Hollyoaks star Dan Tetsell has admitted that he was shocked to land a regular role on the soap.
The actor arrived on screen last November as quirky lawyer Jim McGinn, who has since become a permanent fixture in the village by buying into the club and dating Carmel McQueen (Gemma Merna).
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Dan Tetsell as Jim McGinn
Tetsell told Inside Soap of his Hollyoaks success: "It was quite a surprise to get the call. I'd auditioned previously for the part of a lowlife businessman who tried to pick up Mercedes in a hotel, and I didn't get that.
"I went away thinking, 'I look like a lowlife businessman, surely?' But when the role of Jim came up and I got it, I thought, 'I'm never going to get this offer again - I've got to do it!'"
He continued: "I watched the first ever [Hollyoaks] episode, which dates me horribly I suspect! My flatmate from that time is very excited that Nick Pickard is still in it - frankly, that scored me big points with my friends. They all think it's absolutely hilarious that I'm now hanging around with all these attractive, beautiful people!"
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Dan Tetsell as Jim McGinn
Tetsell is now hoping to share more screen time with Joe Tracini, who plays Dennis Savage.
He said: "We know each other from the sitcom world. He once auditioned for a show that I'd written, but it didn't get made, so neither of us won on that one! When I told people that I'd got the job on Hollyoaks, they assumed I'd be playing Dennis's dad."
Hollyoaks delivered another surprising storyline twist in its latest episode as Jim McGinn was revealed as Doctor Browning's stalker.
Following weeks of mystery surrounding the identity of Browning's tormentor, tonight's Channel 4 airing (July 22) showed that Jim is secretly scheming against his villainous business partner.
Jim is carrying out the mischief on the orders of Trevor Royle. With Jim working as Trevor's barrister, his aim is to help the bad boy secure Browning's half of the club.
Digital Spy recently chatted to Dan Tetsell, who plays Jim, to hear more about his character's stalker secret.
How do you feel about being involved in this surprising twist?
"I think it's great. I was actually hoping that something like this might happen. I'd been a bit worried for a while that, for a lawyer, Jim was very, very relaxed about all of these murderers he was spending time with! To be bringing a certain amount of justice to proceedings is quite nice, even if it's not in the courtroom! It's really good fun."
Did you know Jim was the stalker all along, or were you kept in the dark?
"I didn't know about it straight away, but it was fine - I just had to move from not knowing who it was, to just acting like I didn't know who it was. There was probably a subtle change in my facial expression!"
Do you think the viewers have been suspecting Jim?
"I haven't really seen anyone suspecting Jim, so I'd say probably not! I have seen people wondering whether Will is responsible, or Silas, or one of the show's other psychos! Jim seems to have been in the clear in the eyes of the viewers, so I really hope people have been surprised."
Has Jim been scheming against Browning from day one, or is it a lot more recent than that?
"It really dates back from around the time of Browning marrying Mercedes. That's when Trevor strong-armed Jim into doing it. I also think that when Browning threatened to tell Carmel about the incident with Myra, that was the final straw for Jim. He wanted Browning out of his life, the club and the village, as he's become such a loose cannon."
They do have an unusual friendship, though! Is there a part of Jim that's still fond of Browning?
"In a way, yes! Jim is an office joker who just happens to be self-employed. I think part of the attraction of Browning to Jim is that he's just someone to talk to. They also move in the same circles. They're two of about three characters who wear suits in the village - however, one's a headteacher who has a dark side, one's a killer, and I'm short and overweight, so I'm not sure it's a good look!"
How nervous is Jim about doing Trevor's dirty work?
"Trevor is exactly the sort of person who Jim hates dealing with. He's another loose cannon and very dangerous, like a rabid dog. Greg Wood who plays the character is lovely, but Trevor is absolutely terrifying to be around. He's huge, threatening, ruthless and he can't ever be talked round."
Poor Jim is caught between Browning and Trevor! With their evil natures to worry about, could Jim be in danger?
"Who knows? If viewers take anything away from this, it should be don't get involved with gangsters and murderers - even if they are doctors! (Laughs.) You just can't guess what they're going to do next."
How does Jim feel about Browning's plan to have Myra killed?
"It's interesting, as there's a small second of relief that it's not him in the firing line. But it's also terrible, as Jim does like Myra and they have a history. However, he can't save Myra without revealing his own guilt. He ends up having to step up the stalking in an attempt to sort this out quickly."
Can we expect some more twists and turns with this story?
"Absolutely. Jim has got quite an artistic eye, with his delivery of necklaces and wreaths! I'd say keep an eye on his artistic side, as Browning definitely has a few shocks coming…"
We've seen a lot of comedy from your character, so are you enjoying having a more serious storyline?
"I am, actually. I think it was always under there somewhere - that Jim is a schmuck in real life but quite hard when it comes to the law. You're mainly going to see Jim terrified of all these crazy people he has to deal with, but it's great fun to play."
Is Jim's quirky side his true character, or is there a sense that he's putting it on slightly?
"It's difficult to tell, isn't it? I do think it's really him, because it comes out at massively inappropriate moments. Jim tells jokes at the most terrible times, so it is naturally him, but I do think he also sometimes plays up to his class joker role in order to get on with people."
Myra still has some feelings for Jim. Does Jim feel anything for her other than friendship?
"I think there'll always be a special bond after what happened between them. They're also much closer in age than Jim and Carmel are. However, Carmel is the ideal for Jim and she represents a better life for him."
Do you think Jim and Carmel can stay together?
"Well, I hope they've got a long-term future! I think they get along well, but there's probably going to be ups and downs, because they live in Hollyoaks! It'd be nice to think they could be soap's only happy couple, but who knows if I'll get my wish?"
How does the soap world compare to your previous work?
"It's really great. I've done quite a bit of comedy in the past, so it's stretching having to be sincere about things! (Laughs.) That's what most actors do, but it's rarely ever come up for me! I think the audience feedback has been great too - it's so immediate, focused and intense. It's great to be in a show that's so closely followed by people. The viewers get really involved."
Have you made many friends on set?
"The cast have been very welcoming from day one. I was straight into last year's courtroom scenes with the McQueens, so they've been extremely welcoming. Also, Joe Thompson who plays Doctor Browning couldn't be further away from the crazy, obsessive lunatic that he plays. He's very lovely and we even went to the same university, so we have mutual friends. Joe Tracini is great too.
"To be honest, one of the fantastic things about this show is that everyone is ridiculously nice. It really is sickening how all these attractive people are also great human beings! (Laughs.) Everything I thought about beautiful people was wrong!"
If Jim isn't killed by Browning or Trevor, would you like to stick around in Hollyoaks for a while?
"I really would, as it's a great show to be in. I'm enjoying it so much that I think my family in London are getting a bit annoyed that I'm having such a good time away from them! I have to pretend I don't enjoy it when I go home! I'm very comfortable on the show, but saying that is probably the kiss of death, so don't tell our producer Bryan that I said it!"
kill him off now not a fan of jim or the doctor
Hollyoaks lawyer Jim McGinn has a heated showdown with Sonny Valentine in tonight's E4 first look episode (January 28).
Tonight's E4 airing sees actor Dan Tetsell's final scenes in the role of Jim, as he finished filming at the Channel 4 soap late last year.
Jim is planning to leave the village for good so that he can finally stop working for dangerous gangster Fraser Black.
However, when Sonny (Aaron Fontaine) finds out that Carmel is considering leaving with Jim and taking Kathleen-Angel with them, he fiercely opposes her plans and a big row follows at the McQueen house…
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Sonny confronts Jim
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Sonny confronts Jim
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Jim argues back at Sonny
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Jim argues back at Sonny
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Sonny doesn't want Carmel to leave with Jim
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Sonny doesn't want Carmel to leave with Jim
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Sonny and Jim's row turns violent
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Sonny and Jim's row turns violent
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What will Carmel decide?
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What will Carmel decide?
With lots to think about and everyone in the family having an opinion on Jim's recent behaviour, will Carmel (Gemma Merna) agree to go with her boyfriend?
Hollyoaks airs these scenes tonight (January 28) at 7pm on E4 and tomorrow (January 29) at 6.30pm on Channel 4.
tammyy2j
28-01-2014, 15:49
Kinda glad he is going tbh
Hollyoaks star Dan Tetsell has paid tribute to the soap's cast and crew following his dramatic on-screen exit.
The actor's character Jim McGinn bowed out in tragic circumstances in tonight's Channel 4 airing (January 29) as he was fatally stabbed by gangster Fraser Black (Jesse Birdsall).
Jim's demise came just as he was about to flee the village with his partner Carmel Valentine (Gemma Merna), who reacted in horror as their plans for the future were cruelly snatched away.
Speaking to Digital Spy today, Tetsell commented: "I loved every minute of my time on Hollyoaks. There are so many people I need to thank - the crew, the actors, just everyone at Lime - for making the last year and a bit so wonderful.
"Special thanks has to go to the writers for all the jokes, the McQueens for taking me to their impressive communal bosom and the viewers for making me feel part of something special.
"I'm sad to leave, but we all knew someone as cool, suave, handsome and well-dressed as Jim was never long for this world."
Tetsell joined the cast of Hollyoaks in late 2012 as Jim became Mercedes McQueen's lawyer when she went on trial for her schemes against Mitzeee Minniver and staging a fake kidnapping of her own son Bobby.
After successfully securing Mercedes's freedom, Jim helped the McQueens out of other legal problems and soon fell for Carmel.
More recently, Jim has been embroiled in darker storylines as his association with Fraser and his criminal world landed him in some dangerous situations.
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