| Sally Hunter | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hollyoaks character | |||||||||
 | |||||||||
| Portrayed by | Katherine Dow Blyton | ||||||||
| Duration | 2001–2005 | ||||||||
| First appearance | 26 July 2001 | ||||||||
| Last appearance | 4 November 2005 | ||||||||
| Classification | Former; regular | ||||||||
| Introduced by | Jo Hallows | ||||||||
| |||||||||
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.
Dow Blyton made her first appearance on 26 July 2001, as Sally arrives in Chester to sort out her "warring" family. [1] Hollyoaks marks Dow Blyton's first major acting role. [2] Sally is characterised as a "strong-willed and caring" female. She has a tumultuous relationship with her husband Les Hunter (John Graham Davies), but they later "sorted out their differences". [3] One of the Hunter family's main stories was coping with the disappearance of their eldest daughter, Ellie Mills (Sarah Baxendale). Ellie went missing in Ibiza but later returns home after two years. Steve Hendry from the Sunday Mail assessed that Ellie's disappearance left Sally "on the verge of a breakdown". [4] Baxendale told Hendry that Ellie does not think about how her disappearance affected her family. She said that Ellie is a "bitch" who thinks she does not have to answer to anyone, including her parents. [4]
Writers featured Sally in a marriage crisis storyline which was developed from Les' alcoholism story. In 2002, their son, Dan (Andrew McNair) loses the license for the family garage business after he gets involved in an illegal MOT racket. [5] Les subsequently begins to drink heavily and effects the Hunter's marriage. Les physically assaults Sally during a drunken altercation. Sally decides to forgive Les and pretends the incident was her own fault. Les gets drunk and hits her again and she decides to throw Les out of the family home. [5]
In 2004, writers revisited the issue of Sally and Les' tempestuous marriage. Their problems have a negative effect on their son, Lee Hunter (Alex Carter). He struggles with the prospect of the Hunters being a broken family. Carter told an Inside Soap writer that Lee decides to intervene in his parents' marriage and convinces Les to make an emotional speech. [6] He explained that "seeing his parents split is the last straw" and to prevent a divorce he convinces his father to act fast. Carter added that it was typical of Les to blunder his speech and further annoy Sally. Carter assessed that it was actually "the final nail in the coffin" for the Hunter marriage. [6] Les' further attempt to convince Sally otherwise is also unsuccessful. 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 creates hysterical laughter from Sally, who cannot believe Les thinks an old outfit could save their broken marriage. Carter concluded that "I think he'll just have to accept things will never be the same again." [6]
In March 2004, a reporter from the Sunday Mirror revealed that producers at Hollyoaks were planning to write out numerous characters as part of a cast revamp. Dow Blyton was one of the cast members who would not have their contract with Hollyoaks renewed. They described it as the "biggest massacre in soap history". [7] Dow Blyton's departure storyline featured Sally and her husband Les moving to Cyprus, following the death of their son, Dan. [8] Just before they plan to leave, Sally declares she cannot go because she is scared of air travel. Lee tries to hypnotise Sally and cure her phobia but his attempts fail. Les comes up with another form of transport and purchases a motorbike complete with a sidecar. Sally agrees to Les' new plan and they leave Hollyoaks and Lee behind. [9] Sally made her final appearance on 4 November 2005. [10]
Sally is the mother of Dan, Ellie, Lisa (Gemma Atkinson) and Lee, as well as the wife of Les. She began working at the local chemist in Hollyoaks, before becoming a secondary school science teacher at Hollyoaks Comprehensive. On her arrival, already Sally had her work cut out in trying to track down her eldest child Ellie who has been missing for nearly two years in Ibiza. Ellie's disappearance brought much grief into the Hunter household as youngest daughter Lisa self harmed herself and Lee was getting in trouble with the police. Things weren't made easier by the fact that Sally's husband, Les, always turned to alcohol when he couldn't cope with his daily troubles. Les's drinking split him and Sally up for a while after he accidentally hit her while drunk but through these difficult times, sally kept a strong head and kept her family together.
Eventually, when Ellie did arrived back home-suddenly things got even worse for the Hunter clan. Ellie's arrival brought more misery as she would often go against her mother's wishes. Ellie married Toby Mills (Henry Luxemburg), which the Hunter family approved off, but it was to be a huge mistake. After Ellie went missing again, Dan and Toby went to track her down but instead it was to be a horrendous night for the Hunter family. Toby had died and Dan was accused of his murder, while Ellie was left unconscious. Dan protested his innocence as he accused Toby of being the local serial killer and the Hunter family had to wait for Ellie to regain her consciousness, to clear Dan's name. When Ellie eventually woke up, she had lost her memory and accused Dan of killing her husband. This led to a long battle between the Hunter family and Ellie, climaxing to Ellie testifying against Dan in court. It led Dan to being sentenced for 15 years which left Sally devastated.
However, within time Ellie managed to get her memory back and retracted her statement, claiming Dan's innocence after all. A delighted Sally was hugely relieved when Dan was finally released, but she vowed to never forgive Ellie who moved away from Hollyoaks after Sally disowned her. For once things seemed to be getting better for Sally, but it wasn't to last for too long as son Dan died in a rally race. With so many bad memories in the village, Sally decided the best was to move away from Hollyoaks and begin a new fresh life away with husband Les. The pair bid farewell on Les's motorbike to start a new life in Cyprus.
A reporter for the Daily Record branded the character a "kindly matriarch". [2] Lucy Lather from Inside Soap opined that "Mrs Hunter in Hollyoaks finally seeing the light and refusing to live with her evil daughter - better late than never!". Lather included it as one of her soap stories she approved of titled "Yeahs!". [11]
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.
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.
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.
Les Hunter is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by John Graham Davies.
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.
Leanne Holiday is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks and its Internet spin-off Hollyoaks: Freshers, played by Jessica Forrest. Forrest's casting was announced in July 2010 and she began filming her scenes in June. The actress originally commuted from Manchester to Liverpool for filming, before relocating there. Forrest was a drama and film studies student when she gained the role of Leanne. She made her first appearance in Hollyoaks: Freshers on 26 August 2010 before appearing in the main show. Leanne departed the show on 21 October 2013, when the character was killed off in an explosion as part of the show's eighteenth anniversary celebrations.
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.