Holly Hutchinson
Encyclopedia
Holly Hutchinson is a fictional character
from the long-running Channel 4
soap opera
Hollyoaks
, played by Lydia Waters
.
auditioned for the role of Holly. She was one of 54 candidates up for the role of Holly, who had previously appeared in Hollyoaks between 1997 and 2001, with returns in 2002 and 2004. After several audition stages at the shows studios in Liverpool
,Lydia Waters was given the role of Holly and began filming in April 2008. She made her first appearance in June 2008. Speaking of Lydia's character, a Channel 4 spokesperson stated: "She will be quite a stroppy eleven-year-old who knows her own mind — like her mum's character. There's a big storyline involving Max [Cunningham] at the end of June, and they will be involved in that."
had died of leukaemia. Cindy's parents, Gordon
and Angela, found out about her secret pregnancy and forced her into motherhood. Cindy found it extremely hard to adapt as a single mother and on one occasion she tries to suffocate Holly. Luckily, other sister Jude walked in on this and stopped it. Cindy then begins to love Holly. Cindy begins a bad relationship with Sean Tate. Sean loves Cindy but is not prepared to be a father to Holly. He begins to mistreat Holly. Sean's abuse comes to a head when he purposely burns Holly with a firework. The social services get involved, so Cindy decides to flee the country and avoid them taking Holly. However, Holly does not have a passport and cannot leave, Sean then leaves without them, leaving Cindy upset. Cindy is forced to take Holly to work at The Loft with her. Holly falls asleep in the cloakroom. She awakens and finds an ecstasy tablet, which she swallows. Holly is rushed to hospital and Cindy knows social services would take her away. Cindy concludes that she has no choice but to flee the country. She takes Holly from hospital and leaves for the airport.
Cindy and Holly return in May 2002, where she scams brother Max
and OB out of their money. She and Holly then left again. In 2004, Cindy and Holly return for Gordon and Helen
's funerals.
after Louise Summers accuses her of having an affair with him. On her first day of school, Cindy forgets to pick Holly up. She is taken in by Tony Hutchinson
, whom Cindy assumes is a paedophile after sleeping with fifteen-year-old Theresa McQueen
.
Cindy begins a relationship with Rhys Ashworth
. Holly and Rhys continue arguing. However, one day Holly apparently goes missing, although actually hides from Rhys, who lures her out of hiding with an episode of University Challenge. Holly and Rhys strike a friendship, however, Cindy ends her relationship with him. Steph Cunningham
takes Tom Cunningham
and Holly to a dance class. Steph then opens her own dance class, which Holly and Tom join. At the class, Persephone Hart begins bullying Holly and Tom. Tom and Holly find out Mercedes Fisher had been stealing food from Il Gnosh, which she begins selling for profit. The pair then expose her. During a dance class, Sarah Barnes
gives Holly £5 to make friends with Persephone so that she could get close to Persephone's sister, Lydia
. Holly agrees but they end up arguing. Cindy begins to get close to Tony, who impresses Cindy and Holly. Tony propose to Cindy and the pair get married, after which, Holly changes her surname to Hutchinson. Holly is electrocuted at The Dog in the Pond
by Darren Osborne
's Christmas lights. Holly is not breathing, but Darren resuscitates her; he tells Cindy that she was resuscitated by Jake.
When Holly is sent home from school for stealing a girl's bag, Cindy is furious with her daughter. Holly admits that she was bored at school as everyone is really thick and she is finding the schoolwork too easy. She says she wishes she could go to the same school as Tony's son Harry (a private school). As a Christmas present, Tony getsHolly a place at the school.
In January 2010 Holly starts at Thorpe Manor private school. While there, Holly enters a dance competition. Loretta Jones
offers to help Holly choreograph her routine (Loretta herself is an ex-dancer). Holly is later upset when Cindy says she and Tony can't go to the contest, due to prior engagements, so Loretta takes Holly instead. Holly later goes on to win the competition and to say well done, Loretta takes Holly to Mobs for a milkshake. When Loretta's phone goes off, Holly picks it up and Loretta shouts at Holly for looking at her phone.
The following day, Holly fakes illness in the hope of getting some attention from her mum. This fails as Cindy is too busy setting up her new vintage clothes shop and leaves Holly to her own devices for the day. Holly then goes for a walk and bumps into Loretta, who is looking for a lost dog she was supposed to be looking after. Holly apologises for looking at her phone and Loretta apologises for shouting. Holly offers to help Loretta look for the dog and the pair talk. Holly admits that Cindy thought she was a rubbish dancer as she hadn't come to watch her dance. Loretta tells Holly that that isn't true and that Holly has to enter more competitions to show Cindy just how much she loved dancing.
In February 2010 Cindy sees an advert for an under-twelves talent show and announces that Holly will be entering. Holly isn't all that keen but agrees to do it, thinking she can get more attention from her mum. When Steph sees the advert she decides to enter Tom in the competition. Cindy is furious about this and she and Steph have a bitter argument in front of the kids. Holly realises that Cindy has her own selfish motives for wanting her to win. Holly then overheard Cindy tell Tony that the talent show wasn't important. Holly tries to talk to Tony's brother Dom
, who is preparing a meal in the kitchen, about how Cindy istreating her. Dom gets distracted, drops his pan of food on the floor and shouts at Holly, who runs off, leaving Holly feeling even more isolated and alone.
When Holly hears Cindy wants her to start at boarding school, Holly is upset and blames Tony for trying to get rid of her. Holly later sees Tony give Theresa McQueen
a friendly kiss and taunts him over it. He grabs Holly and she runs home. While at home Holly tries to ring her mum who tellsl her it isn't a good time. Holly is upset and she runs away. Cindy and Tony return home to find Holly gone. After looking for her themselves they have no choice but to phone the police. Many people in Hollyoaks village help search for Holly, but to no avail. While Cindy and Tony make a televised appeal, Holly watched from Darren's flat where it transpires she is hiding (without his knowledge). Darren finds Holly in his flat and asked her to stay there while he got a DVD. Instead he goes to get Cindy and Tony but when they get to Darren's flat she is gone. It later transpires she has moved to hide at Spencer Gray (Hollyoaks)'s flat. Holly tells Spencer that she wants a new coat so they go out to buy her one. Holly waits in a disguise outside for Spencer but isrecognised by Jake
who chases after her. However, she falls over and hits her head on the pavement, knocking herself unconscious. Jake takes Holly back to Cindy and is accused of kidnapping Holly; she is rushed to hospital where she falls into a coma. Holly eventually wakes up on 7 April and she refuses to tell Cindy and Tony what had happened to her. Eventually Holly comes to forgive Tony and Cindy and after talking to Tony at the hospital, Holly overhears Cindy and Tony talking about giving their marriage another chance and Holly admits that she loves them both and wants them in her life. A fully recovered Holly goes home a few days later with Tony and Cindy. After Cindy splits from Tony, she and Holly move in with Darren on a temporary basis. Cindy quickly becomes engaged to rich pensioner Alistair Longford. On the wedding day, Cindy reassures Holly that she is marrying him so Holly can have a better life.
When Cindy returns in 2011 as a widowed millionaire she tells Darren that she left Holly in boarding school in Switzerland. Holly will make a return in late 2011 but no date has been confirmed.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
from the long-running Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
Hollyoaks
Hollyoaks
Hollyoaks is a long-running British television soap opera, first broadcast on Channel 4 on 23 October 1995. It was originally devised by Phil Redmond, who has also devised shows including Brookside and Grange Hill...
, played by Lydia Waters
Lydia Waters
Lydia Ellen Waters is an English actress best known for playing Holly Cunningham in the British soap opera Hollyoaks.-Hollyoaks:...
.
Casting
In 2008, Lydia WatersLydia Waters
Lydia Ellen Waters is an English actress best known for playing Holly Cunningham in the British soap opera Hollyoaks.-Hollyoaks:...
auditioned for the role of Holly. She was one of 54 candidates up for the role of Holly, who had previously appeared in Hollyoaks between 1997 and 2001, with returns in 2002 and 2004. After several audition stages at the shows studios in Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
,Lydia Waters was given the role of Holly and began filming in April 2008. She made her first appearance in June 2008. Speaking of Lydia's character, a Channel 4 spokesperson stated: "She will be quite a stroppy eleven-year-old who knows her own mind — like her mum's character. There's a big storyline involving Max [Cunningham] at the end of June, and they will be involved in that."
1997–2004
Holly was conceived during her mother's sixteenth birthday. Holly's father Lee Stanley is killed during a road accident shortly before her birth. After Holly is born, Cindy abandons her outside the hospital and desperately tries to carry on as normal. She returns home a few hours later and was told that her sister DawnDawn Cunningham
Dawn Cunningham is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Lisa Williamson. Williamson was cast as one of the original characters on Hollyoaks in 1995, however she left in 1997 when the character died....
had died of leukaemia. Cindy's parents, Gordon
Gordon Cunningham
Gordon Hilton Cunningham is a fictional character from the long-running Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Bernard Latham. He first appeared as one of the original characters on the show when it started, he left in 2004 when the character died of a heart attack which he had after being...
and Angela, found out about her secret pregnancy and forced her into motherhood. Cindy found it extremely hard to adapt as a single mother and on one occasion she tries to suffocate Holly. Luckily, other sister Jude walked in on this and stopped it. Cindy then begins to love Holly. Cindy begins a bad relationship with Sean Tate. Sean loves Cindy but is not prepared to be a father to Holly. He begins to mistreat Holly. Sean's abuse comes to a head when he purposely burns Holly with a firework. The social services get involved, so Cindy decides to flee the country and avoid them taking Holly. However, Holly does not have a passport and cannot leave, Sean then leaves without them, leaving Cindy upset. Cindy is forced to take Holly to work at The Loft with her. Holly falls asleep in the cloakroom. She awakens and finds an ecstasy tablet, which she swallows. Holly is rushed to hospital and Cindy knows social services would take her away. Cindy concludes that she has no choice but to flee the country. She takes Holly from hospital and leaves for the airport.
Cindy and Holly return in May 2002, where she scams brother Max
Max Cunningham
Max Cunningham is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Matt Littler. From 1995 to 1996, Max was portrayed by Ben Sheriff before Littler took over. In 2008, Max, along with Tony Hutchinson , was the longest running character in Hollyoaks...
and OB out of their money. She and Holly then left again. In 2004, Cindy and Holly return for Gordon and Helen
Helen Cunningham
Helen Cunningham is a fictional character from the long-running Channel 4 soap opera, Hollyoaks, played by Kathryn George. George first appeared in the role in 1997 before the character was written out in 2004 when she was killed in a car accident...
's funerals.
2008–2010
In June 2008, Holly and Cindy return from Spain. After the death of Max, Cindy and Holly decide to stay in Hollyoaks. In Max's will, he leaves Holly £3, 000, which can only be accessed after her eighteenth birthday. Barry Newton looks after Holly for a short time and she reveals to his mother, who has just got in contact with him, that he is an 'emo'. Cindy sends Holly to spy on Warren FoxWarren Fox
Warren Fox is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Jamie Lomas. He first arrived in 2006 as an old acquaintance of Sean Kennedy and quickly became known as the show's main villain...
after Louise Summers accuses her of having an affair with him. On her first day of school, Cindy forgets to pick Holly up. She is taken in by Tony Hutchinson
Tony Hutchinson
Anthony "Tony" Hutchinson is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Nick Pickard. Tony first appeared on-screen on 23 October 1995, the first episode of the series, and is the only original character still on the show to the present day...
, whom Cindy assumes is a paedophile after sleeping with fifteen-year-old Theresa McQueen
Theresa McQueen
Theresa McQueen is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Jorgie Porter. She made her first appearance in November 2008. The character was introduced as an extension of already established McQueen family...
.
Cindy begins a relationship with Rhys Ashworth
Rhys Ashworth
Rhys Lesley Ashworth is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Andrew Moss. He made his first on-screen appearance on 4 October 2005.-Character creation and casting:...
. Holly and Rhys continue arguing. However, one day Holly apparently goes missing, although actually hides from Rhys, who lures her out of hiding with an episode of University Challenge. Holly and Rhys strike a friendship, however, Cindy ends her relationship with him. Steph Cunningham
Steph Cunningham
Stephanie "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 8 March 2000 and is the second longest featured regular female character in the history of Hollyoaks...
takes Tom Cunningham
Tom Cunningham
Thomas "Tom" Cunningham is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Ellis Hollins. Hollins has portrayed the character since his birth in 1999.-Storylines:...
and Holly to a dance class. Steph then opens her own dance class, which Holly and Tom join. At the class, Persephone Hart begins bullying Holly and Tom. Tom and Holly find out Mercedes Fisher had been stealing food from Il Gnosh, which she begins selling for profit. The pair then expose her. During a dance class, Sarah Barnes
Sarah Barnes
Sarah Barnes is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Loui Batley. She debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 10 October 2005. Sarah was created by executive producer David Hanson as part of the Barnes family. In 2009 Batley quit the serial in...
gives Holly £5 to make friends with Persephone so that she could get close to Persephone's sister, Lydia
Lydia Hart
Lydia Hart is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, a long-running serial drama about life in a fictional suburb of Chester. The character is no longer part of current storylines. She was played by actress Lydia Kelly between 2009 and 2010. Lydia was created by...
. Holly agrees but they end up arguing. Cindy begins to get close to Tony, who impresses Cindy and Holly. Tony propose to Cindy and the pair get married, after which, Holly changes her surname to Hutchinson. Holly is electrocuted at The Dog in the Pond
The Dog in the Pond
The Dog in the Pond is a fictional public house in the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks. It has been at the centre of the show's setting since it began in 1995. The pub was burnt down in episodes airing in September 2006 during the 'Fire at The Dog', which killed five regular characters...
by Darren Osborne
Darren Osborne
Darren Osborne is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks. Darren was introduced by executive producer Phil Redmond as part of the Osborne family. Darren made his first on-screen appearance on 18 November 1996 and was initially played by Adam Booth, before the Booth...
's Christmas lights. Holly is not breathing, but Darren resuscitates her; he tells Cindy that she was resuscitated by Jake.
When Holly is sent home from school for stealing a girl's bag, Cindy is furious with her daughter. Holly admits that she was bored at school as everyone is really thick and she is finding the schoolwork too easy. She says she wishes she could go to the same school as Tony's son Harry (a private school). As a Christmas present, Tony getsHolly a place at the school.
In January 2010 Holly starts at Thorpe Manor private school. While there, Holly enters a dance competition. Loretta Jones
Loretta Jones
Loretta Jones is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap operas Hollyoaks and Hollyoaks Later. The character is played by Melissa Walton and first appeared on-screen on 26 November 2008 during the first series of the Hollyoaks spin-off Hollyoaks Later as a new love interest for the...
offers to help Holly choreograph her routine (Loretta herself is an ex-dancer). Holly is later upset when Cindy says she and Tony can't go to the contest, due to prior engagements, so Loretta takes Holly instead. Holly later goes on to win the competition and to say well done, Loretta takes Holly to Mobs for a milkshake. When Loretta's phone goes off, Holly picks it up and Loretta shouts at Holly for looking at her phone.
The following day, Holly fakes illness in the hope of getting some attention from her mum. This fails as Cindy is too busy setting up her new vintage clothes shop and leaves Holly to her own devices for the day. Holly then goes for a walk and bumps into Loretta, who is looking for a lost dog she was supposed to be looking after. Holly apologises for looking at her phone and Loretta apologises for shouting. Holly offers to help Loretta look for the dog and the pair talk. Holly admits that Cindy thought she was a rubbish dancer as she hadn't come to watch her dance. Loretta tells Holly that that isn't true and that Holly has to enter more competitions to show Cindy just how much she loved dancing.
In February 2010 Cindy sees an advert for an under-twelves talent show and announces that Holly will be entering. Holly isn't all that keen but agrees to do it, thinking she can get more attention from her mum. When Steph sees the advert she decides to enter Tom in the competition. Cindy is furious about this and she and Steph have a bitter argument in front of the kids. Holly realises that Cindy has her own selfish motives for wanting her to win. Holly then overheard Cindy tell Tony that the talent show wasn't important. Holly tries to talk to Tony's brother Dom
Dominic Reilly
Dominic "Dom" Reilly is a fictional character from the long-running Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by John Pickard. Dom made his first appearance on 13 September 2005 as the estranged half-brother of Tony Hutchinson, whose portrayer, Nick Pickard, is John Pickard's brother...
, who is preparing a meal in the kitchen, about how Cindy istreating her. Dom gets distracted, drops his pan of food on the floor and shouts at Holly, who runs off, leaving Holly feeling even more isolated and alone.
When Holly hears Cindy wants her to start at boarding school, Holly is upset and blames Tony for trying to get rid of her. Holly later sees Tony give Theresa McQueen
Theresa McQueen
Theresa McQueen is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Jorgie Porter. She made her first appearance in November 2008. The character was introduced as an extension of already established McQueen family...
a friendly kiss and taunts him over it. He grabs Holly and she runs home. While at home Holly tries to ring her mum who tellsl her it isn't a good time. Holly is upset and she runs away. Cindy and Tony return home to find Holly gone. After looking for her themselves they have no choice but to phone the police. Many people in Hollyoaks village help search for Holly, but to no avail. While Cindy and Tony make a televised appeal, Holly watched from Darren's flat where it transpires she is hiding (without his knowledge). Darren finds Holly in his flat and asked her to stay there while he got a DVD. Instead he goes to get Cindy and Tony but when they get to Darren's flat she is gone. It later transpires she has moved to hide at Spencer Gray (Hollyoaks)'s flat. Holly tells Spencer that she wants a new coat so they go out to buy her one. Holly waits in a disguise outside for Spencer but isrecognised by Jake
Jake Dean
Jake Dean is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Kevin Sacre. Sacre portrayed the character between 2002 and 2008, before making a return on 5 October 2009. In March 2010, Sacre was axed from the series by Paul Marquess during his major revamp and cast...
who chases after her. However, she falls over and hits her head on the pavement, knocking herself unconscious. Jake takes Holly back to Cindy and is accused of kidnapping Holly; she is rushed to hospital where she falls into a coma. Holly eventually wakes up on 7 April and she refuses to tell Cindy and Tony what had happened to her. Eventually Holly comes to forgive Tony and Cindy and after talking to Tony at the hospital, Holly overhears Cindy and Tony talking about giving their marriage another chance and Holly admits that she loves them both and wants them in her life. A fully recovered Holly goes home a few days later with Tony and Cindy. After Cindy splits from Tony, she and Holly move in with Darren on a temporary basis. Cindy quickly becomes engaged to rich pensioner Alistair Longford. On the wedding day, Cindy reassures Holly that she is marrying him so Holly can have a better life.
When Cindy returns in 2011 as a widowed millionaire she tells Darren that she left Holly in boarding school in Switzerland. Holly will make a return in late 2011 but no date has been confirmed.
External links
- Character profile on the E4 website