Leanne Holiday (Jessica Forrest)

[Perdita]

Hollyoaks' resident bunny boiler Leanne Holiday has proved to be one of the most memorable of last year's batch of new characters, causing a stir in the village with her crazy ways, obsession with on-off boyfriend Lee Hunter and bitter rivalry with Amy Barnes. Following the news that Lee will be leaving the village later this year, Digital Spy recently caught up with Jessica Forrest, who plays Leanne, on set at the Hollyoaks Music Show to find out what the future holds for her character.

You've been at Hollyoaks for a year now! How has it compared to what you expected?
"Well, when I first started, I was really intimidated and scared because I haven't done anything for TV before, so I feel like I'm still training. But everyone's really friendly - from the cameramen to the canteen staff to production. You get a friendly reaction every time you walk into the building, so starting in the job wasn't as scary as I thought it would be. If anything, I think university was scarier! So I'm loving it at Hollyoaks."

As you started out on the online Freshers spinoff, was that quite a good way to ease yourself into the role?
"Definitely - doing Freshers, I was aware that anything I did was just for YouTube or the website and it really got me into the role. It helped me to understand the part and build up the chemistry with Alex Carter, who plays Lee, before we came on screen in the main show, so it worked out really well. Also, as I'm new to TV, Freshers really helped me to understand what to do on set while I was getting used to it."

Leanne's bunny boiler ways seem to have intensified as time has gone on! Was that always planned for the character, or did it develop naturally?
"I think it developed naturally. The team were saying that they liked Leanne being funny and that the comic timing was good, so they really started playing on that - which is cool because I love it! There's definitely an element of Leanne being a bunny boiler, but I think what you'll also see in the future is that there's a loopy side to her - where she's quirky but quite funny with it. I love playing it because it's so different to me. Leanne is a character and sometimes people can forget that."

Would you like the writers to explore Leanne's background to explain why she is so loopy?
"Well, I think it would be really funny if they brought Leanne's mum into the show. Leanne's mum could be really straight-down-the-line and strait-laced - that would be cool as everyone would be wondering why Leanne is a nutter! It'd also be fun to do it the other way around and show that her mum is absolutely barking mad! I think that'd be funny, as it'd be nice to see Leanne away from Lee."

Are you disappointed that Alex is leaving Hollyoaks?
"Yeah, I am - I'm really gutted. Alex has taught me everything that I know - I've learned so much from him and he's an absolute star. He's one of my best friends and we'll be really good friends even when he leaves. So I am gutted, but I'm sure he'll go on to bigger and better things."

Do you think Leanne will find a new man to obsess over once Lee is gone?
"Well, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we're going to see more of Leanne in her own right, rather than just her around men - because I think there is a nice side to her. She's funny, she can make people laugh and she can entertain people without being obsessed with a man. This storyline has been running ever since Leanne started on the show, so it'd be nice for her to break free and maybe evolve as her own character. We've done some really fun stuff with Texas and the students and that's all been quite fresh, so I hope that we'll get some more fresh material. But who knows? It could be round two with the bunny boiler!"

Do you enjoy Leanne's rivalry with Amy Barnes?
"Yeah, myself and Ashley Slanina-Davies have such a laugh and we're really, really good friends in real life. We really go for it when we're doing the rivalry scenes on set. I love working with Ashley - she's ace."

Could Leanne's rivalry with Amy continue even when Lee has gone, or will it fizzle out?
"I really don't know, as they haven't told me! But knowing Leanne as I do, I think it will probably fizzle out. I think it's just an immature and insecure stage in Leanne at the moment. Leanne and Amy could even end up being friends - you never know!"

Are there any cast members who you're keen to work with but you haven't done much with so far?
"It's always fresh and new when you're in a scene with different people, as each person brings out something different in your character. But right when I first started, there was one scene that I did with Bronagh, who plays Cheryl, and we've not done anything since. Bronagh's a good friend of mine so it'd be quite cool to work with her more. I'd like Leanne to do some scenes with someone who's really bubbly, as I think that's what she needs - someone to bounce off."

Do Hollyoaks fans recognise you much when you're out and about?
"Yeah, I get people coming over quite a lot. Some people are really nice, but obviously because Leanne can be really manipulative and she's always scheming, some people can give you some stick! But I don't care, as if they're giving me stick, I think I'm doing the right thing as that's what the character is there for. You've got to have characters like that in soap, haven't you?"

How did you get into acting?
"I haven't trained so I'm learning on the job, but I really love it and I feel that I have improved a lot. When I first started, my confidence was on the floor but I'm really trying to put my own stamp on the character now and I think that's showing. I was at university for two years and I did do drama, but it wasn't practical - it was all theory-based, so I didn't get much practice. I went to an open audition for Hollyoaks, got the part of Leanne, left uni and it all went mental from there on! I've settled in here and made some really good friends. There's four of us that live together - myself, Bianca (Texas), Alice (Rae) and PJ (Doug). It's quite funny and it's like Hollyoaks under one roof!"

Finally, have you had much of a chance to chat with Hollyoaks' new boss Gareth since he's taken over?
"Yeah, I've had a couple of meetings with Gareth to find out what's next for Leanne. When I heard the news that Alex was leaving, I was wondering whether it'd be the end for her or whether we could develop the character further. It turned out Gareth was really happy and loves the character, which is great. He's keeping Leanne, so it's all good!"

[lizann]

I hope she is leaving

[tammyy2j]

I hope she is leaving

Yes she is an awful character

[Perdita]

Hollyoaks student Leanne Holiday accepts one of soapland's most surprising proposals next week as Doug Carter asks for her hand in marriage!

When Doug's parents arrive in the village unexpectedly in the coming days, Leanne pretends to be his fiancée as he is struggling to be honest about his sexuality.

Doug (PJ Brennan) later decides that the deception has to end, but when talk turns to his wedding inheritance, it seems that there could be a financial incentive to keeping the charade going…

Digital Spy recently caught up with Jessica Forrest, who plays Leanne, to hear more about the storyline.

How does Leanne get involved in the story with Doug's parents?
"It starts during a party at the lads' pad, which Leanne has planned to cheer Texas and Ste up. Doug's mum and dad arrive unexpectedly, so it's a complete surprise for everyone. Then it turns out that Doug's been telling his parents that he's got a girlfriend, so his mum wants to know who she is!

"After that, Leanne just gets roped into it and it's mentioned that she and Doug will be getting married. As soon as wedding bells are mentioned, Leanne is just going crazy, because she loves a good wedding! So she's dragged into it, but I think she's in too deep and she doesn't really understand what she's signed up for."

What motivates them to go ahead with the fake wedding idea?
"Doug and Ste really need the money, so they're going ahead with it because Doug will get a wedding inheritance once he's married. With Leanne, it's not that she's being mischievous - she just gets carried away with this idea of a big wedding. It's her dream to get married, so she just goes along with the idea!

"You'll see that Leanne's in her own little world, and she doesn't really take the money into consideration. When the money's mentioned, she actually gets quite upset about it and says, 'How dare you bribe me?' But when Doug finally gets down on one knee and does it the proper way, she says, 'Of course I'll marry you - why wouldn't I?' So it's a bit bonkers, as it often is with Leanne!"

What does Ste make of the situation?
"Well, it's Ste's idea! He points out to Doug that they could really do with this money, because they're skint. At the same time, though, Ste is still very reluctant about it and he wants his boyfriend back. Bridezilla's on the scene and she's killing every romantic moment that they have.

"I don't think Ste realised how big the wedding was going to be. So even though it's his idea, there are a lot of scenes where it's obvious that he's jealous."

Do Texas and Dennis get involved in the story too?
"They do, as they're all really good friends, and Dennis has a huge soft spot for Leanne. Texas is only involved a little bit, but she's going to be one of the guests at the wedding. There are more scenes with Dennis, because he's quite jealous of Doug's position due to his own feelings for Leanne. So it's quite funny, as Ste is jealous of Leanne, and Dennis is jealous of Doug!"

As you're friends with PJ in real life, is it strange to film fake couple scenes with him?
"It's really fun, actually! PJ and Bianca [Henrickse-Spendlove] are my best friends, so the story has been a good laugh. I used to live with PJ as well, so it's hilarious."

Leanne doesn't seem so bitchy and scheming lately. Have you enjoyed exploring a different side of her character?
"100% yes - it's brilliant. When Leanne first started in the show, there was a good 12 months of her just being jealous, insecure, immature, naïve, young, and a bit of a bitch. But now she seems to have changed a little bit, although not too much!

"I feel like the character is so nice to play as a single girl, rather than her just being so obsessed with men all the time. I think it's definitely given Leanne more depth to see her going down her own path. We've been exploring Leanne in her own right now that Lee isn't around."

Do you think there's any chance Leanne and Dennis would ever get together?
"I'm not sure, as Leanne is quite shallow so she tends to always focus on the latest hottie on the scene, and be all over him! But I think Leanne and Dennis have got such a good friendship, so who knows? I think sometimes Leanne looks at Dennis and thinks, 'You're so lovely and I know that you'd do anything for me'.

"At the moment, she doesn't fancy him, but there's always lines where Texas will give her a little push by suggesting she should consider going out with Dennis. Leanne says they're just friends, but maybe that could be a cover-up. I'm not quite sure where it could go."

Ashley Slanina-Davies, who played Amy Barnes, recently bowed out from Hollyoaks. Were you sad to see her go after working closely with her last year?
"Really sad! Ashley's such a lovely girl - she wouldn't harm a fly and she's just the nicest person. Because of that, and with Amy being such a loveable character too, it was quite difficult to come into the show and play a character who completely slated her and was always being mean to her! Obviously the audience were always going to say, 'Leave our Amy Barnes alone!'

"When we were filming those scenes last year, me and Ashley would have a little cuddle in between takes and say, 'I love you really!' It was also nice that I was in the final scene that Ashley filmed for the show on her last day."


© Lime Pictures

© Lime Pictures


Who would you like Leanne to share more screen time with?
"Well, I always think that Leanne and Barney work really well together - we had so much fun on the 'Chasing Rainbows' episode. It'd be nice to work with anyone, because everyone in the cast is lovely and it's always nice to see scenes between characters who don't usually interact. It can spark so many ideas, and both the audience and writers see a different side to the characters. It's quite refreshing to work with new people sometimes."

Are you staying around on the show for the foreseeable future?
"I hope so, because I think Leanne's a good character. She is a character and that's what I like about her. People form an opinion on her, whether they like her or they hate her, and I think there's always a lot of scope with characters like that. I love the show and everyone who works here - it's a really good place to work."

> Read more 'Hollyoaks' spoilers and news

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

[tammyy2j]

Hollyoaks student Leanne Holiday experiences a rollercoaster of emotions next week as she sees Will Savage's true colours, before later developing an attraction to him in a surprising twist.

Leanne is horrified when she finds Will's secret notebook and CCTV footage which has kept track of Texas's every movement. However, she later realises that she can relate to his obsessive behaviour and starts to fall for him.

Digital Spy recently chatted to Jessica Forrest, who plays Leanne, to hear her thoughts on the storyline.

Have you enjoyed being brought into the Will and Texas saga?
"Yeah, it's been great! I think with this storyline, we've all been given something to really sink our teeth into, which is nice. Each of the characters is completely different and brings a different dynamic to the situation. That's been really fun and we've all really enjoyed it."

Is Leanne happy to see Texas and Will planning their wedding?
"She is at first - she's quite happy for them. It's been quite a shock to Leanne and Doug, because it's always been Texas and Dodger who had strong feelings for each other. When Texas and Will got together, they were slightly sceptical about it.

"Despite that, Leanne is one of Texas's best friends, so she does encourage it. If it makes Texas happy, she will support it. Plus, Leanne loves a wedding! Give her a wedding and she'll definitely run with it! (Laughs.) It all starts off quite good, but obviously a spanner is thrown in the works later on…"

It's actually Leanne who books the wedding for four weeks' time, isn't it?
"Yeah, that's right. At this point, Texas has got a lot of college work to do, and she has lots of other things on her mind, so she's making excuses to delay the wedding a little bit. That's because she wants to sort out her own emotions in her head.

"But at the same time, Will is quite pushy about it, as he wants the wedding to happen much sooner. When Texas isn't around, Leanne and Will form quite a big friendship. It's obvious that Will really wants the wedding to go ahead, so Leanne plans it with him.

"Leanne does get very involved with the wedding and she ends up booking it, which ticks Texas off. But perhaps that's only because she's a little bit unhappy in the relationship herself."

Is Leanne excited when Texas and Will ask her to be maid of honour on the big day?
"Very much so, she's really excited! It's a lovely little moment when Leanne is asked to be maid of honour, so it's all looking good at that point!"


But then Leanne finds out that Will has been stalking Texas! How does she react?
"Leanne goes absolutely mental! She absolutely blows her lid and calls Will an absolute freak. She's screaming and she's throwing the CCTV DVDs around the room. Will is really panicking because he's been found out, and he doesn't know what Leanne is going to do.

"But Will is a master manipulator and he eventually manages to pin Leanne down to have a little chat with her. The interesting thing is that a lot of Will's personality traits are similar to Leanne's, in the way that he's become very obsessive. He's stalking Texas, which is similar to the way that Leanne stalked Lee when she first joined the village.

"Will points out that they're both 'crazy in love' and it's something they've got in common. He manages to bring her round, so Leanne starts to think that they're almost soul mates. She sees something in Will that she's only ever seen in herself, and a nice bond starts to develop between them."

Leanne's feelings for Will start to become increasingly romantic. Were you surprised by that?
"It's definitely unexpected, but I think Will is desperate. Somebody has found out his secrets and he's trying to do everything in his power to keep those under wraps. He basically manipulates Leanne into fancying him, so she'll do anything for him.

"We all know what Leanne's like around men - they say 'Jump' and she says 'How high?' So Will definitely uses that to his advantage. I think it's nice for the audience to see a different side to Leanne. For once, she's the one who's being manipulated."

Does Leanne feel guilty about developing an attraction to her best friend's fiancé?
"Definitely. The whole storyline for Leanne is revolving around her guilt, as she's being manipulated the whole time. The audience can see that Will is pushing her into certain situations, but Leanne doesn't realise that. She thinks their attraction is developing quite naturally, but it's actually formed by his manipulations."


It's no secret that this storyline is leading up to the murder of Texas! Are you sad to see Bianca Hendrickse-Spendlove, who plays her, leaving the show?
"It's really sad! I'm gutted as she's my best friend. I lived with her for a year and a half and I really love her. It won't only change the dynamic at work, but also the dynamic in the village. Who's Leanne going to be hanging about with now? Changes are exciting but it's also really sad."

What can we expect between now and the wedding?
"There's loads of stuff coming up, just keep tuning in! The storyline starts next week and then it runs for a few months. It's so exciting and there's so many twists and turns.

"We've already filmed the wedding, and the big day is amazing. When we filmed it, it was absolutely beautiful and we had big crane cameras shooting some of the scenes. I think it's going to look amazing - Hollyoaks at its best!"

Will Leanne be under suspicion when Texas is murdered?
"Yes, she's definitely one of the suspects! There are five suspects and Leanne is one of them, unfortunately!"


After nearly three years with the show, do you still enjoy Hollyoaks as much as when you first started?
"To be honest, I think I enjoy it more, if anything! I've been there quite a long time now. It was my first TV job, so it was all new to me. I've definitely learned on the job and I feel like I've got better since I've been there. The character has developed and Leanne has formed quite a few different relationships.

"For example, if I have a scene with Doug now, then we've got three years of history to draw on. We've had a kiss, we've almost got married, so a lot has happened! I think you just get a chance to develop a complex character, which is really fun. I've got the best job in the world."

Would you like Leanne to ever be lucky in love for a change?
"No, single Leanne all the way! I can't handle her when she's around men, she's too much! I'm single and it's quite nice to be single at work and single at home for a change!

"Having said that, obviously Leanne has got a lovely little relationship with Dennis, so you never know what's going to happen there. There's also a few hotties in the village so maybe she'll get on the prowl!"

Do you hope the writers keep Leanne's quirky side?
"Definitely, I love that. At the end of the day, she's a bit like Marmite, but I love all the one-liners they write for her. Whenever I pick a script up, I always know that she's going to be up to something, and that's why I'm still there now. I think there's always so much more she can do, so it's great."

Is there a dream storyline that you'd love to play as Leanne?
"Well, I've actually really enjoyed the last storyline that I've just done, but I'm not really allowed to talk about it! As a dream storyline, I'd love to meet Leanne's parents, because I think that'd be quite funny. I imagine her mum to be really strait-laced and prim and proper, so I do wonder where her crazy side has come from. I think it'd definitely be funny to meet the parents."

[Perdita]

Hollyoaks aired tragic exit scenes for Leanne Holiday on Channel 4 this evening (October 21) as she passed away following a deathbed wedding.

Leanne was the final victim of the recent explosion at the council flats, as doctors were unable to fix a brain injury she suffered in the blast.

Before taking her last breath, Leanne tied the knot with boyfriend Dennis Savage (Joe Tracini) in hospital - finally getting the wedding she'd always dreamt of.

Digital Spy recently caught up with Jessica Forrest, who played Leanne, for her reaction to the emotional scenes.

How are you feeling now that your time on Hollyoaks has come to an end?
"I'm feeling quite good. I had a wonderful time on the show, learned so much and met some really cool people. I was ready to go as I'd done so much with the character and it was time for a change. The show is also changing and developing with a lot of new cast coming in, but my time there was amazing so I'm feeling good about it all."

Were you pleased to get such a dramatic exit?
"It's absolutely amazing. I couldn't have wished for a better exit. It was so fun filming it all. Filming the scenes where Leanne was rushed out in a stretcher, I was covered in blood and dust - which was definitely an experience! It felt real and there was an eerie vibe on set that day. We also had the deathbed wedding to film, and it doesn't get more tragic than that, really, does it?

"Me and Joe Tracini, who plays Dennis, really put everything into those scenes. We were crying for days on end, working 12-hour days. It's been amazing and I hope people have enjoyed it."

How long has your departure been in the pipeline for?
"It was around the end of June, so I've known for quite a while and I've had time to set things in line for the future. Everything is looking really exciting.

"I also feel privileged that Leanne was able to survive the explosion and I was given some extra episodes at the end, which really tied up the character's journey. She's died just after getting married, which is all she's ever wanted. It's quite fitting and it was really well-written."

Was it hard to keep it a secret that you'd left Hollyoaks?
"It was actually easy. You don't want to ruin it, do you? I kept it a secret for a couple of months because I didn't want to reveal anything to the audience. There's no point when everyone has worked so hard and put so much into these episodes. If someone had stupidly tweeted it and given it away, it would have been a real shame."

Leanne and Dennis are often seen as comedy characters. Did you enjoy the chance to do something different in your final scenes?
"Definitely, it was amazing. I know Leanne was a comical character, but in this case you saw a different side to her and Dennis. They were both completely broken and it was a chance for us to do something different. Myself and Joe were genuinely crying while working on those scenes, and I'm really going to miss working with him. He's a great guy.

"The high emotion has also given me a sense of confidence, because now I have experience in both fields. I'm also grateful to the crew because they gave us enough time to get into the right frame of mind for the scenes."

Do you think this experience will change Dennis in the long-term?
"I think he'll be the same Dennis. Obviously there's a grieving period as he's lost someone he loves, but I imagine that for the sake of the character, he'll bounce back. He's too strong a character as he is, so it'd be a shame to lose his bubbly side."

Did Hollyoaks give you a good send-off?
"I had a leaving party, which was a shared do with some others who were going. It was a circus-themed party with candy floss, popcorn machines and a cool DJ on. I had a really nice send-off.

"It's just been great as it was a real celebration of the three years I was on the show. It's been like being at university, because everyone's so up for going out and having a laugh. I've made some really good friends there. Bianca Hendrickse-Spendlove (Texas), Alice Barlow (Rae), PJ Brennan (Doug), Andy Moss (Rhys) and Alex Carter (Lee) are people who I hang out with on a day-to-day basis even though I've left."

What kind of projects would you like to do next?
"I'd love to do some comedy or maybe a bit of kids' TV. I've been auditioning quite a bit and my agent is really excited, so it's definitely a new beginning rather than the end.

"Hollyoaks has been such a great training ground because I've not been to drama school - I got the job from an open audition. When I got on set, I honestly didn't have a clue what I was doing. Luckily the first person I got to work with was Alex Carter, who had a lot of TV experience and was very patient with me.

"Now after three years, I feel so confident being on a TV set and being around the crew. When I get a script now, it's not just a case of learning the lines but also thinking of how to create a character. The more you learn and the more confident you become, the more enjoyment you get out of it.

"Towards the end, it didn't feel like I was going to work - it felt like I was just having a laugh with friends. Hollyoaks has just been amazing and I can't thank them enough."

[Katy]

Poor Dennis, he was brilliant tonight. Ill miss Leanne, I didnt like her character at first but she really grew on me.

[tammyy2j]

Poor Dennis, he was brilliant tonight. Ill miss Leanne, I didnt like her character at first but she really grew on me.

Me too

[tammyy2j]

.