As Hollyoaks prepares to celebrate its 30th anniversary, excitement is building behind the scenes, and if the cast are to be believed, fans are in for one of the most dramatic stunts in the show’s history.
Speaking exclusively to Metro at the Inside Soap Awards, stars Nick Pickard and Charlie Wernham teased just how wild things are set to get.
‘I catch little bits of it and I think this is going to be carnage,’ Charlie laughed.
Nick, who has played Tony Hutchinson since the show began in 1995, added that fans can expect something truly special.
‘We’re quite famous for doing lots of stunts and stuff like that, so the one we’ve done this year is really special and we’re really proud of it. We’ve not even seen it yet ourselves but I’ve seen a bit of the rushes and it’s amazing.’
And the anniversary isn’t just about high drama, it’s also a nod to Hollyoaks’ wider legacy, with a much-talked-about crossover episode with Brookside in the works. The connection is personal for Nick, who remembers those early days well.
‘We know what’s going on. It makes me feel really old because I was there at the beginning when Brookside was there anyway.’
Charlie quickly jumped in with a reminder of just how far back that goes:
‘And I wasn’t even born!’
Nick reminisced the nostalgia and what it means for the show’s roots:
‘It’s great, and it’s great for the city of Liverpool and it’s a bit of a homage to Phil Redmond, who was the guvnor, so it’s nice to come full circle 30 years later.’
The 30th anniversary also comes at a time when Nick Pickard was honoured with the Outstanding Achievement Solo award, a moment he humbly accepted:
‘You did it!’ Charlie chimed in.
‘Thank you whoever did it.’ The actor laughed.
‘I don’t know if people vote for this one, I don’t know how it works. Whoever did it, thank you and I’m very grateful,’ Nick added.
When asked about staying with the show for nearly three decades, Nick pointed to the cast and atmosphere on set as the secret to it’s staying power.
“Charlie will tell you, he’s come back and people come back and it’s because we have such a laugh on set. That’s why I’ve stayed so long. I know it is work but it doesn’t feel like real work. That’s the beauty of the place. Would you agree?”
Charlie didn’t hesitate:
‘Totally. When I was asked to come back it’s so hard to say no even if you’re busy. I literally had a free month in the diary and I was like, I’m quite busy, but I want to do it, because people like [Nick], the cast, the crew, it’s a big family.’
Nick added with a grin:
‘And we like playing golf together, in our ‘downtime.’
Back on the red carpet, Ellis Hollins, who plays Tom Cunningham, was equally tight-lipped but enthusiastic about the 30th anniversary plans.
‘Tom does play something of a role in the 30th. I can’t be too specific about the weight of the role that he plays. I’m really looking forward to the fans seeing it, I think it’s going to be well worth the wait for the 30th anniversary. It’s definitely going to outshine anything we’ve done before and I’m very glad to be a part of it.’
With 30 years of drama, heartbreak, iconic stunts and unforgettable characters, Hollyoaks has never been one to play it safe, and based on what the cast are saying, this anniversary is going to be anything but quiet.
Fans can expect chaos, surprises, and maybe even a few nods to the past, as the show celebrates three decades of pushing boundaries.
