| Les Hunter | |||||||||||||
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| Hollyoaks character | |||||||||||||
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| Portrayed by | John Graham Davies | ||||||||||||
| Duration | 2001–2005 | ||||||||||||
| First appearance | 26 April 2001 | ||||||||||||
| Last appearance | 4 November 2005 | ||||||||||||
| Classification | Former; regular | ||||||||||||
| Introduced by | Jo Hallows | ||||||||||||
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Les Hunter is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks , played by John Graham Davies.
On the official Hollyoaks website, Les is described as "stubborn and strong-minded, but cursed with a fondness for alcohol." [1] Les's mother Lillian Hunter (Judith Barker) was introduced in early 2003. Producer Jo Hallows said Lillian represents every in-law people dread coming to stay, and called her "a witch". She also explained "You start to see why Les turned out the way he did!" [2]
In his early stories, Les is portrayed becoming addicted to alcohol and leaving his son, Dan Hunter (Andrew McNair) to look after the family garage business, Hunter and Son. Les prefers to spend his time drinking alcohol and leave Dan working alone. [3] Initially writers focused on the introduction of Les and his children Dan and Lisa Hunter (Gemma Atkinson). Writers portrayed Les as being distant from Lisa, leaving Dan to take on a "father figure" role. NcNair told McNair told Rachel Corcoran from All About Soap that Dan wants to support Lisa in Les' absence. [3] He added that Les cannot "handle his responsibilities or face financial problems, so he turns to booze." McNair believed that the Hunter family could succeed if Les stopped drinking alcohol. [3] Writers focused on the Hunter family moving their family business to Hollyoaks village. The move becomes a "complete disaster", and McNair assessed that the Hunter family "have a lot of bad luck, which they bring on themselves." [3]
Les has "weathered a rocky marriage" to Sally Hunter (Katherine Dow-Blyton) but the pair manage to reconcile. [1] Les' eldest daughter, Ellie Mills (Sarah Baxendale) went missing in Ibiza for two years but later returns home. The ordeal left Les relying on alcohol to seek comfort from her disappearance. [4] Writers continued to develop Les' alcoholism storyline in 2002. When Les' son, Dan gets involved in an illegal MOT racket, he loses the license for the family garage business. [5] This worsens Les' drinking habits and effects his marriage. Les gets drunk and physically assaults Sally. She pretends the incident was her own fault and forgives Les until he gets drunk and hits her again. She decides to throw Les out of the family home. [5]
Les also has a problematic relationship with his son Lee (Alex Carter). When Lee fails his exams he decides to train as a beautician at college. Les is disapproving of Lee choosing a career he believes to be feminine. Carter told reporters from All About Soap that "I think Mr Hunter is worried as well. He wants his son to do something a bit more manly!" [6] Writers portrayed Les as a supportive figure during his daughter during the Hollyoaks serial killer storyline. Ellie is arrested and put on trial for concealing her husband, Toby Mills' (Henry Luxemburg) murder spree. [7] Ellie had let her brother, Dan be accused and arrested for the murders. The remainder of the Hunter family do not support Ellie at her trial. Les decides to attend to help Ellie, but she pleads guilty. [7] Writers portrayed Les as "struggling" to cope with Ellie's admission of guilt. Baxendale believed that Les struggled more than Ellie at the trial. She told Kate Woodward from Inside Soap that Ellie "takes whatever is thrown at her. She panics beforehand but I think her dad gets more upset than she does." [7]
In 2004, writers revisited Les and Sally's tumultuous marriage. This has a negative effect on their son, Lee, who struggles with the prospect of a broken family. Carter told an Inside Soap reporter that Lee decides to intervene in his parents' marriage. [8] He explained that "seeing his parents split is the last straw" and he convinces Les to make an emotional speech to Sally to prevent a divorce. Carter added that in typical Les style, he messes up and annoys Sally further. Carter assessed that it was actually "the final nail in the coffin" for them. [8] Les attempts to convince Sally to stay with him, but this results in hysterical laughter. Carter explained that Les realises he needs to act to save his marriage and dresses in his old leather biking outfit to woo Sally. This results in Sally berating Les for believing an old outfit could save a broken marriage. Carter concluded that "I think he'll just have to accept things will never be the same again." [8]
Les' departure was part of what the Sunday Mirror described as the "biggest massacre in soap history". [9] His exit coincided with the exits of the majority of the Hunter family: Lisa, Lee and Sally. [9] His departure storyline featured Les and Sally moving to Cyprus, following the death of their son, Dan. [10] Just before they plan to leave, Sally declares she cannot leave because she has a phobia of aeroplanes. Lee tries to hypnotise Sally and cure her, but his attempts fail. Les purchases a motorbike complete with a sidecar and convinces Sally to go ahead with their move. Sally takes the driver's seat and Les gets into the side car as they leave the village for good. [11] The character made his final appearance on 4 November 2005. [12]
Les arrives in the village as the moody husband of Sally and father of Ellie, Dan, Lee and Lisa. He was strict on his youngest daughter Lisa and had owned the garage "Hunter and Sons", with his son Dan. Shortly, Sally arrives, and Les and Sally went through a rough patch when daughter Ellie had gone missing. Les became depressed about his family problems and he would drown his sorrows with alcohol. Soon, though daughter Ellie arrived after two years, but things got bad to worse. Les was angered by the attitude Ellie had after her arrival, and Les was frustrated when he discovered that Lisa harms herself. With all these family problems going on, Les was even more shocked when his business was not doing too well, and son Dan ended up getting himself involved with Dodgy motors. Les was furious with Dan, and the police got involved, which resulted to the garage being closed down. Les turned to alcohol again, and argued with Sally further, but the situation became worse when he raised his hand towards her. Following the incident, Les was thrown out, and finally decided to get his act together. Les began to give up his drink, and soon got a new job as a lorry driver, a business venture he started with newcomer Johnno Dean (Mark Powley), who he soon became close friends with. Les moved back in with his family, however more trouble arrived when Dan was arrested for murder. The scenario of Dan being arrested was to be one whole nightmare for Les and his family as later he would discover.
Les' son-in-law Toby was pushed off a building by Dan, while Ellie also fell off as she was struggling to fight for her life. Toby had died and Dan was in shock as he heard Ellie fighting with Toby, as Ellie confessed to him that her husband was a serial killer. However, it all got too much for Les as Dan was arrested for the serial killing murders and Ellie sent him down after she testified against him in court. With both Sally and Lisa arguing against Ellie, again Les turned to his alcohol addiction. To make matters worse still, Les and Johnno's workplace collapsed at this time, leaving both parties unemployed and in massive debt, and this pushed Les even closer to the edge. But eventually things began to get better when Ellie realised Dan's innocence and retracted her testimony. Dan was released, but it was short-lived, as he died in his rally race. Les comfort his family as they how to cope yet with another tragedy. Les realised with all this terrible times for him and his family, he had to support them as he managed to avoid alcohol. Slowly, the Hunter family began to rebuild their lives, but youngest daughter Lisa had an affair with an older man, none other than Jake Dean (Kevin Sacre), the son of Les' former business partner Johnno, who by that time had left Hollyoaks; but after a rash reaction, eventually Les realised that he had to try a new approach in order to get the best from his children. With many bad memories in Hollyoaks, Les decided a move away would be good along with wife Sally as a fresh start is what the pair need. Therefore, Les said farewell along with wife Sally on a motorbike as they had sold up to live in Cyprus.
A writer from Whats On Stage branded Les the "alcoholic dad". [13] An Inside Soap reporter branded Les an "angry man" who is "seeking solace at the bottom of a bottle." [5] All About Soap's Rachel Corcoran branded Les as a character who "likes a pint or two" and "can't handle fatherhood". [3]
Lisa Hunter is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Gemma Atkinson. She made her first appearance during the episode broadcast on 23 April 2001. The character is noted for her storylines including bullying and self-harming. After her exit from Hollyoaks, Atkinson reprised the role twice in two spin-off series. In November 2021, it was announced that Atkinson would be returning to Hollyoaks for a guest appearance, with her return airing in March 2022.
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Zara Morgan is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Kelly Condron. The character initially appeared from 1 April 1999 to 22 December 2005. In July 2021, 15 years after her initial departure from the soap, it was announced that Condron would be reprising her role as Zara, and she returned full-time from 5 August 2021. On 29 June 2023, it was announced that Condron was to make a second departure from Hollyoaks. Zara's final scenes aired on 30 June 2023.
Toby Mills is a fictional character from the British soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Henry Luxemburg. The character debuted on-screen during the episode broadcast on 25 October 2001. Toby is introduced into the series as a university student and a pub barman. He was originally characterised as a risk-taker and a loyal friend. Producers decided to transform Toby into the show's first serial killer. His murder spree plays largely into his characterisation as writers displayed his anger issues and relationship issues.
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.
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.
Geri Hudson is a fictional character from the British soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Joanna Taylor. The character made her first on-screen appearance on 13 September 1999. Taylor made her final appearance as Geri during the episode broadcast on 19 December 2001.
Sally Hunter is a fictional character from the British soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Katherine Dow Blyton. The character made her first on-screen appearance on 26 July 2001.
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.
Lee Hunter is a fictional character from the English soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Alex Carter. The character made his first on-screen appearance on 4 July 2001. Lee was introduced as part of the show's new family, the Hunters. He is the youngest son of Les and Sally Hunter. Lee is characterised as "wayward", a "cheeky chap" and a "wheeler dealer". Carter announced his decision to quit the serial in 2005 to have more free time, filming his departure scenes in October 2005 and departed on-screen 23 December 2005.
Ben Davies is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Marcus Patric. He first appeared in August 2000, and after departing from the main show in 2005, made further appearances in spin-offs, Hollyoaks: Let Loose and Hollyoaks: In the City, which followed his relationship with Lisa Hunter
Dan Hunter is a fictional character from the British soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Andy McNair. The character debuted on-screen during the episode broadcast on 19 April 2001. McNair attended an audition for the role and was called back for a second audition, after which he was informed he had won the role. Dan is characterised as "moody and non-conformist" and has an anger problem. McNair believed Dan is defined by his miserable personality. He never became bored of playing the character's misery and admired his characterisation. He is initially portrayed as a loner who is disinterested in romance due to the pressure of working at his family garage business. Writers portrayed the illness diabetes via Dan and he takes insulin to control his condition. McNair found the story challenging to portray and thoroughly researched the condition to add authenticity to the character.