Cher Winters

Last updated

Cher Winters
Hollyoaks character
Cher Winters.jpg
Portrayed byBethannie Hare
Duration2020–2022
First appearanceEpisode 5415
1 June 2020 (2020-06-01)
Last appearanceEpisode 5779
3 February 2022 (2022-02-03)
Classification Former; regular
Introduced by Bryan Kirkwood
In-universe information
Other namesCher McQueen
OccupationBarmaid
Family McQueen
Father Sylver McQueen
Mother Kelly Winters
Stepmother Mercedes McQueen
Half-brothersJake Winters
Bobby Costello (adoptive)
Half-sistersLiza Winters
Aunts Goldie McQueen (adoptive)
First cousins Prince McQueen (adoptive)

Cher McQueen (also Winters) is a fictional character from the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks , played by Bethannie Hare. Cher is introduced as the estranged daughter of Sylver McQueen (David Tag) and is welcomed into the established McQueen family unit. Hare described her character as someone with attitude and strong family values, likening Cher to other McQueens on the soap. Portraying the role of Cher is Hare's first professional acting role and she admitted that she was initially nervous to join the cast of Hollyoaks, but accredited her co-stars with easing her nerves. She made her debut appearance as Cher on 1 June 2020. Her storylines in the seriew have included the revelation that she killed her younger sister, her tumultuous relationship with her stepmother Mercedes McQueen (Jennifer Metcalfe), her romantic relationship with Romeo Nightingale (Owen Warner), learning that Romeo and Mercedes have been having an affair, a suicide attempt due to feeling isolated, and dealing with the death of her father Sylver in an explosion.

Contents

Cher is introduced as having a secret, which is later revealed to be her accidentally having killed her half-sister Liza. Hare expressed shock at the secret but felt that knowing more about Cher's backstory allowed her to feel connected to her character. After Mercedes exposes Cher's secret to everybody in the village, Cher begins taking revenge on her in a long-running storyline that sees her "embrace her dark side". [1] Some of her actions include framing Mercedes for taking drugs, pouring baby oil on the floor for her to trip over, leaking a sex tape she features, sending her anonymous online hate comments, tricking her into believing she is pregnant and framing her for kidnap. Stephen Patterson of the Metro felt that Cher "made one heck of an entrance" and she was subsequently nominated for Best Newcomer at the I Talk Telly Awards. [2] Patterson described Cher as cruel following her actions to Mercedes, but praised both Hare and the character following Cher's suicide attempt. Hare has defended her character, stating that she is not evil and is instead lonely.

On 3 February 2022, Cher departs the village in Hare's final scenes, which were previously unannounced. Cher's exit sees her decide to mend her relationship with her mother, Kelly Winters (Jenny Wickham), due to the impact that Sylver's death had on her. Hare had planned to appear on the soap for two years from the beginning of her tenure and she told the producers in advance so that they could prepare her character's exit, which she felt was apt for Cher. She was proud of the journey that her character had been on in her two years on Hollyoaks and stated that her favourite storyline to film was Cher's suicide attempt, which she worked with the Samaritans on. Patterson wrote that she would be missed and felt that she "became part of the show's very fabric" in her time on the soap. [3]

Casting

The character and Bethannie Hare's casting details were announced on 12 April 2020. [4] Hare was with her mother when she learned that she had received the part, and exclaimed aloud: "oh my God I've got a part in Hollyoaks!" [5] She admitted that she was nervous to join Hollyoaks, but the support from the cast members helped to ease her nerves. She described the cast as a family and stated that she learns new things from her co-stars daily. [6] In a video for the Hollyoaks social media channels, Hare stated that the response to her casting announcement was positive, which made her excited to film upcoming storylines. Prior to her arrival, there was a scene that implies that Sylver had only had sex with Mercedes McQueen (Jennifer Metcalfe). This led viewers to assume that Cher could be Mercedes' daughter. Justin Harp of Digital Spy explained that Sylver also had sex with a prison guard and that she is Cher's mother. [7] A month into Hare's time on the soap, filming was suspended due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on television. [8] In an interview with Duncan Lindsay for the Metro newsletter, she stated that she feels lucky to have secured the role of Cher, particularly due to the impact of the pandemic. [5]

Development

Characterisation

Cher is introduced as the long-lost daughter of Sylver McQueen (David Tag). Chris Edwards from Digital Spy stated that Cher is an aspiring hairdresser and beautician and that her arrival would bring fun and energy into the fictional village. He billed her as a fun and energetic character with strong family values. Edwards also confirmed that Cher's motive for moving to the village was to find out more about her father, since the only piece of information she knows prior to meeting him is that he is a convicted murderer. [4] On her character, Hare stated that Cher has an attitude, but is also caring, family-orientated and that she will always be there for somebody if they need her, comparing her to the other McQueen family members, a family she was excited to join. [6]

James Sutton, who portrays John Paul McQueen, described Cher as gobby, confident and outgoing. He stated that she "even dresses like a McQueen", and likened her to Mercedes. [8] Tag expressed his joy at the creation of Cher, as it could add longevity to his own character. He described Cher as "beautiful, ballsy, bolshy and a bit of a diva", labelling her a "classic McQueen" and joking that he would not want to get on the wrong side of Cher. He added that there is depth to the character, since "there is a vulnerability" inside of her. [9]

Introduction and secret

Cher arrives in Hollyoaks village to find her biological father, Sylver. She crashes his vow renewal with wife Mercedes and blurts out in front of the guests that she is Sylver's daughter. He initially does not believe Cher and agrees to pay her to leave. [10] Cher's mother Kelly (Jenny Wickham) later arrives and disowns her, leaving her in the care of Sylver and Mercedes. Kelly implies that Cher is harbouring a secret that led to the breakdown of their relationship. [2] Speaking to Daniel Kilkelly of Digital Spy about the secret, Hare stated that despite Cher's sassy attitude, she keeps a lot to herself and keeps a front up, and noted that she especially does it with Sylver and love interest Romeo Nightingale (Owen Warner). She said that Cher is holding onto the secret in fear that if people discover the truth, they may dislike her. Hare did not reveal what the secret was but hinted that it may be revealed in forthcoming scenes, which would cause people to treat Cher differently. [11] Hare added that the secret is always in the back of Cher's mind, making her feel unsafe and as though she cannot form close relationships with others. [12] When asked if she knew of the long-term plans for her character, Hare replied that she knows a little bit, but that she discovers the majority of character information in each script she receives. She added that she was nervous but excited for her storylines, stating: "I just want to make sure I do a good job for all the viewers and everyone at Hollyoaks". [11]

In scenes aired in October 2020, it was revealed that Cher had accidentally killed her half-sister Liza prior to her arrival in the village. Hare was shocked to discover her secret but found that the tragedy of her backstory allowed her to feel connected to her character, feeling lucky to be involved in the storyline. Hare confirmed that Cher killing Liza was an accident and hoped that the viewers would sympathise with Cher. [13] The McQueen family are blackmailed and the anonymous blackmailer threatens to reveal Cher's secret to the village if they do not pay a large sum of money. [14] Not wanting to pay the money, Mercedes reveals the secret herself. Mercedes' actions leave Cher in "utter shock" and she "totally loses it". [15] The reveal of her secret leaves Cher distraught and leads her to turn to alcohol, with Hare stating that Cher spends all day and night drinking. [15] The actress explained that Cher does not drink in a self pitying way, but that she "feels like she deserves to be damaged and deserves to pay for everything that has happened". [16] When Cher is in a vulnerable state, she comes into contact with Silas Blissett (Jeff Rawle), the blackmailer. Since Cher does not know who Silas is, Hare states that she does not know the amount of danger she's in. [15] Hare admitted that due to her age and not regularly watching Hollyoaks during his tenure, she was not aware of Silas and who he was. To prepare for filming the scenes, she watched old footage, which she found chilling. She expressed her excitement at being able to work with Rawle, since she recognised him from the Harry Potter film series. She stated that since Silas hates young women being "scantily clad and drinking heavily", Cher will be on his radar. [16]

Relationship with Romeo Nightingale

Prior to her arrival, Tag hinted that Cher may form a romantic relationship with Romeo. He stated that Cher "catches the eye of local lad Romeo" and joked that Romeo should watch out due to Sylver being protective of his daughter. [9] Upon her arrival, she flirts with Romeo to gain access to her estranged father's wedding reception. [10] After the pair continue to interact, Goldie McQueen (Chelsee Healey) and Joel Dexter (Rory Douglas-Speed) set the pair up on a date. However, Cher treats him as a friend, which leaves him feeling secretly disappointed. Hare told Kilkelly that the pair like each other, but that they are too stubborn to admit it. She explained that Cher is embarrassed when Goldie tries to ask her about her romantic feelings, since she is her adoptive aunt, and hence does not want to tell her how she feels about Romeo. Hare went on to say that her character wants to play hard to get because she " loves the chase". [17] Cher does not want to let Romeo in since she is worried that he will discover she killed Liza. Despite this, Hare opined that they are a good match. She commented: "You've got Romeo with his poetry and then Cher loves her magazines! They'd work well together, even though they're complete opposites". [17] She said that due to having a similar upbringing, this similarity could bring them together [5] and added that she enjoys working with Warner. [17] The pair plan an illegal rave together, and Hare hinted that the outcome of the event would be that it might be what they need to finally bring them together. [13] After Romeo reveals to Mercedes and Sylver that she took their credit card, she lashes out at him, comparing his lack of support to the death of his ex-girlfriend Lily McQueen (Lauren McQueen). She then attempts to apologise, but Mercedes suggests that she should win Romeo back through "the power of seduction". [18] However, Romeo becomes unsure about their relationship as he begins to develop feelings for someone else. [18] This person is revealed to be Mercedes, who he has sex with. Hare said that when the secret comes out, Cher realises she has lost the person she loves most to the person she is most jealous of, which makes her feel "as if she'll never be good enough". [19]

Targeting Mercedes McQueen and online trolling

Jennifer Metcalfe portrays Mercedes McQueen, Cher's stepmother and rival. Jennifer Metcalfe.jpg
Jennifer Metcalfe portrays Mercedes McQueen, Cher's stepmother and rival.

After Mercedes announces that Cher killed her half-sister, tension begins to rise between the pair. [20] Hare stated that viewers should not underestimate Cher and that a tougher side to her will emerge, which she felt would surprise viewers. Hare expressed her joy at Cher's personality being explored, since she felt it made her role more exciting to play. She also hinted that Cher has a "journey to go on". [16] A revenge plot was later announced, in which Cher has "fully embraced her dark side". [1]

After Mercedes takes the attention away from Cher's birthday, Hare states that Cher is upset because it is the first birthday she has been able to spend with Sylver. She states that Cher wants to spend her day with Sylver and does not care about anyone else being there. When he leaves to be with Mercedes, she describes it as "a punch in the face" for Cher and it makes her realise that Mercedes will always come first to him. [21] After she learns that Mercedes is a recovering drug addict, Cher sources cocaine from a friend of Oliver Morgan's (Gabriel Clark) and plants it in Mercedes' bag to destroy her relationship with Sylver. [22] When Mercedes discovers that Cher planted the drugs in her bag, she excuses it since she feels bad for ruining her birthday party. Mercedes states that it is not as bad as physically hurting her, but warns Cher that if she strikes again, she will not be as understanding. Sylver arranges another party for Cher, which "much to Cher's fury", Mercedes also becomes the centre of attention at. [23] This leaves her furious with her stepmother, "driving her to do something so reckless that it puts [Mercedes] in serious danger". [20] Cher pours baby oil across the floor which Mercedes slips over, as Cher is "watching in the wings with a gleeful smile". [23] She then takes the credit card belonging to Mercedes' pub and goes shopping with it. [18]

Cher continues her revenge plan by burning Mercedes with a pair of hair straighteners and purposely leaking a video of Mercedes having sex. Hare doubted that Cher had planned to burn her with the straighteners and that it instead happened in a "moment of explosion". She stated: "She's young, she's 19, she's gone through a lot and all of this has been building." [24] Despite her behaviour, Hare stated that she does not view Cher as a villain. She admitted that Cher's actions are not right, but felt that there are reasons behind her behaviour. Cher feels betrayed by Mercedes revealing her secret regarding Liza and has not been able to look at Mercedes the same way since. Cher also wants to form a close bond with Sylver, but since Mercedes gets in the way, Cher wants her gone. Hare was asked by Kilkelly (Digital Spy) if Cher harboured the potential to kill Mercedes, drawing on her experience with killing Liza. She replied that she does not see Cher as a killer, due to being a family-focused person. Although she stated Cher has a vendetta against her, Hare did not think she was capable of killing her. [24]

Peri Lomax (Ruby O'Donnell) eventually exposes Cher's actions. Ruby O'Donnell 2019.jpg
Peri Lomax (Ruby O'Donnell) eventually exposes Cher's actions.

After trolling Mercedes online, Cher makes an anti-trolling video to appear supportive of her. However, her post leads real trolls to target Cher instead. She then makes another video to address the hate she is receiving. The producers of Hollyoaks confirmed that these scenes had formed the start of a "trolling ordeal" for Cher. [25] Mercedes attempts to comfort Cher and put the trolling to a stop with an online post, but she unknowingly makes it worse for Cher, with online trolls comparing their appearances in favour of Mercedes'. [26] In retaliation to her being trolled even more, Cher commits her "most vile act yet". [27] She orders numerous baby products in Mercedes' name after learning that Mercedes suffered from a stillbirth years ago, then persuades Sylver to make Mercedes a cot. Cher spies an opportunity for revenge and performs "her most twisted act to date" by dressing up as Mercedes and destroying the cot on camera. [27]

Cher's online comments repeatedly mention a birthmark on her body, which leads her to feel insecure. She sources bleaching cream and applies it to the birthmark, which she has an adverse reaction to. Romeo pleads with nurse Peri Lomax (Ruby O'Donnell) to get Cher medication for the burns, who agrees due to dating his sister Juliet (Niamh Blackshaw). In her final act of vengeance against Mercedes, Cher kidnaps a newborn Eva Hutchinson and plants her with Mercedes. Peri Lomax (Ruby O'Donnell) discovers what she has done and threatens to expose her, but Cher insists that she will expose Peri for getting medication if she does. [28] Mercedes checks herself into a rehabilitation centre due to believing she is mentally unwell, but upon her release, Peri accidentally exposes Cher to her. On the secret coming out, Hare told Inside Soap that it is the worst moment of Cher's life since she fears she could lose her newly found family. The reason for all of her actions is wanting to be close to Sylver and she becomes petrified by the thought of losing him due to a plan she never intended to become so dark. Mercedes confronts her, but after realising that all of Cher's actions stem from not having a family growing up, she agrees to forgive Cher. [19]

Suicide attempt, grief and departure

In September 2021, Hollyoaks announced that Cher would be the focus of an issue-based storyline involving a suicide attempt. Metro described the scenes as Cher hitting "rock bottom". [29] After being rejected by both Sylver and Romeo for her actions, she tries to flirt with Warren Fox (Jamie Lomas) as an attempt for attention. He rejects her and she runs away in the rain; she posts a status online stating that she wishes she had somebody to talk to. Bobby Costello (Jayden Fox) sees the post and shows Sylver, who rushes to find Cher. He sees her standing over the local dock, but before Sylver can reach her, Cher jumps in. She is admitted to hospital where Sylver leaves her; doctor Misbah Maalik (Harvey Virdi) gets her to accept help. [30] Hare spoke to the Samaritans and people who had attempted suicide prior to filming the storyline, as she wanted the scenes to be honest and accurate. She felt pressure to portray the topic accurately and was proud with the outcome, feeling that if she had helped at least one person, that would be amazing. [31] In January 2022, it was confirmed that Cher and members of her family would be involved in a stunt that would see at least one death. When the Salon de Thé explodes, Cher becomes trapped under the rubble and Mercedes, who is also in the building, struggles to retrieve her from underneath. Sylver finds the pair and helps to save them, but later returns inside to save Bobby, where Sylver dies. After his death, Cher comforts everybody in the family and Hare noted that by distracting herself with others, Cher does not allow herself time to grieve. The grief also leads her to "get caught up in certain situations that she ends up regretting", including kissing a married Tom Cunningham (Ellis Hollins). [32]

After attending Sylver's funeral, Cher announces her surprise decision to mend her relationship with her mother due to realising that life is too short to not have close family relationships. She leaves the village and this marked Hare's previously unannounced exit from Hollyoaks. Hare was emotional to leave the soap but knew from the moment she was cast as Cher that she wanted to stay on the series for around two years, a decision she told the producers in advance. She appreciated the way her exit was written, feeling that Cher's decision was apt due to her character growth over her time in the village. Hare was asked if she would have preferred for Cher to die in the stunt, but she felt that the canon ending was better due to the viewers being able to see her growth after her father's death. Hare's favourite storyline in her time on the series was Cher's suicide attempt; she felt that it was a turning point for Cher and allowed the viewers to "understand why she was doing what she was doing, and they realised that her mental health wasn't great". [31] She hoped that following her exit, viewers would remember the evolved Cher rather than earlier versions, such as being there for her family and holding the McQueens together. [31] On Cher's journey, Hare said: "she's s a young girl who has just completely grown. It's so sad what happened at the end [with Sylver's death], but you see how far she's come, and what an amazing person [she is] – with all the stuff she’s gone through in her life, and she’s still being there for everyone else." [3]

Reception

Stephen Patterson of the Metro wrote that Cher's introduction on the series was a "proper McQueen welcome" [10] and that she had "made one heck of an entrance". [2] For her portrayal of Cher, Hare was nominated for Best Soap Newcomer at the 2020 I Talk Telly Awards. [33] On Cher's secret being revealed, Hare anticipated that the audience would start to hate Cher for being a killer, but stated that the reaction has been nice. She expressed her gratitude that people can see that Cher did not intend to murder Liza and was thankful that "the guilt is coming across" to the viewers. [5] After Cher's actions to Mercedes, she was described as "cruel" by Patterson. [34] Eden-Olivia Lord, writing for Closer , was grateful when "Cher's evil ways" were exposed to Mercedes. [35]

Hare noted that the reaction to Cher during the gaslighting storyline was negative and that she was seen as the villain of the soap. However, as the storyline progressed, fans noticed Cher's poor mental health and the reasons for her behaviour, which she accredited to making fans eventually love Cher. [31] Patterson described Cher's suicide attempt as "emotional" [29] and branded Hare's performance as "superb" for her part in the storyline. [36] Following the news of Hare's departure, Patterson labelled her one of the "finest" characters and felt that in her time on Hollyoaks, she "became part of the show's very fabric". [3]

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>Hollyoaks</i> British soap opera

Hollyoaks is a British soap opera which began airing on Channel 4 on 23 October 1995. It was created by Phil Redmond, who had previously conceived the soap opera Brookside. Since May 2005, episodes have been aired on sister channel E4 a day prior to their broadcast on Channel 4.

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

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 the episode originally broadcast on 19 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jennifer Metcalfe</span> English actress (b. 1983)

Jennifer Joanne Metcalfe is an English actress. She is known for her role as Mercedes McQueen in the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, which she has appeared in since 2006. Her portrayal of the character has led to her reprising the role in the programme's spin-off series Hollyoaks Later between 2008 and 2020. She appeared as a contestant in the sixth series of Dancing on Ice in 2011, where she finished in tenth place.

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

Mercedes McQueen is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Jennifer Metcalfe. She debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 19 June 2006 as the first character to be introduced to the series by series producer, Bryan Kirkwood. In 2008 Metcalfe feared that the character was to be axed but was later reassured by the series producer that she would not be. Metcalfe later stated her intention to stay with the series. Mercedes is part of the McQueen family and is the longest serving McQueen on the series. On 26 August 2014, it was revealed that Metcalfe had decided to quit the soap. On 20 November 2014, Mercedes was presumably stabbed to death, with her body discarded. However, Metcalfe returned to screens on 17 February 2015 in a surprise, unannounced twist which saw Mercedes revealed as alive and well, living in Nice, France. It was announced that Mercedes would make a full-time return to the show in May 2015, after brief appearances on 18 February, 9 March, and 6 April. Metcalfe announced her pregnancy in 2017 and revealed that she would be taking a year's break from the show. Mercedes was last seen on screen leaving with Goldie McQueen on 4 July 2017, although she briefly appeared on 7 September 2017 in a fake flashback scene involving her and Amy Barnes surmised by James Nightingale. Mercedes returned on 9 July 2018, and then made several other appearances before returning permanently on 13 August.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lynsey Nolan</span> UK soap opera character, created 2008

Lynsey Nolan is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Karen Hassan. The character originally appeared in the first series of the Hollyoaks spin-off Hollyoaks Later. In 2010, Hollyoaks series producer Paul Marquess asked Hassan to join Hollyoaks as part of the soap's ongoing rejuvenation, to which she agreed and the character began appearing in the main show from 11 August 2010. Hassan left Hollyoaks in 2012 when her character was killed off during a "dramatic cliffhanger" episode. To surprise the audience, the actress's exit was not announced beforehand. Hassan's final scenes were broadcast on 21 August 2012, giving viewers the "ending they were looking for".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ally Gorman</span> UK soap opera character, created 2012

Ally Gorman is a fictional character from the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Dan O'Connor. The actor's casting was announced in December 2011. O'Connor originally auditioned for a different role, before being asked to audition for the part of Ally. O'Connor was given the part and began filming his scenes three days later. Hollyoaks' series producer, Emma Smithwick, said that O'Connor "nailed" his audition. O'Connor signed up for an initial twelve episode stint, but his contract was extended and he became a regular cast member. The actor commutes from London to Liverpool for filming. O'Connor made his debut screen appearance as Ally during the episode broadcast on 31 January 2012. O'Connor departed Hollyoaks on 27 November 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Diego Salvador Martinez Hernandez De La Cruz</span> UK soap opera character, created 2015

Diego Salvador Martinez Hernandez De La Cruz is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Juan Pablo Yepez. The character made his first on-screen appearance on 16 November 2015. Diego was introduced as a new love interest of established character Myra McQueen following a chance meeting in Alicante, Spain. Yepez auditioned for the role then met with Barber-Lane and after a successful screen test was offered the part. It was his first regular British television role after moving to the country from Venezuela. The character's first scenes proved controversial due to his ownership of a Confederate flag at a time it was deemed socially unacceptable. Diego is also a Venezuelan national and he is characterised as a romantic person, with honest values and a fresh outlook on life. He also has a cheeky and charming personality.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joanne Cardsley</span> UK soap opera character, created 2015

Joanne Cardsley is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Rachel Leskovac. The character made her first on-screen appearance on 17 September 2015. Joanne's arrival on-screen was not announced prior to broadcast. It was later reported she had joined the show as a regular cast member. Producer Bryan Kirkwood was glad to cast Leskovac because he admired her previous work as Natasha Blakeman on Coronation Street. Joanne is introduced as an old friend of Simone Loveday. She is characterised as an intelligent and successful solicitor but has a troubled personal life. Driven by loneliness she concocts schemes and behaves in a manipulative manner. The character made her final appearance on 5 December 2016 at the end of Leskovac's one-year contract.

James Nightingale (<i>Hollyoaks</i>) Fictional character from Hollyoaks

James Nightingale is a fictional character from the British soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Gregory Finnegan. The character made his first on-screen appearance on 12 January 2016. Finnegan's casting was announced in December 2015, and James was billed as a mysterious character and lawyer. His introduction to the show featured him attempting to convince Cindy Cunningham to take legal action against Mac Nightingale, in a bid to secure his assets. Having kept the character's identity concealed, writers implemented a story twist in which James is revealed to be Mac's son. Lysette Anthony was cast to play his mother Marnie Nightingale, a character which James features alongside most. Their on-screen partnership developed them into a trouble making and villainous duo. Writers played on their manipulative manner to the extent that James manages to con the entire Hutchinson family, out of their restaurant "The Hutch".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grace Black</span> UK soap opera character, created 2013

Grace Black is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Tamara Wall. The character made her first on-screen appearance on 8 November 2013. Wall had three auditions for the role on the show's set in Liverpool. The character is introduced as the sister of Clare Devine, who had been killed off in earlier episodes. Grace arrives to investigate her death and get reacquainted with her estranged father Fraser Black.

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

Juliet Nightingale is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Niamh Blackshaw. Hollyoaks announced the character and Blackshaw's casting on 4 September 2018, with the character making her first appearance as Juliet on 21 November 2018. Juliet was introduced as the half-sister of Romeo Nightingale and the daughter of Donna-Marie Quinn and was brought into the soap as part of the decision to expand their family. Juliet is later revealed to be Mac Nightingale's daughter. The shock twist links her to the established Nightingale family, especially Marnie, who she forms a close bond with. Juliet is initially shown to be an aggressive and harsh character, with an initial storyline seeing her bully Brooke Hathaway due to seeing them as an easy target. However, throughout her tenure, her vulnerable and emotional personality has been explored.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Liv Flaherty</span> Fictional character from Emmerdale

Liv Dingle is a fictional character from the ITV soap opera Emmerdale, played by Isobel Steele. The character made her first on-screen appearance on 25 February 2016. Liv was introduced as part of her half-brother Aaron Livesy's sex abuse storyline, which would see her realise that her father is a sex offender. Liv was initially characterised as a troublemaker, but her depth was explored following the decision to move in with Aaron. Steele has noted that similar aspects of her character are similar to herself, and appreciates that Emmerdale wrote her as a teenage with authority since she felt that this is rarely seen on television. Liv became the first asexual character to be featured in a soap opera, and Steele has been praised by viewers and critics for her role in the storyline. Asexual people felt that the character was an accurate portrayal of themselves and Steele has expressed her gratitude at being able to represent them on-screen.

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

Summer Ranger is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Rhiannon Clements. Clements' casting was announced on 19 October 2020, and the actress made her first appearance on 25 November 2020. Summer was introduced as the daughter of established character Cormac Ranger. Two sides of Summer's personality have been explored since her introduction, with scenes showing her to have "sweetness and light" to her, while also possessing a nasty side. Digital Spy wrote that her introduction would have troubling consequences for Brody Hudson, Warren Fox and Felix Westwood, all of whom were involved in an attack on her father. Summer was also billed as a "frenemy" for Sienna Blake, with who she later forms a romantic connection. After her 12-month contract with the soap had ended, it was announced that Clements would be departing from Hollyoaks.

"Episode 5675" is an episode of the British television soap opera Hollyoaks. The episode focuses on a birthday party for Walter Deveraux and features an exclusively Black cast. The episode was produced, written and directed by Black creatives – the first of its kind for a British soap opera. The episode formed part of broadcaster Channel 4's Black to Front movement, a day where solely Black-fronted programming was shown. Plans for the episode were initially announced in August 2020 as a response to the protest movement arising from the murder of George Floyd. The episode premiered as a first-look on E4 on 9 September 2021, with its mainstream broadcast following a day later on Channel 4.

David Mabibolla Taghinejad, known professionally as David Tag, is a Persian-British actor. He is known for portraying the role of Sylver McQueen in the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks from June 2018 until January 2022.

References

  1. 1 2 Harp, Justin (16 February 2021). "Hollyoaks reveals Cher Winters's dark revenge plot for Mercedes McQueen". Digital Spy . Hearst Magazines UK. Archived from the original on 16 February 2021. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 Patterson, Stephen (2 June 2020). "Hollyoaks spoilers: What is Cher McQueen's secret as her mum disowns her?". Metro . DMG Media. Archived from the original on 15 January 2021. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 Patterson, Stephen (2 February 2022). "Hollyoaks star Bethannie Hare reacts to Cher's sad exit and reveals if she will be back". Metro . (DMG Media). Archived from the original on 2 February 2022. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  4. 1 2 Chris, Edwards (12 April 2020). "Hollyoaks reveals secret daughter twist for Sylver McQueen". Digital Spy . Hearst Magazines UK. Archived from the original on 11 August 2020. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Lindsay, Duncan (6 November 2020). "The Soaps Newsletter". Metro (Mailing list). Archived from the original on 10 February 2021. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  6. 1 2 Lindsay, Duncan (12 April 2020). "Cher has been cast in Hollyoaks to confront a killer – yeah, you heard". Metro . DMG Media. Archived from the original on 8 August 2020. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  7. Harp, Justin (14 April 2020). "Hollyoaks newcomer Bethany Hare responds to fan confusion over Sylver McQueen's daughter". Digital Spy . Hearst Magazines UK. Archived from the original on 21 June 2020. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  8. 1 2 Hughes, Johnathan (5 May 2020). "Hollyoaks' James Sutton teases surprise new member of the McQueen family". Radio Times . Immediate Media Company. Archived from the original on 11 April 2021. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  9. 1 2 Hughes, Johnathan (29 May 2020). "Hollyoaks' David Tag warns that "Being a dad could bring out Sylver's angry side"". Radio Times . Immediate Media Company. Archived from the original on 27 July 2021. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  10. 1 2 3 Patterson, Stephen (1 June 2020). "Hollyoaks spoilers: Cher McQueen's true parentage revealed as mum Kelly arrives". Metro . DMG Media. Archived from the original on 15 January 2021. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  11. 1 2 Kilkelly, Daniel (17 September 2020). "Hollyoaks star Bethannie Hare teases Cher Winters's big secret". Digital Spy . Hearst Magazines UK. Archived from the original on 21 February 2021. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  12. West, Amy (25 November 2020). "Hollyoaks star Bethannie Hare reveals devastation for Cher as her secret is exposed". Digital Spy . Hearst Magazines UK. Archived from the original on 21 February 2021. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  13. 1 2 Seddon, Dan. "Hollyoaks star Bethannie Hare "shocked" by Cher Winters' killer secret". Digital Spy . No. 4 November 2020. Hearst Magazines UK. Archived from the original on 25 February 2021. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  14. Harp, Justin (20 October 2020). "Hollyoaks' McQueens blackmail storyline reveals Cher Winters' killer secret". Digital Spy . Hearst Magazines UK. Archived from the original on 14 March 2021. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  15. 1 2 3 Penwill, Alice (4 November 2020). "Silas strikes again as he targets Cher in Hollyoaks". Inside Soap . Hearst Magazines UK. Archived from the original on 27 July 2021. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  16. 1 2 3 Lindsay, Duncan (27 November 2020). "The Soaps Newsletter". Metro (Mailing list). Archived from the original on 10 February 2021. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  17. 1 2 3 Kilkelly, Daniel (15 September 2020). "Hollyoaks star Bethannie Hare hints at romantic future for Cher Winters and Romeo Nightingale". Digital Spy . Hearst Magazines UK. Archived from the original on 17 February 2021. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  18. 1 2 3 Kilkelly, Daniel (16 February 2021). "Hollyoaks lines up surprise new love interest for Romeo Nightingale". Digital Spy . Hearst Magazines UK. Archived from the original on 21 February 2021. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  19. 1 2 Alexander, Susannah (25 July 2021). "Hollyoaks star Bethannie Hare teases Cher's future as she's finally caught out". Digital Spy . Hearst Magazines UK. Archived from the original on 25 July 2021. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  20. 1 2 Harp, Justin (9 February 2021). "Hollyoaks' Cher Winters endangers Mercedes McQueen as she turns nasty". Digital Spy . Hearst Magazines UK. Archived from the original on 16 February 2021. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  21. Lovejoy, Hannah (13 February 2021). "Hollyoaks star Bethannie Hare teases darker side to Cher Winters". Digital Spy . Hearst Magazines UK. Archived from the original on 17 February 2021. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  22. Patterson, Stephen (16 February 2021). "Hollyoaks spoilers: Cher Winters plants drugs on Mercedes McQueen to destroy her in cruel revenge twist". Metro . DMG Media. Archived from the original on 22 February 2021. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  23. 1 2 Harp, Justin (17 February 2021). "Hollyoaks' Mercedes McQueen faces serious hurt in Cher's latest revenge". Digital Spy . Hearst Magazines UK. Archived from the original on 19 February 2021. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  24. 1 2 Alexander, Susannah; Kilkelly, Daniel (14 March 2021). "Hollyoaks star Bethannie Hare explains Cher's dark behaviour and insists she isn't "evil"". Digital Spy . Hearst Magazines UK. Archived from the original on 15 March 2021. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
  25. Chase, Stephanie (31 March 2021). "Hollyoaks confirms trolling ordeal for Cher McQueen after she targeted Mercedes". Digital Spy . Hearst Magazines UK. Archived from the original on 9 June 2021. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
  26. Harp, Justin (19 April 2021). "Hollyoaks' Cher McQueen steps up her torment of Mercedes in new scenes". Digital Spy . Hearst Magazines UK. Archived from the original on 9 June 2021. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
  27. 1 2 Patterson, Stephen (18 May 2021). "Hollyoaks spoilers: Cher McQueen's most vile act yet as Mercedes is left to die?". Metro . DMG Media. Archived from the original on 9 June 2021. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
  28. Hughes, Johnathon. "6 Hollyoaks spoilers for next week: Mercedes accused of stealing Diane's baby as Cher plots revenge". Radio Times . Archived from the original on 5 July 2021. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  29. 1 2 Patterson, Stephen (21 September 2021). "Hollyoaks spoilers: Suicide tragedy for Cher McQueen". Metro . (DMG Media). Archived from the original on 22 September 2021. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
  30. Harp, Justin (21 September 2021). "Hollyoaks' Cher McQueen gets help after trying to take her own life". Digital Spy . (Hearst Magazines UK). Archived from the original on 22 September 2021. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
  31. 1 2 3 4 Kilkelly, Daniel (2 February 2022). "Hollyoaks star Bethannie Hare reacts to Cher McQueen's exit". Digital Spy . (Hearst Magazines UK). Archived from the original on 2 February 2022. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  32. Penwill, Alice (29 January – 4 February 2022). "Farewell, Sylver!". Inside Soap . pp. 14–15.
  33. Gonzalez, Elliot (28 November 2020). "I TALK TELLY AWARDS 2020 Nominees". I Talk Telly. Archived from the original on 27 July 2021. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  34. Patterson, Stephen (28 April 2021). "Hollyoaks spoilers: Cruel Cher McQueen gaslights Mercedes in sick baby twist". Metro . DMG Media. Archived from the original on 9 June 2021. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
  35. Lord, Eden-Olivia (20 July 2021). "Hollyoaks: Mercedes McQueen FINALLY discovers Cher's evil ways". Closer . Archived from the original on 28 July 2021. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  36. Patterson, Stephen [@mr_sjpatterson] (21 September 2021). "Tonight's #Hollyoaks is such an important one. Watched it again today for work and had to stop just to take a moment. So emotional. Superb performance from @bethanniehare" (Tweet) via Twitter.