Hollyoaks star Gregory Finnegan has addressed his very unexpected return to the popular soap as favourite James Nightingale, which sent fans into a frenzy.
James, as viewers know, was controversially killed off ahead of the Channel 4 soap’s history-making time-jump last year, going up in flames shortly after reuniting with Ste Hay (Kieron Richardson) and finding out that he did not have a brain tumour.
Despite him being declared dead, fans dared to hope that one day we might see the witty and sarcastic lawyer back on our screens, speculating at every given opportunity about the possibility that James perhaps avoided death.
But with a year having passed and Ste in a new relationship with Rex Gallagher (Jonny Labey), the prospect of a James return seemed unlikely.
Good things come to those who wait, however, and viewers were left with their jaws on the floor last week when James staged an unexpected return to Hollyoaks – and he’s very much alive.
Discussing how the return came about, actor Gregory Finnegan told Metro that it was a ‘very recent’ development.
‘I was in a pub with some friends on a Friday night and I got a call out of the blue – [Hollyoaks boss] Hannah Cheers’ name came up on my watch. I showed it to my wife and she went: ‘Pick up!’.
‘I did and we had a covert meeting at 7am in Liverpool and she pitched the idea. Life has already happened, I’ve got other commitments so I said: ‘If you can work around the things I’m doing right now then fantastic!’. I came back and was like: ‘Lets go!’.
James’ comeback was the stuff of soapy dreams, a proper classic twist which fans didn’t not see coming at all as the much-loved character was spotted by Darren Osborne (Ashley Taylor Dawson) during a secret poker game.
Fans were left in shock by the turn of events and wasted little time in taking to social media to share their joy – and it turns out that this is exactly what Gregory was hoping for.
‘I’m so pleased that we managed to get to air without anyone knowing!,’ he enthused to Metro on the red carpet at a special screening for Hollyoaks’ 30th anniversary.
‘I got a request saying could I send a quote to you guys and I said: “Can we not?! I would love for them – guys who love soap – to just see it for the first time and actually give a shock to Stephen, to Duncan and for the fans to have a shock as well!.
‘It seems that we managed it so that’s great!’
And as for what the future holds for James? Well, that is the question, and it’s one that Gregory didn’t have a definitive answer for just yet – but he’s certainly excited for what’s to come.
‘I don’t know if I can tell you a lot because I’m not sure I know a lot to be really honest!,’ he laughed. ‘We’ll see his return and hopefully it presages some excitement for the future.’
Mission accomplished.
James’ return came just prior to the 30th anniversary episodes of Hollyoaks, which are hitting screens this week.
With Metro having seen what’s to come, it’s safe to say that fans can expect twists and turns aplenty.
Hollyoaks streams Mondays to Wednesdays from 6am on Channel 4’s streaming platform, or catch episodes on TV at 7pm on E4.
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