoaks invited a selection of viewers to act as members of the jury for the case. After both parties gave their accounts of events, the jury decided that there was insufficient evidence to charge Gilly, and he was found not guilty. However, some months later, Gilly admitted to not seeking consent from Jacqui.
Esther’s Arrival:
Tom found himself in a whole heap of bother in January when he attacked an intruder at the Osborne’s house. The intruder, a young woman, introduced herself to Frankie as her Granddaughter, Esther, and she was quickly invited into the family. However, Tom’s actions came back to haunt him when he was sent to a youth court for the attack.
Mercedes’ Affair:
After Seth discovered her affair with Carl, Mercedes took drastic action to stop him telling Riley, and lied that she was pregnant! Riley was overjoyed by the news but Mercedes was faced with a big dilemma. How would she break the news that she wasn’t really pregnant? Myra soon came up with the perfect solution to her daughter’s predicament when Mercedes took a tumble at The Loft some weeks later. Riley insisted on rushing her to hospital, where Mercedes was given the shock of her life - she really was pregnant after all!
Over the months that followed, Mercedes and Riley planned their wedding, all the while, Mercedes kept the truth about her affair secret. However, Mercedes was hit by an uncharacteristic pang of guilt as she walked down the aisle, and she told Riley and the shocked congregation everything! Riley was devastated as Mercedes revealed that she couldn’t be sure who her baby’s Father was, and Mercedes’ actions incurred the wrath of Silas, who promptly kidnapped her, and locked her up in a vault under The Dog, planning to kill her once she’d given birth. Mercedes was eventually rescued when the truth about Silas’ murders came to light and Mercedes later gave birth to baby Bobby.
Bart/Jason/Sinead:
Teenagers, Bart and Sinead’s, relationship didn’t go down too well with their families, so the pair fled the village! However, the pair quickly discovered that being Chester’s answer to Romeo and Juliet wasn’t all it was cracked up to be when they ran out of cash. Luckily, Jason was on hand to help and arrived with some money, much to the annoyance of Sinead. Infuriated by Jason’s presence, Sinead stormed off, leaving Bart and Jason to fend for themselves. However, Bart and Jason soon found themselves confronted with a shotgun when they broke into a house to look for food, and the pair were soon locked up in the owner’s cellar. With nothing else to do, the pair had a heart-to-heart, which quickly lead to a kiss. But, a heartbroken Sinead was just outside. And had heard everything...
Britzeee:
Wannabe wag, Mitzeee, was stunned when she caught Brendan and Ste kissing and soon decided to turn the situation to her advantage, telling Brendan that she would keep his secret if he became her manager! And so, Britzeee was born!
Separately, 2011 was an eventful year for both Brendan and Mitzeee. Over the Summer Brendan would be joined in the village by his teenage son, Declan, and he would soon be left with plenty of explaining to do when Declan walked in on him beating Ste! Brendan found himself spending much of the latter part of the year in prison when Silas framed him for Rae’s murder, whilst Mitzeee feared for her life when she discovered that Warren had murdered his ex, Louise Summers.
Hollyoaks Later
Our annual late-night dose of Hollyoaks returned in September. Stories this time centred on the McQueen’s trip to Ibiza for Mercedes hen do, Silas’ hunt for another victim, culminating in the murder of Rae and Riley’s stag do, which saw Seth believe he had killed a stripper. Lives were in peril in a white water rafting accident whilst there were japes aplenty as Duncan and Ricky headed to fat camp!
Other stories:
Cindy returned to the village in March, minus her new husband, Alistair, and daughter Holly. She soon revealed that Alistair had died after falling off an Alp, leaving her a millionaire! She used the money to enrol Holly in boarding school and open up her own spa, ‘Cinergy’.
Ste was heartbroken to learn that Lee and Amy were moving to New York, taking Leah and Lucas with them. However, at the eleventh hour, Amy decided to stay, and Lee left the village alone.
Theresa’s life was left hanging in the balance after she fell down a lift shaft.
There were big changes at Hollyoaks High when it was turned into a 6th form college, and we were introduced to new students, Maddie, Tilly, Jono, Neil, Callum and George.
HCC also gained some new students as Annalise, Ash, Barney, Scott and Rob joined as freshers.
Suzanne Ashworth returned to the village, pregnant with Darren’s twins! She gave birth to Francine and Jack in the 3000th episode. Meanwhile, Darren got together with Nancy.
At Christmas, Doug contemplated suicide. However, he was visited by the spirit of Steph Dean, who convinced him that his life was sill worth living.
Liberty was joined in the village by her Father, Dirk and her Brothers, Dodger and Will.
Last but not least:
Here’s a photo of Jacqui and Rhys’ dog, Terry because why the hell not?!
