This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page . (Learn how and when to remove these template messages)
|
Abe Fielding | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hollyoaks character | |||||||||||||
Portrayed by | Tyler Conti | ||||||||||||
Duration | 2024–present | ||||||||||||
First appearance | Episode 6291 18 January 2024 | ||||||||||||
Classification | Present; regular | ||||||||||||
Created by | Hannah Cheers | ||||||||||||
Introduced by | Angelo Abela | ||||||||||||
|
Abe Fielding is a fictional character from the British E4 soap opera Hollyoaks , portrayed by Tyler Conti. Abe made his first appearance in episode 6291, originally broadcast on 18 January 2024. The character and casting was announced on 15 January 2024 after series producers Hannah Cheers and Angelo Abela had introduced Abe as the ex-boyfriend of returning character Cleo McQueen (Nadine Mulkerrin). [1] Cleo left him previously off-screen due to his controlling behaviour. [2] Abe arrives in the village looking for Cleo after she is involved in a multi-vehicle collision, unaware that she is searching for her ex-fiance Joel Dexter (Rory Douglas-Speed). [3] The pair reconnect after he is revealed as the son of Marie Fielding (Rita Simons) and the half-brother of Joel, relations that was not announced prior to his arrival in Hollyoaks village. In scenes from episode 6334, originally broadcast on 19 March 2024, the "massive secret" initially reported in his casting was later to be revealed of Abe being the kidnapper of his half-brother and Marie's missing child Arlo Fielding (Dan Hough). Hollyoaks later signed a deal with Home Office to devise the character in a coercive control and domestic violence plot with Cleo. Home Office have previously worked with Hollyoaks involving a storyline surrounding Maxine Minniver (Nikki Sanderson) being targeted by an incel group.
Since his debut in the serial, his storylines have included his suspicious entrance and re-uniting with ex-girlfriend Cleo (Nadine Mulkerrin), being revealed as the brother of Joel Dexter (Rory Douglas-Speed) and Arlo Fielding (Dan Hough) – as well as the son of Marie Fielding (Rita Simons), being revealed as the kidnapper of his half-brother Arlo whilst working with his father and stepmother and later turning abusive to Cleo.
The characters casting and details were announced on 15 January 2024. [1] Much of the characters background was kept secret, and Abe was introduced with a "massive secret" that will "send spark waves" through Hollyoaks village. [1] The only implied connection from the character was that Abe was going to be "heavily involved" with the McQueen family. [1] A press release for the character described Abe as: "Very loving, friendly, and approachable, but under the surface there’s more than meets the eye," and teased an "unexpected" family connection. [1]
"Abe is a charming working-class young lad with a manipulative streak a mile-wide. The ingredients of a deeply troubled past and a complicated family life have brewed his dangerous temper, especially when things don’t go his way. I can't wait for Abe to explode into the Hollyoaks village, you can expect danger, manipulation, and one heck of a messy family that comes with it." [1]
–Conti on Abe's characterisation
Abe arrives in the Hollyoaks village as the controlling ex-boyfriend of Cleo McQueen (Nadine Mulkerrin). The characters backstory prior to his arrival in the village is that Cleo broken up with Abe due to his controlling behaviour previously. [2] Cleo, who has only returned to the village for a couple of days, tries to reconcile with Joel; he is accidentally hit by a large vehicle moments after saving Cleo. [3] Cleo is then stuck between Abe and Joel as they are both fighting for her [4] – Abe and Cleo later reconcile and have sex but Abe then manipulates her moments after. [5] After hearing Abe on a phone call with a random woman discussing money conditions, Mercedes McQueen (Jennifer Metcalfe) becomes suspicious of Abe. [6] Theresa McQueen (Jorgie Porter) tries to find Abe to ridicule him on his behaviour to Cleo. She finds him in the loft, the pair get drunk and then sleep together. [7] Theresa later confesses to Cleo of their deceit after Kathleen-Angel McQueen (Kiara Mellor) outlandishly told the family of their one night stand, causing a strain on the pairs relationships. [8] In March 2024, after an argument with Cleo, Abe lashes out and smashes an ornament against the wall. [9] Speaking on the suspicion of Abe by Mercedes, Conti said:
"I think Abe thinks that he has met people like Mercedes before, I think he is good with his words, and can find his way out of anything. A typical gaslighter that, if he keeps on saying no, if he just keeps on lying, no one's going to find him out. He thinks he can worm his way around Mercedes, and the McQueens. He has dealt with a lot of stuff in his life, so I think this isn't really anything too drastic for him. He's got other fish to fry at the moment." [6]
On 15 January 2024, it was announced that former EastEnders star Rita Simons (notable for playing Roxy Mitchell) would be taking over the role of Marie Fielding. [10] His relation to Marie and Joel was not announced prior to his first appearance. [11] Marie returned in episode 6332, originally broadcast on 15 March 2024 during a physical fight between Joel and Abe. [12] It is also Joel's pregnant girlfriend Leela Lomax (Kirsty-Leigh Porter)'s joint gender reveal party with Mercedes McQueen (Jennifer Metcalfe). [13] Marie also turns up in Mercedes dress, stolen from her unattended washing line. [13] Whilst drinking in the loft with Joel, Abe, Cleo and Leela, she reveals she has a missing son, Arlo (Dan Hough). [14] Arlo previously made a cameo appearance in episode 6334, originally broadcast on 19 March 2024 as part of a major plot-twist that his half-brother Abe is actually his kidnapper. [15] Marie wants to obtain Arlo back after Abe secretly sent him to stay with his father and an unknown woman (presumably his stepmother), disguising it as a kidnapping. [16] When Joel and Leela let Marie move in, [17] Marie hires a new private investigator (as the expenses are covered by Joel). The private investigator immediately finds a lead in Ireland, though Marie is stopped on her way by the police as Abe has framed her for drugging Arlo with sedatives. [18] Marie is then released and overhears a conversation between Abe and his girlfriend Cleo McQueen (Nadine Mulkerrin), confessing that he set Marie up. Cleo covers for Abe and lets Marie believe it was her. In early April 2024, Marie is told that a body has been found in Ireland that they may believe is Arlo [19] (this is confirmed untrue as Arlo appears in the spring trailer released by Hollyoaks). [20] Abe then rushes to Dublin in a bid to search for his brother, knowing he is alive. [21] [22]
The story reaches a climax when Chris returns to Hollyoaks village with Arlo. Clutching at straws, he eventually admits to Cleo that he is behind the kidnapping of Arlo as he believed Marie is incapable of having children. [23] Cleo later promised to assist Abe giving Arlo back to Chris, but then helped him escape whilst Abe's back had turned. Arlo returned to Marie in episode 6353, originally broadcast on 15 April 2024. [24] Arlo's stepmother, Demi (Ainsley Howard), returns to Hollyoaks village in a bid to return Arlo to Chris' care. [25] [26]
The plot of coercive control and domestic violence were commonly foreshadowed throughout Abe's introduction. On 21 May 2024, it was revealed the Hollyoaks production team had made a deal with Home Office to "join forces" to produce a coercive control storyline involving Abe and Cleo. [27] Home Office had previously worked with Hollyoaks to produce Maxine Minniver (Nikki Sanderson)'s abuse from an incel group led by Eric Foster (Angus Castle-Doughty). The plot would be one of summer 2024's central focus points. [27] It was followed up with a report that Hollyoaks would be continuing with the domestic violence plot as well as the coercive control. [28] It was reported the soap's partnership with Home Office will "shine a light" on the harmful behaviours that can occur within controlling relationships and demonstrate the impact of violence on victims. [27] Home Secretary James Cleverly, reacting to the upcoming plot, said: "Tackling violence against women and girls is a real priority for me. We know that controlling and coercive relationships can have a lasting and severe impact on victims. That's why we made it a specific criminal offence and are making sure those convicted are monitored by the police in the same way as physically violent offenders. By partnering with Hollyoaks, we're raising awareness of how to recognise these behaviours as well as empowering the public to call out abuse when they see it and safely intervene when appropriate." [27] The partnership would first be brought to life on screen on the week beginning 20 May and will be highlighted again in early July. [27] Mulkerrin, who plays Abe's on-screen girlfriend Cleo, has spoken out numerously on the plot. [2] [28] The first notable scene will include Abe being violent towards Cleo after Joel and Leela's wedding. [29]
"I think [her relationship with Abe] is really quite worrying and we've got lots of red flags happening. This is the classic tropes of sort of an abusive relationship – it doesn't have to be obvious, it can be controlling and coercive control. I think that's the story we're telling though – how sometimes something can be right in front of your eyes but you can’t see it and you’re asking yourself, 'Am I going crazy?'. He's so good at gaslighting her and love-bombing her and manipulating her, so he is a very dangerous individual." [28]
–Nadine Mulkerrin on her relationship with Abe (2024)
Abe first appeared in the village merely days after ex-girlfriend Cleo McQueen (Nadine Mulkerrin)'s return. He begins to put down roots in the village, handing out flyers for his personal trainer service. After learning that a previous incident off-screen was a misunderstanding, Cleo forgives Abe. Cleo was then later stuck between her feelings for both Abe and her ex-fiancè Joel Dexter (Rory Douglas-Speed). Abe then sees both Joel and Cleo discussing their futures and Abe takes a photo. Whilst informing Joel's fiancèe Leela Lomax (Kirsty-Leigh Porter) of this, he also reveals he is Joel's half-brother. Cleo then eventually decides to choose Abe — they reconcile and have sex for moments later Abe manipulated Cleo about it; claiming he felt used and her mind was elsewhere. [5] When Theresa McQueen (Jorgie Porter) goes to the loft to defend Cleo's honour on Abe's behaviour towards her, the pair get drunk and sleep together. Cleo is left reeling when she discovers the truth once Theresa confessed. Abe then enjoyed using Theresa to make Cleo jealous and speaking awfully of himself to manipulate her emotionally.
In March 2024, at Joel, Leela and Mercedes McQueen (Jennifer Metcalfe)'s joint gender reveal party, Marie (now played by Rita Simons) made a surprise return following her release from prison. Marie revealed that her youngest son, Arlo (Dan Hough) went missing in 2023, unaware that Abe had hidden him from her with the assistance of Arlo's father, Chris. Abe later has an argument with Cleo about why he kept Arlo missing a secret. He lashes out and throws an ornament at the wall; letting it smash whilst Cleo is terrified. [9] Joel and Leela let Marie move in as they want to help her find Arlo. They hire a new private investigator and immediately found is another lead. The private investigator mentioned that there was a previous lead that Abe specially told them not to follow-up. Abe manages to manipulate his way out of the situation and it conspires another lead has been found in Ireland. The CCTV footage given by the private investigator clearly displays Abe's jumper in the video. Abe finds Theresa wearing the jumper and then steals it back. He then sets Marie up for drugging Arlo with sedatives. She is arrested after sedatives fall out of her bag, intentionally placed there by a scheming Abe desperate for Marie to stay. Marie is then later released and overhears a confession from Abe to Cleo that he reported her, however when confronted Cleo lies and said it was her by mistake as she realised she had nothing to be concerned about.
In May 2024, Abe attends the secret wedding of Joel and Leela. At the wedding party, Abe is very clearly starting to get annoyed about comments from Cleo, deliberately not wanting her to have a good time. She later mentions how she doesn't want to marry Abe because "she has known him five minutes". He later confronts her when she gets home, before starting to hit her with Leela's wedding flowers. She wails out for Abe to stop, to no avail. She punches him in self-defence, to which Marie walks in on. Abe brushes the story off as Cleo playing a drunk bride. He later follows the both to the hospital and claims he is a extremely apologetic for his behaviour and takes Cleo home, leaving Marie suspicious.
Joe Anderton from Digital Spy branded the scenes of Abe lashing out at Cleo "disturbing". [9]
Myra McQueen is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Nicole Barber-Lane. She made her first screen appearance during episode 1796, originally broadcast on 12 June 2006 and was introduced by producer Bryan Kirkwood as part of the McQueen family. The character is initially designed to play a supporting role in her family's stories. She is characterised as a no-nonsense matriarch who is "fiercely protective" of her family and puts her children first. Myra has a series of failed relationship, leading to her many children. One of her early stories introduces Niall Rafferty, Myra's abandoned son who returns for revenge on his mother. The story concludes in a stunt when Niall explodes a church, killing Myra's daughter Tina Reilly. Barber-Lane left the soap in 2013 and Myra fakes her death after being shot.
Warren Fox is a fictional character from the British soap opera Hollyoaks, portrayed by Jamie Lomas. The character and casting were announced on 12 May 2006, and Warren made his first appearance on 26 June. He was introduced as an old acquaintance of Sean Kennedy. Lomas left the series in 2009, with his departure coinciding with the return of Clare Devine. On 17 October 2010, it was announced that Lomas would return to the series, appearing from 29 October, but he left the series for the second time in December 2011.
Theresa McQueen is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Jorgie Porter. She made her first appearance on 24 November 2008. The character was introduced as an extension of already established McQueen family and quickly became a fan favourite for her cute, bubbly personality and dark storylines. During her first five years on the show, Porter was featured in numerous high-profile storylines, including: underage sex; the murder of Calvin Valentine ; teenage pregnancy; being the target of serial killer Silas Blissett ; falling down a lift shaft; discovering her boyfriend, Ethan Scott was dating two other women and forming a friendship with the girls; finding her long-lost father; relationships with Dodger Savage, Will Savage and Joel Dexter ; and her arrest for Calvin's murder. Porter announced her departure from the soap in October 2013 so she could focus on Dancing on Ice. Her exit scenes aired on 9 January 2014.
Kathleen McQueen is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Alison Burrows. She first appeared during late-night spin-off Hollyoaks Later in September 2009 as the sister of Myra McQueen and mother of Theresa McQueen. Burrows reprised her role as Kathleen in August 2014, but left again in September.
The McQueen family is a fictional family in the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks. The family first appeared in 2006 and the family have been involved in a number of the show's most high-profile storylines, most notably John Paul McQueen's affair with Craig Dean ; Jacqui McQueen's whirlwind relationship with Tony Hutchinson ; Myra McQueen's long-lost son Niall Rafferty's revenge on his family by holding them hostage in an abandoned church and blowing it up, ultimately killing his half-sister Tina Reilly ; Theresa McQueen's pregnancy by her cousin Carmel McQueen's fiancé Calvin Valentine and later shooting him dead on their wedding day; Mercedes McQueen's affair with her fiancé Riley Costello's father Carl ; being kidnapped by Riley's grandfather Silas Blissett, Jacqui coping with the death of her husband Rhys Ashworth in a bus crash, learning that he had been having an affair with Cindy Cunningham and that he got Sinead O'Connor pregnant; Mercedes stalking Mitzeee and stabbing herself and framing her; Carmel's facial disfigurement; Myra faking her own death to escape her daughter Mercedes' evil husband, Dr. Paul Browning ; Mercedes killing her husband Doctor Browning by striking him over the head with a shovel; John Paul's male rape at the hands of his pupil Finn O'Connor ; the train crash which ultimately killed Carmel; Mercedes faking her death to help Grace Black get revenge on Freddie Roscoe ; Theresa donating her kidney to Nico Blake ; Porsche and Cleo McQueen's sexual abuse at the hands of their mother Reenie McQueen's fiancé Pete Buchanan ; Phoebe McQueen's murder in hospital by the Gloved Hand Killer; the stillbirth of Mercedes' baby Gabriel; John Paul's transgender boss Sally St. Claire being revealed as his biological father, Mercedes being framed for drugs by Joanne Cardsley, Celine McQueen and Diego Salvador Martinez Hernandez De La Cruz's sham wedding for money; Celine being murdered by her ex-boyfriend and serial killer Cameron Campbell after discover he causes the fire at the fair on Halloween 2016; Hunter affair with his teacher Neeta Kaur, leads his feud with his fiance Mac Nightingale ; Prince marriage to Lily Drinkwell and Breda turning out to be a serial killer.
Carl Costello is a fictional character from the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Paul Opacic. The character was introduced by executive producer Paul Marquess and he debuted on screen during the episode broadcast on 19 July 2010. Carl arrived in the village as the new owner of The Dog in the Pond and the father of established character Jem Costello. Carl departed from Hollyoaks on 1 December 2011 with his son Jason Costello. Opacic later reprised his role and returned to Hollyoaks on 26 September 2012 and left again on the 5 October 2012. Opacic reprised his role once more in January 2013, which coincided with the exit of Mitzeee Minniver. He returned on 25 January 2013 and departed again on 15 February 2013. Opacic returned again for a guest appearance on 10 July 2018, which ended in his character being murdered by an unknown assailant on 11 July of that year. He reappeared via a flashback on 16 November 2018, which revealed Breda McQueen to be his killer.
Bart McQueen is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Jonny Clarke. He first appeared onscreen at his stepmother's funeral in August 2010, introduced by producer Paul Marquess as a member of the McQueen family. During his time on the show, Bart had been involved in: relationships with Jason Costello and Sinead O'Connor, being stabbed during the third series of Hollyoaks Later, his involvement in Esther Bloom's bullying storyline, causing the bus crash featuring in the notable Enjoy the Ride storyline, and falling off the rails with a growing cannabis habit.
Joel Dexter is a fictional character from the British soap opera Hollyoaks. The character made his debut during the episode broadcast on 22 November 2011, portrayed by Andrew Still. Still was attending the Scottish Youth Theatre when Lime Pictures presented the establishment with a casting opportunity for Hollyoaks. The actor secured two auditions for the role and after the second audition he was offered the part. Joel has been characterised through themes of violence. He is on probation for assault, and he loses his temper with various characters. Despite this, Joel does not like domestic violence because his stepfather hit his mother. His dislike of such violence played a role in his early storylines. He was written out of the series in 2012 and departed on 9 January 2013. On 18 August 2016, it was confirmed that Joel would be returning to Hollyoaks with the role recast to Rory Douglas-Speed; he returned on 8 September 2016.
Sienna Blake is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Anna Passey. The character made her first appearance on 21 November 2012 and was introduced as the estranged twin sister of established character Dodger Savage, along with her father Patrick Blake. Emily Lawrance was originally selected for the role, however Passey replaced her within weeks and only she has appeared on-screen as Sienna. The character has had a daughter, Nico, with Dodger, and twins Sebastian and Sophie with Warren Fox, an affair with Darren Osborne, a marriage with Ben Bradley, an affair with Trevor Royle who was later killed by Nico, a relationship with her half-sister Liberty Savage's former boyfriend Brody Hudson, and been diagnosed with cervical cancer while pregnant. Passey took a short break from the show in early 2020 and was absent between 17 January and 30 March.
Nadine Rose Mulkerrin is an English actress, known for portraying the role of Cleo McQueen in the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks from 2015 until 2022 and since 2024. For her portrayal of Cleo, she has been nominated for Best Female Dramatic Performance at the British Soap Awards three times.
Pete Buchanan is a fictional character from the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Kai Owen. From his debut appearance on 2 June 2015, he has been involved in the sexual abuse plot within the McQueen family. After being imprisoned for his crimes, Pete left the series on 29 June 2016. Pete returned for a one-off appearance on 12 October 2018. On 29 March 2021, it was announced that Owen would be reprising the role, with Pete returning on 6 April 2021.
Cleo McQueen is a fictional character from the British soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Nadine Mulkerrin. Cleo is a member of the show's established McQueen family and was introduced as the younger sister of Porsche and Celine McQueen, who arrived in late 2014. Actress Jennifer Metcalfe, who plays Mercedes McQueen, suggested that more McQueens should be introduced, as she knew the show was losing two members of the family. Mulkerrin had previously auditioned for the role of Phoebe Jackson, however this role was later given to Mandip Gill. Upon learning she had been cast as Cleo, she gave up her job as a waitress and relocated to Liverpool, where the show is filmed. She made her first appearance during the episode broadcast on 26 January 2015. Mulkerrin took maternity leave from the show in 2019, departing in the episode broadcast on 4 November 2019. She returned on 18 November 2020 before departing permanently on 24 May 2022 after Mulkerrin decided to leave the soap. The character made an unannounced return on 16 January 2024.