Spoiler Pics: 27th February - 2nd March

Here are some spoiler pictures from the episodes of Hollyoaks due to air during the week of the 27th February - 2nd March 2012 on C4 and E4.

 

 All Pictures Are The Property of Lime Pictures ©

All About Soap Awards 2012: Nominations

The nominations for the 2012 All About Soap Awards have been announced and Hollyoaks have gained seven in all. Check out the list below and make sure you cast your votes when voting opens on Tuesday 14th February on the official website here and in the next issue .

Voting closes on Monday 27th February 2012.

Best Actress
Coronation Street: Alison King
EastEnders: Jo Joyner
Emmerdale: Chelsea Halfpenny
Hollyoaks: Claire Cooper


Best Actor
Coronation Street: Chris Gascoyne
EastEnders: Jake Wood
Emmerdale: Danny Miller
Hollyoaks: Emmett J. Scanlan


Best Episode
Coronation Street: Steve and Tracy's wedding
EastEnders: Pat's funeral
Emmerdale: Cain's attack 
Hollyoaks: Halloween murder (Fright Night)


Best Villain 
Coronation Street: Frank Foster
EastEnders: Derek Branning
Emmerdale: Cain Dingle
Hollyoaks: Silas Blissett 


Best Mystery
EastEnders: Who's stalking Phil? 
Emmerdale: Who attacked Cain?
Hollyoaks: Who's the father of Mercy's baby? 
Home and Away: Who attacked Bianca? 


Best Dressed Soap Star
Coronation Street: Michelle Keegan 
EastEnders: Jacqueline Jossa
Emmerdale: Natalie Anderson
Hollyoaks: Jorgie Porter


Best Comeback
Coronation Street: John Stape
EastEnders: David Wicks
Hollyoaks: Steph Roach
Neighbours: Mal Kennedy 


Best Couple
Coronation Street: Peter and Carla
EastEnders: Max and Tanya 
EastEnders: Zainab and Masood
Home and Away: Brax and Charlie

Spoiler Pics: 20th - 24th February

Here are some spoiler pictures from the episodes of Hollyoaks due to air during the week of the 20th - 24th February 2012 on C4 and E4.

  All Pictures Are The Property of Lime Pictures ©

Emma Smithwick's Strive For Strong Females !!

In a recent interview with the Radio Times, Hollyoaks' Series Producer Emma Smithwick discussed her goal to make the female characters on the show strong role-models.

Smithwick who took over as Series Producer last summer said on the state of the female characters on the canvas;

“There weren't enough strong, smart and intelligent women for my liking. At a stretch, I might have considered having a drink with Texas.” 

The article goes on to argue that in recent years the general consensus of the show is that the female characters have been objectified, victimised and only judged on their physical appearance. The soaps annual 'Babes and Hunks' calendars are also critically discussed for the way they can be seen to reinforce this ideology that, can be seen to be damaging to the soaps large audience of a young demographic.

On this Smithwick states;

“I'm passionate about the portrayal of women in the media in general and specifically on television thats aimed at a younger audience. I'm determined to be part of the solution and not part of the problem.” 

Following on from this the article talks about the ways in which the the show under Emma Smithwick's regime can be seen to already be taking steps towards tackling this vague and single-minded representation of women. In the way that characters such as Jacqui McQueen (Claire Cooper) and Lynsey Nolan (Karen Hassan) have in recent months been developed further into stronger women in front-burner storylines, such as the rape trial and it's aftermath, as well as the Silas murder plot.

In relation to her  long-term goal for the series during her tenure at the helm Smithwick goes on to say;

“I want to redefine what sexy and glamorous is in Hollyoaks. I don't want girls just to watch and think, ‘I want that outfit’ or ‘I like her hair’. I'd like them to see it as an emotional encyclopedia that's relevant to the changes and issues in their lives."

“I want to look at the sophisticated social hierarchies of teenage girls, at their insecurities, at the challenges of growing up in contemporary Britain. The responsibility is enormous but the pay-off is huge.”

 Gareth McLean the author of the article praises Smithwick for her efforts when he states;

"Smithwick’s enthusiasm to transform Hollyoaks from hangover telly beloved by teenage boys for all the wrong reasons into a soap that's political with a small “p” is palpable, and the programme’s audience – of both sexes – should applaud her efforts. "

Finally based on the shows position as a leading source of entertainment and education for its youth audience and the endless possibilities it has to make a difference, Smithwick states;

“Of all the shows, we can and should be braver and have more conviction. If I haven't achieved that evolution in my time as producer, I won't have done my job right.” 

You can read an edited version of the this article by clicking here or you can read it in full in the latest issue of the Radio Times which is available at all leading newsagents.

Inside Soap Magazine: Valentines Shoot (Jonny Clarke & Stephanie Davis)

In a recent Valentine's related article in this weeks 'Inside Soap Magazine' Hollyoaks' Stephanie Davis (Sinead O'Connor) and Jonny Clarke (Bart McQueen), discuss their upcoming storylines on the show, as well as their close friendship outside of work.

All Pictures Are The Property of Inside Soap Magazine ©

On the upcoming plots for their characters they hint that there could be more drama on the way for the teenage couple;

Clarke states;

"There's something big coming up for Bart, which will really give me the chance to put my acting skills to the test. It's going to be quite dark and gritty."

Davis states;

 "There's going to be another big, emotional journey for those two - but that's good for us, because we like arguing!" 

On their relationship outside of work both Clarke and Davis agreed that having worked together so closely for over a year, they have become really close friends stating;

"Steph and I get on really well. We go out for dinner with some of the other guys in the cast all the time, and it's brilliant." 

"I know Jonny inside out - he's my best lad mate," Davis commented. "If I'm having boy troubles, I go to Jonny and he translates for me. We're always giving each other advice."

You can buy Inside Soap Magazine in all leading newsagents. 

Spoiler Pics: Wk 13th - 17th February 2012

Here are some spoiler pictures from the episodes of Hollyoaks due to air during the week of the 13th - 17th February 2012 on C4 and E4.

  All Pictures Are The Property of Lime Pictures ©

Digital Spy: Stephanie Waring Interview

Digital Spy recently caught up with Hollyoaks' Stephanie Waring (Cindy Longford) in which she talks about her role in the Valentines Day storyline involving Darren's secret wedding plans and her renewed feelings for him. She also discusses how she feels about what she felt about Cindy losing all her money and the direction the character and show are going in.

Check out some of what Stephane said below but you can read the interview in full here.

How did you feel about being part of Hollyoaks' big Valentine's Day story?
"I was really excited. I'd had a bit of time off, and it's always a bit worrying when that happens and they're establishing new characters, because you don't want to get lost along the way. So then when our producer Emma Smithwick told me about this storyline, I was really pleased and couldn't wait to get stuck in. Working with Ashley Taylor Dawson again was really good."

We've seen that Cindy really wants Darren back. Did her feelings for him never go away, or have they been reawakened?
"I think they've been reawakened. I don't think they ever fully went away, but obviously Cindy has just lost all of her money and she's on her own, so she's feeling a little bit lost. So when Darren asked her to help with the wedding planning and said that she was the only person he trusted to do it, she felt needed and wanted.

"I don't think Cindy sees this as a way to split up Nancy and Darren or sabotage the wedding, but there's just a little part of her that thinks, 'Surely he's going to choose me?'"

How do things develop over the next few days?
"I think Cindy is very serious about Darren. There's an episode coming up where Darren takes her out shopping for the wedding, and she's trying on different wedding dresses for Nancy. She looks into the mirror, sees herself in this dress and she just thinks that it should be her. Then Darren comes into the dressing room and she's stuck in the wedding dress, so he's trying to help her out of it. 

"Cindy reads the signals wrong, as he's been so lovely to her and they're having a bit of a laugh, so she kisses him. It's the worst possible thing she could have done, because she thinks it means something but Darren thinks otherwise."

What happens next?
"Later, Cindy and Darren talk about the kiss and it's so emotional. Filming the scenes, we were genuinely both heartbroken. Because of the history that Cindy and Darren have had together, for me it was stirring up all of these memories and scenes that we've done. 

"But now it's going to be no more, because he's in love with somebody else! Darren says that Cindy is going to have to let him go, and she's absolutely devastated by it."

How did you feel about Cindy losing all of her fortune?
"I was really pleased. For so many years, Cindy has been trying to get the guy with money, so all of the plotting and scheming that came with that was kind of Cindy's 'thing'. But then they decided that Cindy was going to bag a millionaire, which was my way out of the show for a while because I was pregnant.

"When Cindy came back, I think the character was seen as a bit of a joke. I think now everything has been taken from her again, we're seeing a more real side of Cindy. I think we're hopefully going to see more of why people fell in love with her in the first place, rather than having her as a comical rich bitch who's lording it over everybody.

"There's not really many stories you can tell once a character has what they want - where do you go from there? You have to take it all away again!"


You can see the developments of this storyline unfold next week on Hollyoaks at 6.30pm on Channel 4 followed by the first look episode at 7pm on E4.

Hollyoaks: Valentines Promo