This week, new Hollyoaks producer Paul Marquess has really being stamping his authority on the Channel 4 soap, but is it too late already. The soap drama has already been on the decline for a good while now, and many will see this latest move as an act of pure desperation…
Marquess’s previous work includes Brookside, The Bill and Footballers Wives and on each occasion, he has been known to produce a dramatic overhaul of each show, with varying fortunes. The cast members of Hollyoaks must have been trembling with fear in recent weeks, fearing for their future and now for many, that niggling thought is now a horrific reality. Marquess claims that the show needed ‘a decent shake-up,’ and that is no disgrace, because realistically, it does. However, his claims that loads of contracts up for renewal haven’t been renewed sound a tad far-fetched. To axe 17 members in quick succession sounds really mad. For many Hollyoaks fans, there will be plenty of tears to be shared over the coming months.
Already this year, fans have said very tameful and undramatic goodbyes to Mike Barnes (Tony Hirst), Zoe Carpenter (Zoe Lister) and Hannah Ashworth (Emma Rigby). Hollyoaks has suffered massively from the loss of iconic actors/actresses such as Chris Fountain, Matt Littler, Gemma Bissix, Roxanne McKee and Darren Jefferies. The core of the show has been ripped apart in the last two years, as many have wanted to pursue their careers elsewhere, which is understandable. However, the replacements have not been up to scratch. Combine that with producer Bryan Kirkwood’s departure after The Loft Fire last May, in which Warren Fox (Jamie Lomas) was killed and the show has lacked the stability and inspiration to be driven forward since then. Lucy Allan’s Kirkwood’s long-term deputy stepped into the breach, but most storylines have been unrealistic and dire. Hollyoaks non-linear week last September which saw bad boy Gaz Bennett attacked was so dismal and although the Flash-forward episode last Christmas was a success, there hasn’t been enough to convince everyone that Hollyoaks has been able to continue in the right direction.
Strictly Come Dancing runner-up Ricky Whittle, a.k.a Calvin Valentine has already quit. He was the victim of the Flash-forward episode, as his character was shot on his wedding day. Gerard McCarthy, who plays the cross-dressing Kris Fisher is also set to leave, and rekindle his love with the West End. The others who have had their contracts terminated are the following:
Neville Ashworth (Jim Millea)
Suzanne Ashworth (Suzanne Hall)
Josh Ashworth (Sonny Flood)
Sasha Valentine (Natalie Emmanuel)
Leo Valentine (Brian Bovell)
Lauren Valentine (Dominique Jackson)
Loretta Jones (Melissa Walton)
Jake Dean (Kevin Sacre)
Newt (Nico Mirallengro)
Zak Ramsay (Kent Riley)
Spencer Gray (Darren Langford)
Dave Colburn (Elliot James Langridge)
Des Townsend (Kris Deedigan)
However, the plus point is that the phenomenal McQueen family remain untouched and Marquess has already promised at least two new families to enter the show, with the promise they will add to the show’s supposed strong core. It’s a brave new world out there, but this move seems to be just desperate. Can Hollyoaks stay strong or go into total obscurity, the next year is crucial to see if this gambled transformation actually works?
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