Johnno Dean

Last updated

Johnno Dean
Hollyoaks character
JohnnoDean.jpg
Colin Wells as Johnno Dean
Portrayed by Mark Powley (2002–2003)
Colin Wells (2003–2017)
Duration2002–2005, 2017
First appearance7 November 2002 (2002-11-07)
Last appearance31 October 2017
Classification Former; regular
Introduced by Jo Hallows (2002)
Bryan Kirkwood (2017)
In-universe information
Occupation Fitness Club manager
Family Dean
Wife Frankie Osborne (until 2005)
Michelle Dean (2005–2017)
Sons Jake Dean
Craig Dean
Presley Dean
Daughters Debbie Dean
Steph Cunningham
Grandsons Matthew McQueen

Johnno Dean is a fictional character from the British soap opera Hollyoaks , played originally by Mark Powley. He first appeared in November 2002, and from April 2003 was replaced by Colin Wells until his exit on 22 July 2005. The character returned on 26 to 31 October 2017 for a guest stint to coincide with the exit of his former wife, Frankie Osborne (Helen Pearson).

Contents

Casting

Mark Powley originally played Johnno but the role was recast in 2003 with Colin Wells. [1] Hollyoaks did not anticipate Johnno becoming a central character. Powley could not renew his contract due to commitments in place to other projects. A spokesperson for the show revealed that they were delighted to cast Wells in the role, but warned he would not be like the "lothario" character Jake Booth he previously played in rival soap opera Crossroads . [1] Wells departed the soap in 2005, and later revealed that part of the reason he left was to care for his children, who both have a rare form of Mitochondrial disease. [2]

On 6 October 2017, it was announced that Wells had reprised his role and would return during the week commencing 23 October. [3] Johnno returns as part of "a huge new storyline" for the Osborne family. He tempts his former wife Frankie Osborne (Helen Pearson) to join him on the road as a Cher tribute act, leaving her to make the big decision of whether to leave her husband and family in Chester. [3]

Storylines

Johnno arrived in Hollyoaks with his wife Frankie, and their children Jake, Debbie, and Craig. Their youngest daughter Steph was already introduced as a student at Hollyoaks High School. Johnno and Frankie had had problems in their marriage but were mostly happy. He had a good relationship with all of his children, but was particularly close with Steph.

Johnno began working as a lorry driver with Les Hunter. Generally a friendly, good-natured personality and a devoted family man, Johnno's early storylines see him confront Ellie Hunter about her false testimony that her brother and his daughter Debbie Dean's boyfriend Dan Hunter committed a series of attacks, when the attacker was actually Ellie's husband Toby Mills. Johnno also caught his other daughter Steph Dean physical attacking Dan and Ellie's sister Lisa Hunter and had to pull Steph off her victim, before publicly reprimanding her for her behaviour.

The family become heavily in debt after Johnno lost his job when his workplace collapsed and the Deans had to move homes. This resulted in a number of arguments between Johnno and Frankie that almost led to the collapse of their marriage. Johnno briefly turns to alcohol to cope with his troubles but when he realises how much he feels alienated from Frankie and how distressed Steph is after she is diagnosed as having epilepsy, he stopped drinking as heavily.

After losing their house, Johnno and Frankie patched up their differences and began renting a house. Johnno began working for Richard Taylor, who took him on at his fitness club, Body Boost. When a rivalry between the Dean and Taylor families began, Richard terminated Johnno's job contract. However, Richard later re-employed Johnno at Body Boost and Jake took out a mortgage to help clear the family's debt accumulated. Still feeling alienated from Frankie, Johnno began an affair with 19-year-old student named Michelle. Frankie discovered Johnno’s affair and confronted him. Frankie still tried to save the marriage but decided to divorce Johnno when he revealed that Michelle was seven months pregnant with his baby, After learning the truth of their father, Jake, Debbie and Craig decided they did not want to have any contact with their father, except Steph (which she was completed devastated and begging him to come back home), as Johnno told her that, if there anything she need, he will help her, causing Steph forgiving him first, and then he left. His departure caused Steph began to alienated her mother and siblings for abandoned their relationship with him, and will never forgive them for hurting him, although she hide it for secret. In December 2004, Steph contact her father to wish her a Merry Christmas, and will return to Hollyoaks as soon as possible, which makes her happy.

Johnno briefly returned in July 2005, telling his family that Michelle had left him for someone her own age and that she had told him that her baby was not his. Debbie has left town, but the rest of the family is still there and he wants a chance to make things up to them. Frankie, Jake and Craig are angry at him still for his affair. Steph begs her mother and brothers to forgive him.

The family is prepared to give Johnno another chance, however, Craig is unconvinced by Johnno's story so he rings Michelle and finds out that Johnno was lying and that he had in fact left Michelle and their newborn son Presley out of desperation after realising that he could not handle being a father again at his age. The family is disgusted by his behaviour, only Steph was willing to forgive him, angering her brothers and mother.

Frankie eventually agrees to forgive Johnno for his affair as she felt life was too short to remain hostile towards the father of her children. Johnno still wants another shot with Frankie, but she makes it clear she is happy with her new partner, Jack Osborne, and there was no hope of them reuniting. Johnno realises that Michelle and Presley need him more than his other family and decides to go back home. Frankie tells him he will always be her best friend. Her final words to him are: "For the first we met, we were standing at a bus stop in 1979, your cheeky grin, the white leather jacket, hair slicked back, Johnno Dean, who treats girls mean to keep them keen." With their divorce complete, Johnno marries Michelle and Steph serves as a bridesmaid. Frankie invited him and Michelle to her wedding with Jack, but they could not attend due to schedule conflicts.

For the next few years, Johnno is pretty much out of his children's lives and they all begin to consider Jack to be their father. When Craig receives a birthday card from Johnno, he rips it up and tells Jack he is better father than Johnno ever was. Steph maintains a closer relationship with Johnno then her brothers and sister, but still feels closer to Jack. In 2008, when Johnno could not attend her wedding to Max Cunningham due to work comments, Steph asks Jack to walk her down the aisle. In 2010, Steph would later visit him after discovering that she has cancer, however after her death, he didn't attend her funeral, due to flight conflicts.

In 2016, Frankie went to stay with Johnno after visiting their daughter Debbie. Upon her return to the village, she mentioned to Jack that Johnno was doing well and his relationship with Michelle was stronger. Two days later, Frankie got a call from Johnno that their children is now closer to him than before, for which she is happiness and knew that this is what Steph's wanted to see. A year later, Johnno returns to the village and see Frankie once again to invite her to tour with him as a Cher impersonator. She tells him she wishes they had not broken up but is torn about whether to leave Jack and accept his offer. She eventually chooses Jack and Johnno leaves after Frankie tells him that he is still her best friend. Two days later, Jack called him that Frankie is dead, which devastated him and could not attend the funeral, after he allowed him to go, due to his impersonator tour.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frankie Osborne</span> UK soap opera character, created 2002

Francine "Frankie" Osborne is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Helen Pearson, making her first on-screen appearance on 20 August 2002. Frankie was once the longest-serving female character in the show. On 9 October 2017, Pearson announced that she would depart the show, and Frankie was killed off on 1 November 2017, after suffering a stroke, making her the second member of the Dean family to be killed off after her daughter Steph Cunningham in 2010. She made her final appearance on 27 November 2017, as a ghost to Jack Osborne.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jack Osborne</span> Fictional character from Hollyoaks

Jack Osborne is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Jimmy McKenna. He first appeared on 18 November 1996 and is the second longest serving character in the serial. He was introduced as part of the Osborne family along with son Darren and wife Celia who joined daughter Ruth to live in Hollyoaks village. His storylines have included an affair with Dawn Cunningham, four marriages and an insurance scam which saw him fake his own death. In his later years, Jack was more commonly known as the landlord of the show's pub, The Dog in the Pond.

Craig Dean is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Guy Burnet. The character was introduced as a youngest brother of established character Steph Dean. He made his first appearance on 24 October 2002. Burnet has won and been nominated for several awards for this role. Burnet departed the role in September 2007 and returned to the show on 3 September 2008 in a storyline which saw Craig secure a "sunset ending" with John Paul McQueen. He made another appearance after his departure in spin-off show Hollyoaks Later in November 2008. The character is regarded as one of Hollyoaks most iconic characters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jake Dean</span> UK soap opera character (created 2002)

Jake Dean is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Kevin Sacre. Sacre portrayed the character between 2002 and 2008, before making a return on 5 October 2009. In March 2010, Sacre was axed from the series by Paul Marquess during his major revamp and cast cull. Jake made his last appearance on 6 August 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steph Cunningham</span> UK soap opera character, created 2000

Steph Roach is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Carley Stenson. She debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 29 March 2000. Steph was introduced into the serial by executive producer Jo Hallows. In 2009 Stenson decided to quit, but the then producer Lucy Allan convinced her to stay to play out a dramatic storyline. The announcement of her departure was made public in June 2010. Stenson's fellow cast members have described her as a "Hollyoaks legend" because of her lengthy duration.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nancy Hayton</span> Fictional character from Hollyoaks

Nancy Osborne is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Jessica Fox. The character first appeared on 6 July 2005. Since the character's inception she has been involved in many notable storylines such as a love triangle; coping with the death of her sister Becca ; marrying Jake Dean ; drug abuse; domestic violence; being the victim of two attempted rapes by Jake and Finn O'Connor ; marrying Darren Osborne ; suffering a miscarriage; prematurely giving birth to Darren's son, Oscar Osborne, who is deaf; an addiction to painkillers; a highly-publicised storyline where Sienna Blake attempts to steal Darren and her family away from her; getting brain damage after an attack from Sienna; an affair with Rick Spencer ; and a fling with Rick's son Robbie Roscoe. Her later storylines have seen the character be diagnosed with multiple sclerosis; discovering Darren's affair with her friend Mandy Richardson, leading to the couple's separation; a relationship with Kyle Kelly ; miscarrying Kyle's baby after being stabbed; and dealing with Kyle's suicide. In the character's early stages, she was portrayed as a less conventional character compared to the rest of the Hollyoaks teenagers. Fox left the series on 23 March 2023 due to going on maternity leave, and she returned on 15 January 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tom Cunningham</span> Fictional character from Hollyoaks

Tom Cunningham is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Ellis Hollins. He made his first appearance during the episode broadcast on 28 December 1999. With Tom being a young child for most of his tenure, his early years featured minimal storylines, including the numerous death of his family, being abused by Clare Devine and having various guardians including Steph Cunningham and Jack and Frankie Osborne. However, a turning point came for Tom when it was announced that his girlfriend, Peri Lomax would fall pregnant, and deal with Peri's subsequent decision to give their baby away for adoption. Other storylines have also included his friendships with Nico Blake and Dylan Jenkins and his relationships with Peri and his foster sister Jade Albright.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Debbie Dean</span> UK soap opera character, created 2002

Debra "Debbie" Dean is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Jodi Albert. She first appeared in 2002, before Albert quit the role in 2004. She made her final appearance during 2005, before making a brief return in 2006.

Les Hunter (<i>Hollyoaks</i>) Fictional character from Hollyoaks

Les Hunter is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by John Graham Davies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ellie Mills</span> Soap opera character

Ellie Mills is a fictional character from the British soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Sarah Baxendale. The character made her first on-screen appearance on 15 February 2002. Ellie is part of the show's Hunter family. She had been referenced on-screen numerous times as her family were searching for her after she goes missing in Ibiza. She later arrives in Chester which shocks her family. Ellie is characterised as a confident and independent female but has selfish tendencies. Ellie's stories have revolved around her relationships, especially with Toby Mills, who she later marries. Writers portrayed Toby as a serial killer who goes on a prolonged murder spree in the community. Writers embroiled Ellie into his crimes and she choses not to report him to the police. Ellie later fears for her safety and flees to Liverpool. The scenes formed part of a late-night spin-off episode titled Hollyoaks: Leap of Faith, which featured Toby's death. Ellie was featured in one of the show's biggest stunts when she and Toby fall from a one-hundred foot building. Ellie survives and later allows her brother, Dan Hunter to take the blame for the murders. Ellie's lies are soon discovered and she is arrested and put on trial for covering up Toby's murders.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Natalie Osborne</span> UK soap opera character, created 2003

Natalie Osborne is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Tiffany Mulheron. She made her first appearance during an episode broadcast in May 2003 and left in 2004.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Niall Rafferty</span> UK soap opera character, created 2007

Niall Rafferty is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Barry Sloane. He first appeared during an episode broadcast on 3 December 2007. Former Brookside actor Sloane was cast as the "mysterious" hairdresser Niall and was introduced by the series' producer Bryan Kirkwood. During Sloane's portrayal of Niall on-screen, he was central to a storyline involving the already-established McQueen family and it was revealed Niall was the illegitimate son of Myra McQueen. The storyline featured Niall seek revenge on the McQueens, which concluded in highly advertised episodes featuring Niall kidnapping his siblings and causing the death of his half-sister Tina Reilly. Niall was portrayed by upcoming actor Devon Jackson, the older brother of Hollyoaks actor Kieron Richardson, in flashback scenes depicting Niall's childhood.

The Cunningham family are a fictional family in the long-running Channel 4 soap opera, Hollyoaks. The family were one of the original families introduced in 1995, debuting on the first episode of Hollyoaks. They originally consisted of Gordon Cunningham and his ex-wife Angela, and their children: Dawn, Jude, Cindy and Max.

The Osborne family are a fictional family in the long-running Channel 4 soap opera, Hollyoaks. Introduced to the show in 1996, The family moved to Hollyoaks village in 1996, although Ruth Osborne had previously lived in the Village. The characters have been involved in storylines such as dealing with a Gambling addiction, Ruth relationship with Kurt Benson, Jack's affair with Dawn Cunningham, a fake death scam for insurance money, financial troubles, Jack three marriages and fostering a child. Throughout their tenure on the serial, the Osbornes have owned the Dog in the Pond. Hollyoaks″ official website has described the Osborne family as belonging in the Dog in the Pond and as being the " rightfully at the helm" of the public house.

References

  1. 1 2 Baker, Andy (29 March – 11 April 2003). "Request spot". Inside Soap (228): 63.
  2. Alexander, Susannah (25 June 2018). "Former Hollyoaks star Colin Wells opens up over his children's battle with life-threatening mitochondrial disease". Digital Spy . Hearst Communications . Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  3. 1 2 Dainty, Sophie (6 October 2017). "Hollyoaks is bringing back Frankie's ex-husband Johnno Dean for huge new Osborne story". Digital Spy . Retrieved 6 October 2017.