Sally St Claire (Annie Wallace)

[Perdita]

Annie Wallace will be joining the cast of Hollyoaks in the coming weeks to play a trans teacher.

Wallace confirmed her casting on Twitter, after LGBTQ activist Paris Lees hailed Hollyoaks's decision as groundbreaking in The Guardian.

Annie Wallace's Twitter avatar
© Twitter / Annie Wallace

"[Wallace] is trans, although Hollyoaks – which quietly had Rebecca Root on the show in a non-trans role earlier this year – isn't making a song and dance about it," Lees wrote.

"Wallace has been acting on British television for the past five years in what we call 'stealth' – keeping your mouth shut about your transition. She felt she had to. In 2015 she's changed her mind."

Hollyoaks fans will remember that Lees herself appeared on the soap in 2014 as a friend of trans character Blessing Chambers (Modupe Adeyeye).

For Wallace's part, she has been cited in the past as an inspiration for the Hayley Cropper character on Coronation Street.

This Hollyoaks announcement follows only hours after EastEnders cast Riley Carter Millington as the first ever transgender actor to play a transgender character in a continuing UK soap role.


digitalspy

[Perdita]

Hollyoaks newcomer Annie Wallace has promised that there are big surprises in store as viewers learn more about her formidable character Sally St Claire.

Sally joined the village last month as she took over from ruthless Patrick Blake at Hollyoaks High.

The no-nonsense headteacher is the first ever transgender character on Hollyoaks to be played by a trans actress. Her casting was revealed just hours after EastEnders announced the arrival of trans actor Riley Carter Millington as newcomer Kyle.

Hollyoaks bosses have now teased that Sally has a big ulterior motive for coming to the village, so it surely won't be too long before she features in a major storyline.

Speaking about Sally's future in an interview with radio show All Out, Wallace explained: "Like most soaps, you get a six-month contract and they extend it as and when. But I'm in for quite a bit next year. We do have a few big surprises hopefully next year - so you'll just have to watch!

"Hollyoaks originally wanted to just bring me in as a teacher and let people go,'Is she trans or isn't she?', because I look a certain way and it's fine.

"But what happened was that EastEnders put out their big press release about Riley Millington. It was the week before my press release was about to be released, so our press office went, 'We better make sure people know about Annie as well'. We announced it within 24 hours of each other.

"At the moment in Hollyoaks, I'm just the strict new headmistress - but things will unfold, as things unfold in the world of continuing drama."

Wallace also revealed that Blessing Chambers's storyline in 2014 paved the way for the arrival of Sally, sparking a long workshop and audition process.

Speaking about Blessing's journey, Wallace said: "She came in as a very bubbly character and a few months later it was revealed that she was a young trans woman. She was played by an actress, Modupe Adeyeye, who did it very well - but there was kind of a collective sigh from the trans community going, 'Again? Couldn't you have tried to get a trans actress?'

"It's largely a case that they don't know any trans actresses, so Hollyoaks got involved with a group called All About Trans. A series of workshops were created where they got about 30 people together in Liverpool. They weren't just looking for one person - they were looking for an acting pool to see who's out there."

[lizann]

online chatter this is john paul's dad

[Perdita]

Hollyoaks is lining up a devastating shock for headteacher Sally St Claire when her new love interest dies in front of her.

The show has been delving deeper into Sally's personal life in recent months after her friend Neeta Kaur connected her with the bewildering world of online dating.

But despite Neeta's help, Sally hasn't had the easiest ride finding romance online, and things are going to get a whole lot worse for her in sad scenes next week.

After a well-meaning Neeta messages someone on Sally's behalf, it seems that her cupid skills could finally pay off when Sally immediately hits it off with her date, councillor Roberta.

Sally St Claire and Neeta Kaur go speed dating in Hollyoaks
© LIME PICTURES
Everything is going well until Roberta gets an urgent phone call that prompts her to dash off – leaving an upset Sally to think it was simply an excuse to escape.

However, Sally's mood is lifted when Roberta later gets back in touch to arrange a second date; only this time, the pair's time together is interrupted by Simone Loveday – who is keen to get an audience with Roberta.

Sally is furious that Simone could be ruining her chance at romance, but they are both left horrified when Roberta suddenly collapses and dies of a heart attack in front of them.

The tragic turn of events is bound to leave Sally traumatised, but could this put her off her quest to find love altogether?

Digital Spy

[tammyy2j]

Poor Sally I hope she does find love

[Perdita]

Hollyoaks star Annie Wallace has teased possible fireworks when Mercedes McQueen finds out about Myra and Sally's relationship.

The Channel 4 soap will kick off a heartwarming a romance between Sally and Myra next week, after they declare their feelings for each other.

Viewers know that the pair share a strong history, as they were friends and lovers years ago before Sally transitioned.

But while there are happy times ahead for Myra and Sally for the time being, it appears that not everyone will be happy about their relationship – particularly Myra's daughter Mercedes.


Myra McQueen gives Sally St Claire false hope in Hollyoaks
© LIME PICTURES

Mercedes is currently living away from the village, but she will be returning to the show once actress Jennifer Metcalfe's maternity leave comes to an end.

Teasing the potential problems ahead when she does, Annie Wallace – who plays Sally – said to Inside Soap: "What's going to be intriguing is how Mercedes reacts to it when she gets back.

"If you remember, she had misgivings about the relationship from the start. So when she returns later this year, there could be some disapproval."

However, Nicole Barber-Lane – who plays Myra – reckons the new couple can weather any storms that come their way.

"They are not bothered – they really aren't!" she said. "This is Hollyoaks, so everyone has their own dramas going on. They do have a son together, so I think this is something everyone saw coming, and it's not a big deal."

Digital Spy

[lizann]

sally is attacked in prison in shocking hate crime story

[lizann]

she is ill, sick but won't tell john paul

[Perdita]

https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/hol...claire-health/

Hollyoaks has confirmed that Sally St Claire has been diagnosed with an abdominal aortic aneurysm.

The past couple of weeks have seen Sally experience a series of health issues, seeing her undergo surgery for back pain as well as trying to keep the rest of the McQueens in the dark about the details of her hospital trips.

During tonight's (April 12) first-look episode, Sally headed to Dee Valley Hospital to learn the results of her recent abdominal scan while keeping news of the appointment a secret from her family.

However, her plan was thrown into jeopardy when Mercedes McQueen asked Sally to accompany her to a pregnancy check-up so she didn't have to be alone, meaning that the former Hollyoaks High headteacher wasn't able to go alone to the hospital.

At the hospital, Sally was called into Misbah's office to discuss her scan results, with Sally lying and telling Mercedes that the pair were setting up a book club. Sally then pleaded with Misbah to reschedule the appointment, saying she needed to support Mercedes.

However Misbah shared the results of Sally's scan, revealing that she had an abdominal aortic aneurysm and would have to seek immediate help if she experienced back or abdominal pain as it could've ruptured.

An abdominal aortic aneurysm is the swelling of the artery that carries blood from the heart to the abdomen. Most aneurysms are stable, but can cause significant risks should they rupture (NHS).

Sally then asked Misbah if it could be fixed with surgery, to which the doctor explained that surgery would only be considered if the aneurysm grew as the procedure carried "significant risks".

"What you're telling me is that I've got a ticking time bomb inside of me and it could go off at any momnent?" Sally questioned, while Misbah reassured her that she'd be able to maintain the condition with a healthy and stress-free lifestyle.

Back at home, Mercedes confronted Sally about her behaviour in the hospital, saying she knew that she was hiding something from the family.

Sally admitted to having a hospital appointment but hid the details of her diagnosis from Mercedes, saying that she had been advised to live a healthier lifestyle.

"Honestly, everything's fine," Sally insisted.

Will Sally be able to keep the truth about her health a secret?

[lizann]

Is she an axe casualty, death for sally