Ricky Campbell
Encyclopedia
Richard "Ricky" Campbell is a fictional character
from the British
Channel 4
soap opera
Hollyoaks
, played by Ashley Margolis
. He made his first on-screen appearance on 16 June 2009. Ricky was created by executive producer Lucy Allan
. Margolis took a period of leave in 2010 to complete his real life studies. His main storylines have focused on his friendship with Duncan Button
and caring for his father who has multiple sclerosis
. Sam Attwater
portrayed Ricky's online alter-ego for a few episodes.
In May 2011 it was announced that Margolis had decided to leave the serial after Dean Aspen, who plays on-screen comedy partner Duncan Button
, also quit. Discussing his departure Margolis said: "I'm not sure if I'm crazy or brave but yes, I think it's time for me as an actor to move on. I could very happily stay forever in my comfort zone - Hollyoaks is a great place to work. But with Dean moving on it just feels like the right time." In August 2011 Margolis confirmed he had decided to stay on at Hollyoaks after he had been offered a new storyline.
Ricky's first main storyline was being the sole carer to his father Martin Campbell (Grant Masters), who is suffering from multiple sclerosis
. Margolis said he was grateful for the storyline and revealed he put extensive research into the storyline. Speaking of the storyline during an interview with the Press Association
, Margolis stated: "I was so grateful I was given the opportunity to do it. Having done research on it, about what young carers have to go through every day, [you realise] it's a hard life. It's brilliant what they do and hopefully this storyline will get people to realise, 'That's what I'm going through'." Margolis also revealed he found it hard to lift Masters in scenes he was caring for him adding that it tired him out and sympathised with those who go through it in real life. It was later revealed that charity Multiple Sclerosis Society of Great Britain
had been helping with the storyline, they released a statement reading: "The MS Society understands this is likely to be a dramatic portrayal of MS and its symptoms. While we have advised script writers on how best to progress the storyline the ultimate character interpretation is in the hands of the soaps' producers."
's (Jorgie Porter
) picture, he appeared looking for a blonde girl. He is 14 although was using a picture of someone else and claimed to be 20. He arrived with flowers for Anita but seen Theresa, who he thought was Anita, kissing Newt (Nico Mirallegro
). He confronted Theresa, who assumed he was crazy as she had never seen him before. Meanwhile a stood up Anita with Lauren passed Ricky outside Il Gnosh, they glanced at each other for a second but neither of them knew that the other was in fact the person they were meeting for the date. He recorded Theresa and Newt acting more than friends on his phone and showed it to Anita. She went to kiss him until Ash kicked Ricky out.
He appeared a few weeks later when Anita and her friends went camping in a nearby field. However things did not turn out like Ricky had expected as Anita discovered his camper bag was full of condoms. Despite this, he apologised for his behaviour. During his paper round at Drive 'n' Buy, Gilly Roach
(Anthony Quinlan
) and Rhys Ashworth
(Andrew Moss
) found marijuana in Ricky's bag. They confronted him, with Anita. Anita was shocked and when he was asked to pick between his job and not getting to keep the marijuana or keeping the marijuana and losing his job, Ricky ran out with the bag. Anita followed him refusing to believe he would take drugs. Ricky continued seeing Anita, and in September 2009, went to a cottage with Anita, Newt and Lauren Valentine
(Dominique Jackson
), although their break was ruined when Gaz Bennett
(Joel Goonan
) arrived and started causing trouble. Gaz punched Ricky after he tried to stand up for Anita, and tried to convince the others to run away. Gaz was hit over the head by one of the gang, eventually revealed to be Anita, although Lauren believed the culprit was Ricky. Ricky continued to support Anita as she went through difficulties with her family after discovering she was adopted, and also stood by her despite knowing what she did to Gaz.
Ricky struck a friendship with Duncan, who pressured him into having sex with Anita. Ricky, however, decided to wait, and was jealous when Anita decided that she wanted to lose her virginity to Dave Colburn
(Elliot James Langridge). Ricky began disappearing for long periods of time and it turned out Ricky was caring for his father Martin Campbell (Grant Masters) wh is suffering with multiple sclerosis
and that Ricky often had to get cannabis for Martin to relive his pain.
On different occasions Martin tells Ricky to go out and enjoy himself, often injuring himself whilst Ricky is not present and calling him to come back home for help. This begins to affect Ricky's school work. Whilst Ricky is offered support, Kris Fisher
(Gerard McCarthy
) accidentally assaults him. Ricky tells Martin he does not want to go to hospital in case his arm is broken meaning he can no longer look after him. Soon though, after going to Ricky's home, Kris finds out about Martin's MS, and when Martin suddenly takes ill, Kris has to phone a hospital, where Ricky is terrified of being find out, however eventually he get's to take his father home. Things took a sinister tone though when Ricky told Kris that if he were to tell social services about his father's problems and condition, he would tell the school about what happened to his arm, Kris reluctantly agreed to keep the secret. Kris began to help Ricky and Martin and would often stay the night and help with the daily routine. When Kris rang the paramedics, Ricky was angry and worried that he would be put into care however the Ashworths agreed to let him stay and Ricky realised Martin was in the best place whilst in hospital. Ricky was last seen living with the Ashworths however he did not appear when they left.
Ricky is later seen again in December, when he becomes part of Lee Hunter's Boy Band Guy Candy, also becomes friends with Duncan's sister Ruby Button (Anna Shaffer) when she arrives in January.
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 British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
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 Ashley Margolis
Ashley Margolis
Ashley Howard Margolis is an English actor.-Career:He is best known for playing Ricky Campbell in the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks. He has played the role of Ricky since June 2009. His main storyline revolved around his father Martin Campbell having Multiple Sclerosis...
. He made his first on-screen appearance on 16 June 2009. Ricky was created by executive producer Lucy Allan
Lucy Allan (producer)
Lucy Jane Allan is a British television producer, best known for her work on Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks.Allan's other credited work include a script editor for Dream Team and assistant to director in Chica de Río....
. Margolis took a period of leave in 2010 to complete his real life studies. His main storylines have focused on his friendship with Duncan Button
Duncan Button
Duncan Button is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Dean Aspen. He debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 2 November 2009. Duncan was originally credited as Duncan Smith until he was credited with Button...
and caring for his father who has multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis is an inflammatory disease in which the fatty myelin sheaths around the axons of the brain and spinal cord are damaged, leading to demyelination and scarring as well as a broad spectrum of signs and symptoms...
. Sam Attwater
Sam Attwater
Samuel "Sam" Attwater is an English actor and singer best known for playing Leon Small in the British soap opera EastEnders and its online spin-off EastEnders: E20...
portrayed Ricky's online alter-ego for a few episodes.
Casting
In April 2009 a new character called Ricky was announced and fifteen year old actor Ashley Margolis would portray him in his first television role. Actor Sam Attwater played a virtual Ricky, inwhich he was posing as for online dating. In July 2010 Ricky was put on the departed list on the Hollyoaks official website, this led fans to believe Margolis had left and his character written out. The next day the serial confirmed that Margolis had gone on temporary leave for a number of months to complete his GCSE exams and would return to screen in October that year.In May 2011 it was announced that Margolis had decided to leave the serial after Dean Aspen, who plays on-screen comedy partner Duncan Button
Duncan Button
Duncan Button is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Dean Aspen. He debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 2 November 2009. Duncan was originally credited as Duncan Smith until he was credited with Button...
, also quit. Discussing his departure Margolis said: "I'm not sure if I'm crazy or brave but yes, I think it's time for me as an actor to move on. I could very happily stay forever in my comfort zone - Hollyoaks is a great place to work. But with Dean moving on it just feels like the right time." In August 2011 Margolis confirmed he had decided to stay on at Hollyoaks after he had been offered a new storyline.
Character development
E4 publicity describe Ricky as being permanently attached to his skateboard, they also brand him "an abundance of energy". They describe his appearance as typical "boyish good looks" and has having a "cheeky sense of humour".Ricky's first main storyline was being the sole carer to his father Martin Campbell (Grant Masters), who is suffering from multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis is an inflammatory disease in which the fatty myelin sheaths around the axons of the brain and spinal cord are damaged, leading to demyelination and scarring as well as a broad spectrum of signs and symptoms...
. Margolis said he was grateful for the storyline and revealed he put extensive research into the storyline. Speaking of the storyline during an interview with the Press Association
Press Association
The Press Association is the national news agency of the United Kingdom and Ireland, supplying multimedia news content to almost all national and regional newspapers, television and radio news, as well as many websites with text, pictures, video and data content globally...
, Margolis stated: "I was so grateful I was given the opportunity to do it. Having done research on it, about what young carers have to go through every day, [you realise] it's a hard life. It's brilliant what they do and hopefully this storyline will get people to realise, 'That's what I'm going through'." Margolis also revealed he found it hard to lift Masters in scenes he was caring for him adding that it tired him out and sympathised with those who go through it in real life. It was later revealed that charity Multiple Sclerosis Society of Great Britain
Multiple Sclerosis Society of Great Britain
Multiple Sclerosis Society of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a British medical research charity dedicated to curing the neurological condition multiple sclerosis...
had been helping with the storyline, they released a statement reading: "The MS Society understands this is likely to be a dramatic portrayal of MS and its symptoms. While we have advised script writers on how best to progress the storyline the ultimate character interpretation is in the hands of the soaps' producers."
Backstory
Ricky, an only child, was born to Martin, who later develops multiple sclerosis. He had to become the full time carer of his father after his grandmother could no longer help out, often finding it hard to adapt his social life whilst trying to cope with the daily household jobs.2009—
He first arrived to meet Anita for a date, however because she was using Theresa McQueenTheresa 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...
's (Jorgie Porter
Jorgie Porter
Jorgina Alexandra "Jorgie" Porter, is an English actress, notable for her role as Theresa McQueen in the Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks...
) picture, he appeared looking for a blonde girl. He is 14 although was using a picture of someone else and claimed to be 20. He arrived with flowers for Anita but seen Theresa, who he thought was Anita, kissing Newt (Nico Mirallegro
Nico Mirallegro
Nico Cristian Mirallegro is a British actor who played the role of Barry "Newt" Newton in the British soap opera Hollyoaks between 22 October 2007 and 25 June 2010....
). He confronted Theresa, who assumed he was crazy as she had never seen him before. Meanwhile a stood up Anita with Lauren passed Ricky outside Il Gnosh, they glanced at each other for a second but neither of them knew that the other was in fact the person they were meeting for the date. He recorded Theresa and Newt acting more than friends on his phone and showed it to Anita. She went to kiss him until Ash kicked Ricky out.
He appeared a few weeks later when Anita and her friends went camping in a nearby field. However things did not turn out like Ricky had expected as Anita discovered his camper bag was full of condoms. Despite this, he apologised for his behaviour. During his paper round at Drive 'n' Buy, Gilly Roach
Gilly Roach
Gilbert "Gilly" Roach is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Anthony Quinlan. The character debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 4 October 2005. Gilly was created in 2005 by executive producer David Hanson. Gilly has often been portrayed as a...
(Anthony Quinlan
Anthony Quinlan
Anthony Quinlan is an English actor, known for his role as Gilly Roach in the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks.-References:Quinlan was nominated for sexiest male at the 2010 Inside Soap Awards.[29] He was also nominated in the category of "Best Serial Drama Performance" at the 2011 National...
) and 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:...
(Andrew Moss
Andrew Moss
Andrew "Andy" Moss is an English television actor. He is currently best known for playing Rhys Ashworth in the Channel 4 teenage soap opera Hollyoaks since 2005.-TV credits:...
) found marijuana in Ricky's bag. They confronted him, with Anita. Anita was shocked and when he was asked to pick between his job and not getting to keep the marijuana or keeping the marijuana and losing his job, Ricky ran out with the bag. Anita followed him refusing to believe he would take drugs. Ricky continued seeing Anita, and in September 2009, went to a cottage with Anita, Newt and Lauren Valentine
Lauren Valentine
Lauren Valentine is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Dominique Jackson. First appearing in 2007, Lauren was written out of the show in 2010 along with the rest of the Valentine family as part of series producer Paul Marquess's overhaul of the...
(Dominique Jackson
Dominique Jackson
Dominique Hannah Jackson is a British actress from Oldham, Greater Manchester, who has starred in various TV roles. She is best known for her roles as Becky in the Children's TV series Becky and Barnaby Bear and Lauren Valentine on Channel 4 soap, Hollyoaks...
), although their break was ruined when Gaz Bennett
Gaz Bennett
Gary "Gaz" Bennett is a fictional character from the long-running Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Joel Goonan. He debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 25 November 2008. Goonan took a break from filming during 2010, and returned on-screen on 19 January 2011. Goonan announced his...
(Joel Goonan
Joel Goonan
Joel Benjamin Goonan is an English actor best known for his role as the villainous Garry "Gaz" Bennett in Hollyoaks....
) arrived and started causing trouble. Gaz punched Ricky after he tried to stand up for Anita, and tried to convince the others to run away. Gaz was hit over the head by one of the gang, eventually revealed to be Anita, although Lauren believed the culprit was Ricky. Ricky continued to support Anita as she went through difficulties with her family after discovering she was adopted, and also stood by her despite knowing what she did to Gaz.
Ricky struck a friendship with Duncan, who pressured him into having sex with Anita. Ricky, however, decided to wait, and was jealous when Anita decided that she wanted to lose her virginity to Dave Colburn
Dave Colburn
David "Dave" Colburn is a fictional character from the long-running Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Elliot James Langridge. He first appeared in Hollyoaks online spin-off, Hollyoaks: The Morning After the Night Before, which explored the dangers of binge drinking...
(Elliot James Langridge). Ricky began disappearing for long periods of time and it turned out Ricky was caring for his father Martin Campbell (Grant Masters) wh is suffering with multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis is an inflammatory disease in which the fatty myelin sheaths around the axons of the brain and spinal cord are damaged, leading to demyelination and scarring as well as a broad spectrum of signs and symptoms...
and that Ricky often had to get cannabis for Martin to relive his pain.
On different occasions Martin tells Ricky to go out and enjoy himself, often injuring himself whilst Ricky is not present and calling him to come back home for help. This begins to affect Ricky's school work. Whilst Ricky is offered support, Kris Fisher
Kris Fisher
Francis "Kris" Fisher is a fictional character from the long-running Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Gerard McCarthy. The character first appeared on-screen in September 2006 and left in August 2010 after McCarthy quit the show...
(Gerard McCarthy
Gerard McCarthy
Gerard McCarthy is an actor, best known to television viewers for his award-winning performance as Kris Fisher on the British soap opera Hollyoaks from 2006 to 2010, to theatres-goers for his performances on the West End and at Shakespeare's Globe, and to film geeks for his role in Belonging to...
) accidentally assaults him. Ricky tells Martin he does not want to go to hospital in case his arm is broken meaning he can no longer look after him. Soon though, after going to Ricky's home, Kris finds out about Martin's MS, and when Martin suddenly takes ill, Kris has to phone a hospital, where Ricky is terrified of being find out, however eventually he get's to take his father home. Things took a sinister tone though when Ricky told Kris that if he were to tell social services about his father's problems and condition, he would tell the school about what happened to his arm, Kris reluctantly agreed to keep the secret. Kris began to help Ricky and Martin and would often stay the night and help with the daily routine. When Kris rang the paramedics, Ricky was angry and worried that he would be put into care however the Ashworths agreed to let him stay and Ricky realised Martin was in the best place whilst in hospital. Ricky was last seen living with the Ashworths however he did not appear when they left.
Ricky is later seen again in December, when he becomes part of Lee Hunter's Boy Band Guy Candy, also becomes friends with Duncan's sister Ruby Button (Anna Shaffer) when she arrives in January.
External links
- Character profile on the E4 website