Silence is Lifted

The Hollyoaks Herald has been silent of recent on all things Hollyoaks related… but for those avid HH fans out there… do not fear! It is back and raring to go…

This Christmas looks like it is going to be cracking one for Hollyoaks…  stay with the Herald for all the news…

New Storylines Emerge…

Tuesday 25th November

After last night’s first Hollyoaks Later episode, HH began to grow concerned that the standard of this week’s 6.30pm episodes would slide down an oily slope of grasping at stories.

But we needn’t have bothered worrying our Hollyoaks heads. In a half hour installment that covers the always tricky subjects of under-age sex and racism, Hollyoaks aficionados will be pleased that Hollyoaks is still providing some meaty stories for its devoted 6.30pm audience.

Tony and Theresa wake up together in the Hutchinson Manor, and Tony, ever-the-gentleman, calls a taxi for Theresa.

Should have done that last night, shouldn’t you Batman?

Jacqui and baby Max approach Il Gnosh, eager to find out why reliable Tones stood them up last night.

Tony cruelly informs Jacqui that he has moved on, that he isn’t interested, that it is OVER.

Well, the HH has to admire Tony for finally having some guts to stand up to someone. We just wish it wasn’t under these circumstances.

Jacqui later finds out that Tony has decided to sell Tan and Tumble to new guy, Ash Roy. Another confrontation for Jacqui, this time in the salon with Ash leaves Jacqui distraught.

The cold hard wall has been broken. We are seeing the softer side of Jacqs… and we only wish Tony see it too.

Theresa pesters Tony with texts and phone calls and watching him at work, camouflaged in the Jubilee Gardens. She seems to have developed an unhealthy obsession with our resident chef. One that could lead Mr H into dangerous waters...

Turning up at his Manor, Theresa reveals to Tony that she is 15 years old.

Well, that is a shock-horror, mouth-hanging-open, heart-stopping surprise.

Well for Batman at least. We were all prepared for this.

Poor Tony, of any man in any soap, he seems to have the worst luck with the female half of the species.

It’d be lovely if he could settle down, in a converted barn, outside Chester, perhaps with an aga and a couple of retrievers. A good wife and a few kids – with Tony’s haircut, of course.

But that would not be nearly as entertaining or as amusing for us.

Lauren Valentine and Anita Roy and roped into working for Anita’s older brother, Ash Roy’s at his burger van, Relish. Work experience boy, Gaz, turns up late to work with the girls.

However, it isn’t all jokes and laughs over flipping burgers and toasting buns. Gaz proceeds to make racist comments towards Anita.

Lauren and Anita are horrified. Ash appears and fires Gaz.

Ash is an amazing superman-esque character. Hands in pockets, buffer than Warren, Ash will take no prisoners.

But this will not be the last we see of Gaz. Hollyoaks is opening up a new story line, providing us just a snippet of months to come.

If you are a victim of racism or want to know more about the law surrounding under-age sex, click on these links:

Sex and Relationships

Racism

Hollyoaks Later: NUMERO UNO

Monday 24th November 10.00pm

To know where to begin at the start of this delicious concoction of Hollyoaks drama is like trying to find a needle in a beautifully arranged haystack.

At first glance, there are 5 stories that we need to be concerned with…

Steph, Craig, Tom and the return of Raffers.

Nancy, Zoe and Sarah’s trip from school to deserted to wood to possible racing track.

Zak, Elliott and Mercedes’ quest to conquer Belfast.

The Dirty Diego’s mission to win Liverpool’s Battle of the Bands.

Malachy and Kris’ family and personal battles.

After finally recovering from the initial drama of Niall-gate, the ‘Oaks writers are attempting to increase our blood pressures once more with his hooded, rough and ragged return.

Steph, Craig and Tom make their merry way up to the remote hills in Scotland. Pink heart-shaped ear-muffs in tow.

Craig wants to take them away from everything and everyone.

That is the main ingredient in a recipe for disaster.

Niall Rafferty (played by Barry Sloane) is back and by the looks of him, badder and a lot dirtier than before.

We briefly saw him in Monday’s 6.30 episode. But a hooded Niall he was.

Breaking into Steph and Tom’s humble abode, Nasty Niall lowers his ‘head warmer’ and reveals the dark, unshaven, bruised and cut man he has become.

A far cry from the tailored, well-groomed nasty hairdresser we once knew.

And exactly what we want. Shivers run down our spines as we fearfully and helplessly watch him discover where his beloved Steph and little Tom have disappeared to.

No prizes for where Niall headed. The penultimate scene shows Niall atop a mountain , silhouetted by the Scotland sky, looking down on the cottage Steph, Craig and Tom are inhabiting.

Nancy’s mundane role of complaining, fighting, whinging and stomping out of rooms in her post-pubescent Emo/Goth style is finally pushed aside in an attempt to take control of her two cat-fighting companions.

That isn’t until she has calmly watched Zoe and Sarah tear each other apart in a cat fight watched by teenagers, children and millions around the country. Words were thrown. Slaps were girlishly flung.

Nancy’s finest moment of feminist triumph bestows her in a later scene.

Sarah commonderes a couple of young men in a van. Nancy, revolted by their response, grabs their car keys and throws them into a field, shouting

‘I may be short, but at least I’m going places… SO SUCK ON THIS’

Absolutely brilliant. That pent up unused teenage angst from Nancy’s schooldays has bubbled to the surface and exploded in a volcano of rage.

The saga of the Double M (Malachy and Mercedes) continues, with a little bit of brotherly cross-dressing thrown in for good measure.

Malachy and younger brother, Kris (Francis) are still in Northern Ireland, preparing for their drunken father’s funeral.

In a fit of sibling-bonding and the ultimate rebellion, Kris reveals to his mother that he is a cross-dresser. Kicked out by his mother, Kris (wearing a Kylie-esque outfit; see the white one-piece in the video for Can’t Get You Out of My Head ) accompanies a pining Malachy and their father (URN) to the local pub.

Meanwhile Mercedes has broken, desperately weeping in the toilets of the recently re-named Jolly Rodger (originally The Dog).

Deciding that she can no longer be alone, Mercedes dashes to Belfast. Missing her boat she stumbles upon Zak and Elliott who are attempting to get to Dublin with their token-fuelled £1 tickets.

Kind Elliott comforts a distraught Mercedes and assures her that Zak and himself will accompany her to Belfast.

A trio that is almost as weird as The Three Musketeers (Robin aka Dom, Justin and Ste) but a little easier on the eyes.

We will have to see where ‘Oaks leads us with this one.

The Dirty Diegos are back with a bang (and a baby and a half) as Josh receives the ‘good’ news that they are going to participate in the Battle of the Bands in Liverpool with The Saturdays.

The future predicts a road trip fuelled by a wannabe rock star, an ex-heroin addict, a depressed adolescent, a pregnant teenager and a toddler.

The scope for chaos is unprecedented.

What would Barnesy say?

To tie up loose ends would not do justice to the tasty delights and treats the ‘Oaks gang have ready to serve up for us this week.

In what must be the first late-night ‘Oaks with no sign of Batman (Tony), if this is only a pre-dinner appetiser, the HH is gagging for starters.

Hollyoaks Later

From Monday 24th November until Friday 28th November, E4 plans to run Channel 4′s latest spin off Hollyoaks late-nighter in 5 exciting bursts… Hollyoaks Later.

The trailer which ran after tonight’s (Monday 17th November) Frustration Station episode certainly wets our appetite and like a dog lusting after a piece of meat, we are left salivating for more.

Watch the trailer:

The added thrill of knowing these Hollyoaks Later episodes come after the 9 o’clock watershed only entices us further.

And like the dog, once we have got the meat, when Friday 28th comes, we are not going to want to let go.

The trailer gives us snippets of Niall’s comeback. Of Malachy’s desire to wed Mercedes. And weirdly, of Nancy’s quest to become a girl-racer.

However, what about those poor ‘Oaks viewers who are unable to indulge in this televised bag of goodies?

Hollyoaks is aired at 6.30pm (Channel 4) and 7.00pm (E4) on weekdays. The omnibus is aired on T4 (Channel 4) on Sunday mornings 9.30am – 12.30am.

That is prime-time school kid viewing. The unjustness of putting quality acting and drama on past the bedtime of some ‘Oaks fanatics is unmatched.

And for those juggling work AND a social life, whilst making sure Hollyoaks is at the top of their list of priorities, the 10 o’clock viewing will need to be slotted into diaries across the UK with more than the weeks notice Channel 4 has dished out.

How will the ‘Oaks explain the 6.30 showing on Monday 1st December after a week of late-night carnage?

Whilst the HH has eternal faith in Phil Redmond and his team, The Hollyoaks Herald will be reporting on all the events in Hollyoaks Later.