Hollyoaks boss reveals dramatic 30th anniversary stunt and major storyline for huge month of celebration
HOLLYOAKS boss Hannah Cheers has revealed all about the soap’s upcoming 30th anniversary, confirming a stunt and huge storyline details.
The Channel 4 soap has undergone a huge revival in the last year with boss Hannah at the helm with ratings surging by more than a third.
The executive producer was forced to make tough decisions to cut the show from five episodes per week to just three - with the episode length slashed further.
But after a year of painful decisions and hard work - it has paid off.
Hollyoaks was second only to EastEnders at this weekend’s British Soap Awards - taking home three gongs.
And now the show is heading full speed ahead towards its 30th anniversary in October - and it will be a month-long celebration.
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Hannah said: “In that week, we want to make it a celebration across the whole month really because we can't physically fit all of the characters into that.
“So that's why it's kind of becomes a bit more of a challenge in terms of which stories that you really want to hear about and focus on.
“But obviously there just needs to be enough of a sense of nostalgia in terms of Hollyoaks' origin story and everything that we love and know about the show.
“But then also the kind of characters that are going to be able to shake things up and create jeopardy and danger and spit things out in a different way at the end of that.
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“And I want it to be where you can't take your eyes off the screen levels of energy, but also with absolutely kind of surprising but searing moments of heartache and good tears, happy tears, sad tears, tears and shock and try and celebrate all things Hollyoaks in a very efficient three by 18 and a half minute format.”
And while there won’t be a feature-length episode, there will be another shock coming - one fans will love.
“There is something else that will be a huge delight and a real nod to Hollyoaks' origin story,” she revealed.
“That will happen in the third episode of the week, which I absolutely cannot talk about, but is going to be incredibly exciting.”
Hannah added: “You can’t do a Hollyoaks commemoration without some kind of spectacle. So there will be a stunt.”
And more than that Hannah also revealed a huge battle between two Hollyoaks titans will take centre stage for October.
Having recently returned from the dead to the village after 12 years, Clare Devine is back to find her missing ‘daughter’ Tori.
However it will soon become clear that Tori - the biological daughter of serial killer Nico Blake - is wanted by her birth family, the Blakes too.
And that’s set to pit Clare against serial killer Jez Blake in the run up to the big anniversary.
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From Hollyoaks to Hollywood
James Corden played a caretaker in the early days of the soap.
The former American TV host doesn't have much positive to say about his time on the soap, claiming it was "hell on earth."
Since his short-lived time on the show he has gone on to bigger things including smash hit comedy Gavin and Stacey.
Rachel Shenton joined the soap as aspiring glamour model Mitzeee Minniver in 2010.
Over two years her character was sent to prison, got pregnant and had a number of romantic affairs.
Since leaving Hollyoaks she has won an Oscar for best live action short film, The Silent Child.
Rachel has also starred in White Gold and All Creatures Great and Small
Emmett J. Scanlan played gangster turned anti-hero Brendan Brady.
Emmett played the love interest of Steve Hayes, with their romance delighting fans until it turned violent.
Since his departure Emmett has appeared in Peaky Blinders, The Fall, Gangs of London and even appeared in Guardians of the Galaxy
Emma Rigby joined Hollyoaks when she was 15 as Hannah Ahsworth.
Hannah's eating disorder storyline was the first of it's kind on TV while other plots included being caught in a fire, gangland drug dealing and running away.
Since leaving the soap in 2010 Emma has gone on to star in ABCs Once Upon a Time in Wonderland as the Red Queen. Other roles include guest appearances in Death In Paradise, Ripper Street and Fresh Meat
Nico Mirallegro got his big break with Hollyoaks starring as emo Barry ‘Newt’ Newton.
Nico's main storyline in the soap was developing schizophrenia which culminated in a suicide pact.
He left the soap in 2010 and went on to star in My Mad Fat Diary, Our Girl, Rillington Place, The Ark and Common, Penance, as well as the Mike Leigh movie Peterloo and was nominated for a Bafta for his role in period drama The Village.
Ricky Whittle used Hollyoaks as a stepping stone to break America.
He played one of the soap's resident hunks, Calvin Valentine, from 2006 to 2011 - when he was killed off at his wedding.
After leaving the soap Ricky cracked America starring in teen drama The 100 and America Gods.
He also appeared in Strictly Come Dancing in 2009.
Warren Brown joined Hollyoaks in 2005 for a year as evil Andy Holt.
His stint on the show consisted of date rape storylines and a crime spree, before eventually being killed off.
After leaving Hollyoaks, Warren became a big hitter in TV playing DS Justin Ripley in Luther, as well as major roles in a number of dramas including Liar, The Responder, Homefront and Good Cop.
Wallis Day played Holly Cunningham in the soap for years before leaving.
In 2021 Wallis won the role of Batwoman in DC's series, taking over from Ruby Rose.
“Well, yes, obviously we’ve got two kind of Hollyoaks titans here,” Hannah said.
“We’ve got kind of very iconic Hollyoaks faces. And it’ not an accident that they are both in the show in the run up to the 30th anniversary.”