Jacqui McQueen

[alan45]

After a six-month wait, Hollyoaks' 'Who Shot Calvin?' mystery reaches its surprising climax next week as we finally arrive at the point foretold by the titular event at the end of last year. All five of next week's episodes cover the events of Calvin and Carmel's second wedding day, which culminates in Calvin's murder. But which member of the wedding party - or, indeed, any other village resident - could muster the guts to pull the trigger as the happy couple share their first dance? Digital Spy recently caught up with Jacqui McQueen actress Claire Cooper to discuss wedding week, Ricky Whittle, Calvin's death and who she thinks the murderer is.

What's Jacqui's state of mind in the run up to the wedding?
"Everything's quite positive until she finds out about Mercedes's seedy affair with Calvin. Jacqui's genuinely very excited and has been very supportive of the whole wedding process with Carmel. Jacqui likes to pull the family together. Mercedes pulls Jacqui aside and says, 'I've been having an affair with Calvin', and that's enough for Jacqui to want to speak to Calvin and iron out a few things and find out what's been going on - although the way Jacqui deals with things isn't too diplomatic! She later finds out that Theresa has complications with Calvin. That tops it for Jacqui - it's enough to make her a suspect..."

What does she find out about Theresa during wedding week?
"That she's pregnant by Calvin. Just the thought that this guy's been through all her sisters and there's Carmel who is genuinely and utterly in love with this guy and he's done that?"

Does she feel left out?
"Yeah - she's probably a bit jealous - she wanted her turn with him as well! (Laughs) No. It's all about family for Jacqui and she's never cheated on any of her sisters, touch wood. She's got morals and this isn't good enough. With Mercedes, the whole aspect of what she did to Tony and Jacqui rears its ugly head a little bit. Jacqui's got a lot of venom towards Mercedes."

It's interesting that Jacqui's the one with morals...
"I know, and the audience still think she's a bitch - it's really strange!"

What's the ultimatum at the end of the week?
"She says to Mercedes she wants her out of the house - and Malachy as well I think. She doesn't want to see them ever again. She says, 'You don't want to be in the house when mum finds out about this; I want you to pack your bags and go'. So she gives that ultimatum but also, with the whole process of the wedding, Jacqui goes to Calvin's house and she picks up the gun in the process of all the meetings they've had. So Jacqui is the one with the gun for most of the episodes and it's been passed between different people but always seems to come back to Jacqui."

Is she capable of murder?
"Right, I don't think she's capable of cold-blooded murder but I think she is capable of protecting her family. If that was someone running at her with the gun she would pull the trigger first but I don't think she would actively pull the trigger on someone. She's brighter than that and she's a bit more clued up, it doesn't matter what someone's done to her. I think she'd rather be more torturous to them."

Are the original scenes from the flashforward used?
"We've done all the ones in between that add up to those ones, all the ones that were missed out are going to be slotted in. We didn't have to refilm any, thank God! Although one of the scenes I really wanted to refilm because I looked awful outside - my mum actually phoned me up and said: 'Claire, what is wrong with your face? You look bad on the show but you looked ill!'"

Did you have to watch the episode back to remember how you played the scenes?
"We did - we had an idea where we were placed but we all kept it quite fresh in our minds anyway and we had the original scripts so it was all as one. All the scenes that we had shot were in the scripts like any other script so we could follow it."

Are you disappointed to see Ricky Whittle leave?
"I really like the character and I think he's going to be sorely missed. Not only is Ricky a great actor but he's got a massive following and he's sexy on screen so people will miss him. He's very popular within the cast as well. I do wish him all the best and success in the future."

Who did you want to be the killer?
"I don't think she'd like it to be any of her family. She's kind of pushing Malachy to do it so - if anyone - maybe him. I don't think she wants him dead. Genuinely, if she could choose she wouldn't pick anybody. She just wants somebody to put the fear of God into him."

What's the atmosphere like on set now that Paul's in charge?
"Excellent. It's so lifted. I'm buzzing - I'm really enjoying myself. It's mainly because I'm working and I'm getting some fantastic scripts through and I can get my teeth into it. I'm really lucky to be here and playing Jacqui."

[Perdita]

Jacqui McQueen was left devastated on Hollyoaks last month after Gilly Roach was found not guilty of raping her on Valentine's Day. Following the verdict, which was reached off-screen by a real-life jury of 12 people, Jacqui decided to leave the village for some time to clear her head away from boyfriend Rhys. However, viewers will soon see that she has returned to Chester secretly and made the surprise decision to be a kidney donor to William's daughter Emily. As she settles back in at home and tries to get her life back on track, it becomes clear that Jacqui's journey is only just beginning… Claire Cooper, who plays the troubled character, recently chatted to Digital Spy about Jacqui's return.

What was your reaction when you found out about the trial verdict? Were you disappointed?
"For Jacqui I was disappointed, but I'd mentally prepared myself for both outcomes. I was disappointed for Jacqui that she didn't get the verdict that she'd wanted in the trial, but the story now progresses. The outcome of the trial makes the story more complex and that gives me other opportunities, which I'm filming at the moment."

We know that Jacqui will soon be returning to the village, so where does the rape storyline go from here?
"With either outcome from the jury, Jacqui still had to recover from the trial and what happened to her, and the journey doesn't end here - it's an ongoing story and it is going to be concluded. I don't know when that will be, but there will be a resolution."

Did you only find out the jury's verdict when the episode went out, or were you told beforehand?
"Initially it was the plan for us to find out when the episode aired, but for various reasons, we were told shortly beforehand - so I found out the day before."

Jacqui has no regrets about reporting the incident and taking it to court, does she?
"Jacqui has no regrets - her only regret is that Gilly wasn't found guilty. For Jacqui, that's her truth and that's the story that I'm telling - I believe Jacqui. Some people believe Jacqui and some people don't, but the story progresses and the conclusion to the story will happen later in the year."

Will viewers ever get a firm idea of what happened between Gilly and Jacqui that night, or will the grey area always be there?
"I think there'll still be a grey area, but Jacqui knows her truth, that's her story and that's never going to change or waiver. I think the viewers will gain a better insight into what happened and there is a very clear message to the storyline."

Some viewers have questioned whether real-life rape victims could have been discouraged from contacting the authorities after seeing Gilly's not guilty verdict. What are your thoughts?
"We sincerely hope that isn't the case and having consulted with a number of charities and organisations including Rape Crisis, SARC, Don't Cross The Line and legal experts, they also don't believe this is the case either. We hope that the storyline has encouraged anyone affected by the issue of rape to seek help and information. Great care has been taken to ensure that the storyline takes a responsible approach to dealing with the issue of rape and we ran on-air and online support messages signposting where people affected by the storyline can seek help from such organisations."

We've already seen one scene between Jacqui and Gilly after the trial verdict - have you filmed any more with Anthony Quinlan yet?
"Oh, I can't tell you! We'll have to wait and see whether Gilly returns, but at the moment my lips are sealed."

When we see Jacqui again, she's agreed to be a kidney donor for Billy's daughter Emily. Why has she made that decision?
"Jacqui can't be pushed into anything - she had to make a choice in this situation and this is the right choice for her. If she knows that she can save somebody's life, then that's a good enough reason for her. She's not been cornered or pushed into doing this - I don't think many people could push Jacqui into doing something!"

Has Jacqui's fragile state of mind influenced her decision when it comes to helping Emily?
"Right now, she is in a delicate state of mind, but she knows what she's doing when it comes to Emily. It's a choice that she feels is the right one. Things have gone wrong in her own life, and if she feels that she can help somebody else, that's the right choice for her. She's quite coherent in her decision-making when it comes to this - she may not be in other areas of her life, but she's sure that this is the right thing to do."

What happens between Jacqui and Rhys once they're reunited in the village?
"Jacqui and Rhys have a complex bond, but it's going to take some time for Jacqui to re-establish what they initially had, because so many bridges have been broken and it'll take time for things to heal. There certainly won't be an immediate remedy and it won't be an easy ride. It'll be a bit of a rollercoaster over the next few months, but I hope we take the audience with them. It'll be uncomfortable between them at times."

Shortly after her return, Jacqui decides to propose to Rhys. Is she making the right choice?
"Well, this is where I think Jacqui's mind is not in the right place. As Claire playing Jacqui, I don't think she should be doing this, but she does do it - and in a very Jacqui way! She's quite forceful, she's banging on Rhys's door, she wants a quick wedding and it's not the way that it should be done. Jacqui deserves so much more - she deserves a big gypsy wedding, a big dress, the McQueens all dressed up and God knows what else! Jacqui is quite irrational when it comes to Rhys, but who knows what could happen between them after the proposal? We'll have to wait and see…"

We'll see Tony give Jacqui some advice about Rhys, won't we?
"Yes - it was really nice working with Nick [Pickard] and to touch base with him. Tony is a good rock for Jacqui and I really like working with Nick. It was nice to do that, because Tony knows Jacqui very well - they've had so many ups and downs themselves when they were a couple previously. It's nice that Jacqui gets that support."

Have you enjoyed working with Richard Graham, who plays Jacqui's dad?
"Yeah, I've loved working with Richard - we get on really well. We've got similar interests in films and things like that, and we've had a laugh. We socialise quite a bit outside of work."

The Savage family seem to have made a big impact on the McQueens - have you had any scenes with them yet?
"I've not really done anything with them yet. So far there haven't been any scenes. It'll be interesting to see what would happen between the Savages and Jacqui, though - it'd be a fiery scene, no doubt!"

You've made it onto the shortlist for the Soap Awards with nominations for 'Best Actress' and 'Best Dramatic Performance'…
"I can't believe it! It's amazing that the public have voted and put myself this far, and the same with Emmett and Jennifer. It's really hard to put it into words, but it feels fantastic - you feel like you and the other people in the category have won it already just to have got this far. It's the biggest compliment that you could ask for."

Why do you think we should be voting for all things Hollyoaks this year?
"With Jennifer, I think that we do have the sexiest female in the show - we have lots of sexy females, but I think that Jennifer plays a great, sassy character and she does it so well. Emmett's a fantastic actor - he's got the most nominations and I hope that he comes away with one award, if not all of them. Also, I think Kieron and Emmett's on-screen partnership has been mesmerising and captivating all year. I'm rooting for Hollyoaks big time! We've got some great nominations and I'm really proud to be up there with them, along with the actors from the other shows."

Are you looking forward to the big night itself in Manchester?
"Yeah, I think it's going to be something different this year - we're up north this time so it'll be different to London, and it should be a good night. It's nice because all of the cast get to go - it's not just a few people, it's everyone and I think that's really important. We all get to celebrate together."

The Soap Awards have been a bit disappointing for Hollyoaks in the past couple of years, but are you all feeling more positive this time around?
"Yeah, I think we've had a really strong year. We've gone through a few changes over the past few years, and I think that we're doing some great stuff at the moment. There's strong actors in the show, strong storylines and I think we're going to go away with our heads held high this year. We're proud of what we've done. We've had fantastic support from fans on Twitter, Digital Spy and everywhere on the internet in general. We're really grateful for all of the support that we get from the fans!"

[Perdita]

Hollyoaks star Jennifer Metcalfe has predicted that her character Mercedes McQueen will continue her cheating ways in the coming weeks.

Mercedes has enjoyed an on-off fling with pub landlord Carl Costello this year, despite being engaged to his footballer son Riley (Rob Norbury).

Although Mercedes has recently tried to keep her distance from Carl, the storyline is revisited in next week's episodes as her sister Jacqui (Claire Cooper) finds out about the affair. Jacqui also learns that Mercedes is planning to fake a miscarriage after lying about being pregnant.

Jacqui is left disgusted by her sibling's behaviour and her discoveries leave Mercedes panic-stricken as she believes that her betrayal of Riley is about to be exposed to all.


However, pondering her character's next move, Metcalfe told Soaplife: "She wants Riley. She loves Riley. But she can't help fancying Carl. There's a difference between love and lust in Mercedes's eyes. Carl is really keen and if she gave him the nod, he'd be right back in there.

"If Jacqui keeps her mouth shut, Mercedes will be relieved she's still got Riley and won't be thinking about Carl - although I think they could end up in bed together again!"

Metcalfe also admitted that keeping Jacqui quiet will prove a difficult task as she seems determined to reveal the truth.

She said: "It's horrible. Mercedes feels like her world could collapse around her at any moment."

Hollyoaks screens the latest twists for Mercedes and Riley next week.

[Perdita]

Hollyoaks star Claire Cooper has decided to leave the soap after six years playing Jacqui McQueen, Digital Spy can confirm.

The actress is bowing out to pursue new projects and her final scenes will air in April.

Speaking of her decision to move on, Cooper explained: "I have had the most incredible and unforgettable time at Hollyoaks. Jacqui McQueen has been a fascinating part to play and I have nothing but gratitude to Channel 4 and Hollyoaks for giving me the opportunity.

"I would especially like to thank [executive producer] Bryan Kirkwood, whom I adore and have nothing but respect and praise for.

"It's sad that I'm leaving when Hollyoaks is at such a high-point, especially with Bryan back at the helm, but it's the right time for me personally to explore other avenues and see what other stories I can tell.

"To my family, friends, colleagues and fans, thank you for your support - it's been one hell of a ride for Miss McQueen and an inspirational one for me."

Bryan Kirkwood added: "Claire Cooper has created an unforgettable soap character in the indomitable Jacqui McQueen. I feel very protective and proud of Claire's wonderful, tough, sexy, funny creation and she has struck a perfect balance of portraying Jacqui's 'hard as nails' exterior, as well as her crushing vulnerability.

"I'm devastated to be losing Jacqui, but after six years of her wearing those thigh-high PVC boots, I respect Claire's need to explore other roles. I wish her the best of luck - not that she'll need it."

While little is known about exactly how Jacqui leaves the village, show bosses have teased that her departure involves "a dramatic effort to bring her family back together".

A show statement teased: "Jacqui's departure comes shortly after the arrival of her former cell-mate, Trudy Ryan, with whom she shares a dark secret. Could she be behind Jacqui's exit from the village?"

Cooper first appeared on Hollyoaks in September 2006 and has established Jacqui as one of the show's most popular characters.

Jacqui's major storylines have often revolved around her fierce loyalty towards the rest of the McQueen clan. The tough character will also be remembered for her relationships with Tony Hutchinson (Nick Pickard) and Rhys Ashworth (Andrew Moss).

A hard-hitting rape storyline for Jacqui in 2011 earned Cooper nominations for 'Best Actress' and 'Best Dramatic Performance' at the British Soap Awards.

She also featured prominently in last year's 'Enjoy the Ride' wedding crash episodes, which led to Rhys's death.

Hollyoaks airs weeknights at 6.30pm on Channel 4, with first look screenings at 7pm on E4.

[tammyy2j]

All the best are leaving the show

[lizann]

All the best are leaving the show

do they not like bk as some many leaving

[lizann]

All the best are leaving the show

do they not like bk as some many leaving

[tammyy2j]

She is dating the actor who plays Brendan and he is leaving to try his luck in America so maybe she is going with him

[Katy]

All the good characters are leaving.

[moonstorm]

There is going to be no one decent left! Oh and lucky Jacky dating Brendan lol