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'Hollyoaks' new sixth form students
'Hollyoaks' new sixth form students - In Pictures
Hollyoaks bosses have announced the characters who will be joining the village's sixth form college in the autumn.
As expected, Abersoch gang Maddie (Scarlett Bowman), Jono (Dylan Llewellyn) and Tilly (Lucy Dixon) are all back on the scene as regular characters, attending the college alongside established faces Jason, Bart and Sinead.
New characters George (Steven Roberts), Neil (Tosin Cole) and Callum (Laurie Duncan) are also in the mix of students, while Ruby and Esther aren't joining the college just yet but will continue to be involved with their friends' storylines.
Following yesterday's announcement, the Hollyoaks team have now released new pictures showing the group all together…
From left to right: Tilly, George, Sinead, Bart, Neil, Maddie, Callum and Jono.
© Lime Pictures
George is billed as a "sharp-tongued fashionista", while Neil is Jono's best friend - who wrongly believes that he's a big hit with the ladies.
Callum, meanwhile, does manage to impress the girls at the sixth form, but he's hiding a dark secret…
Sinead is feeling nervous about joining the college, knowing that she'll have to see Jason and Bart every day after everything that went on between them recently.
On the night before lessons begin, tempers flare as Sinead attends Bart's warehouse party and makes a move on Maddie's new boyfriend. Could her actions spark a battle to become the sixth form's queen bee?
Hollyoaks' sixth formers become regulars from Monday, September 5 at 6.30pm on Channel 4.
'Hollyoaks' Laurie Duncan on Callum, George, Maddie, more: Interview
Hollyoaks revisits the Callum and George storyline this week as the pair's current living arrangements are thrown into chaos.
Callum has allowed George (Steven Roberts) to stay with him over the past few weeks after life on the streets became very dangerous for the homeless teenager.
However, George starts to question his place with the Kane family this week as they prepare to move house - and things become more complicated when Callum's younger sister Lacey (Georgia Burke) makes an unexpected return…
Laurie Duncan, who plays Callum, recently chatted to Digital Spy about the ongoing homelessness plot and more.
After a few months on screen in Hollyoaks, how are you finding your time on the show?
"It's been absolutely fantastic so far. We have the best fun here, and I've met some of the best friends that I've ever made. It's a brilliant place to work."
Callum has always been a character with a slight air of mystery around him. How do you describe him to people?
"I think, most of the time, Callum is the kind of character who just doesn't really want to be bothered by anything or anyone. He wants to do his own thing, get on with his own life, and he's very introverted.
"At the same time, we've also delved a bit deeper with him recently - and that's been very nice, actually. The storyline with George has been great, because it's shown that he's not just an empty shell. I think the viewers are seeing a more human side to him now."
Why is Callum so keen to help George?
"I think Callum just thinks that George is a really nice person. Callum is very caring deep down, and he can obviously see that George is in a lot of trouble. Because of that, he really wants to help out and make sure that George is okay.
"In real life, I also get on really well with Steven Roberts, who plays George. We're best friends, and we're pretty inseparable at the moment as we work together so much! On the rare days when I'm not working with him, it feels strange. We have a lot of banter and jokes going on between us."
You and Steven recently visited a Centrepoint service in Soho to learn more about youth homelessness. Was that useful?
"Definitely. We went down there to see what kind of facilities they have, and what kind of support they give to young people who are homeless. It was a real insight. We met one guy called Tom who'd been on the street for almost a year, but then he found out about Centrepoint - and his life has changed a lot since he's been there. It's quite incredible how they're helping to change young people's lives around."
Is it nice to be part of a storyline that's quite topical and hard-hitting?
"Yeah, definitely. I don't think there's much else in the film or TV industry that is tackling this issue at the moment. It's nice, because I don't think people are really aware of homelessness among young people. It's happening all over the country, so it is nice to be able to raise awareness of it."
In this week's episodes, we see the Kanes preparing to move house. What does that mean for George?
"Callum is really keen for George to keep staying with him, but with the family moving, George doesn't want to intrude. Callum keeps trying to talk him round, though, as he's really quite eager to get George away from the streets and into a stable structure again."
Then things get more complicated when Callum's younger sister Lacey turns up! What can we expect from her?
"Lacey is very fiery and a bit mouthy! But she's a great character and Georgia, who plays her, is fantastic. Callum has a bit of a love-hate relationship with Lacey, and as her older brother, he's always thinking that he knows best.
"Callum is almost trying to be a bit of a father figure with Lacey. I think Lacey can probably see that he means well, but his attitude annoys her a little bit as well! And for George, it's another member of the family that he has to win over."
Have Callum and Ash always got on well?
"Yes - Callum loves his sister very, very much. He doesn't like to admit it, but Ash is his best friend and she's helped him through a lot over the years."
Are you glad that the Hollyoaks producers are expanding the Kanes?
"I'm really enjoying it, as I think we're getting a big insight into everything that Callum has been through before. It helps us to explore why he is the way he is, and I think it'll hopefully explain a bit more. With the sixth formers, Callum is a bit of a black sheep, so it should be interesting to see if he's like that within his own family as well."
Do you think Callum is slowly becoming one of the sixth form gang?
"I think he's slowly getting in there, but I think he's still not all that fussed, to be honest! He's doing it to please Maddie more than anything else."
Do you think Callum and Maddie are a good match?
"I think they have very different personalities, but they're so different that they're good for each other. Maddie brings out quite a fun side to Callum. At the same time, Callum is trying to get Maddie away from the image that she's been hiding behind. He'd like to make her a bit less bitchy!"
Would Callum be annoyed if he saw some of Maddie's nastier moments?
"I think he would, yeah. If Callum saw Maddie being horrible or rude to people, he wouldn't be very happy - and he'd definitely let her know about it."
How did you get into acting?
"Acting is something that I've always wanted to do, for as long as I can remember. I remember being at primary school and doing a play, and that was probably the first time when I thought it could be for me. I attended a few stage schools on Saturdays for a while, but then I got out of the loop for a little bit.
"In late 2010, I was unemployed and I couldn't find a job. That was the point when I decided that I'd get myself a proper agent, concentrate on acting and do it properly. I did Law and Order and then a few months later, I got on to Hollyoaks - and it's been great."
'Hollyoaks' Danny Mac talks love triangle, Dodger future - interview
Hollyoaks' love triangle storyline featuring Dodger, Jodie and Texas continues next week as the trio end up working on a dance project together.
Dance student Jodie (Montana Manning) needs volunteers to help with her university course, so she enlists the assistance of Dodger and Texas (Bianca Hendrickse-Spendlove) - which may not be the best idea given the complicated feelings between the three.
Dodger is hoping that things will hot up in the dance studio, but who does he have his eye on the most?
Digital Spy recently caught up with Danny Mac, who plays Dodger, to hear about the storyline and where he wants his cheeky character to go next.
What's your take on Dodger's love triangle with Jodie and Texas?
"All three characters are so different, and yet they're so similar at the same time when it comes to their morals, as none of them want to be tied down. It's a 'friends with benefits' type thing and it just seems to work out.
"None of them can really complain about one of the others getting with someone else, as they all want that freedom. At the moment, they're all testing the water, and Texas and Jodie are starting to experiment with each other too."
Does Dodger have a preference between the two girls?
"Well, Jodie is quite a liberated character, and she's not bothered at all about sexuality. Dodger is only interested in girls, but he quite likes the thought that Jodie likes both men and women. With Texas, Dodger is massively attracted to her and they've got a long history together.
"In terms of who he's most attracted to, it literally depends on the day! I think it will continue to develop, and hopefully there'll be some kind of outcome eventually. But hopefully that won't happen too soon, because I think Dodger needs to carry on being a lone ranger for a while."
Dodger will soon agree to help Jodie with her dance project, won't he?
"Yes, Dodger is a cheeky guy and he's eager to please, so he gets asked to do this and he agrees. You'll see that both Texas and Dodger agree to help Jodie, so all three of them are in a situation where they've got to work together - and that develops their relationships.
"Dodger manages to pick up the dancing quite well, but I don't think Texas finds it so easy. Later on, they find an alternative and think they should drop Texas out, so they bring Theresa into it. That leads to some jealousy as there's suddenly another girl involved."
You're no stranger to dancing as you have a West End background. Was it nice to show off your skills on Hollyoaks too?
"In a way it was, but we didn't want to make Dodger too much of a great dancer! Dancing on a stage is very different to how Dodger would know how to dance. We had to make sure the dances were to a certain technical standard, but we also had to keep it in character. Dodger is a bit cocky and he thinks that he's got it all, so he thinks he can do it. But he doesn't have any professional training or practice."
Do you think Dodger would ever be capable of settling down with one woman?
"Like anyone, Dodger is a human being and as he meets people and forms relationships, he would be capable of doing that. I think when Dodger first came into Hollyoaks, people possibly thought that he was a bit of a two-dimensional character, but it's nice that we've been able to develop things since then.
"This is also going to be played with a lot more in the future. I think already we've touched on the fact that there's more to Dodger than just sleeping around and being cocky. I've spoken to the producer and the directors, and we want to bring out different sides of him a lot more.
"There's an inevitability that Dodger could settle down eventually, but at the moment there aren't necessarily any firm plans for it. It's in him somewhere, but I don't know where or how or why!"
How have you found your first year at Hollyoaks in general?
"It's been mad and mega-fast, but it's been a great learning experience as I've come here after doing theatre and this is my first continuous TV gig. I've got stuck in and I definitely feel like part of the family and part of the show now.
"Early on, you have to do your time and hope that people get to like your character. That seems to have worked out so far, so now I'm hoping we can push Dodger and the Savage family into bigger stories and a strong future on the show."
Would you like to explore the Savage family more as a family unit?
"I love the family, and I love it when we work together. I think there's really good chemistry there between all of us. It feels quite real - there's not much drama between the Savages, which reminds me of what I grew up in. They're loyal to each other and very straight with their morals, but because of that, there is room to maybe start putting a bit more strain on them - as soaps obviously need good drama.
"Bringing them together a bit more first would be ideal. From speaking to the producer, that is the intention, so hopefully we're going to discover more about them as a family."
Would you be interested in more 'bad boy' scenes after Dodger's story with Brendan last year?
"That was great, because obviously Dodger has come in as a bit of a dodgy dealer, so he kind of wants to be amongst all that. I'm quite lucky that Dodger has got to know a lot of different characters quite early on. Emmett Scanlan is a great guy and I'd love to have scenes with him again. I think there's definitely room for Dodger to play with the big boys on the show."
Have you made good friends among the cast during your first year?
"We're all really close. Even cast members like Jimmy McKenna and Nick Pickard, who've been in Hollyoaks for years, say that the energy among the cast and crew at the moment is possibly the best that it's ever been.
"When you walk into the green room, there's always a laugh, but everyone's here to work hard at the same time. I think that comes across on the show as well, as the energy on screen is fantastic at the minute. I can't really name anyone who I wouldn't get on with."
You've done both stage and screen work now. Has acting always been a big ambition for you?
"Definitely. I was quite a quiet kid, and I always had the urge to pursue acting, but I never really had the bottle. Also, being a lad from where I grew up, you just didn't really do it. But I went to drama school and was lucky enough to be able to train in all areas, so that left my options wide open.
"Before getting into drama school, I had no idea how to get from sitting in the audience to standing on the stage. But I looked into it, and that's when I found out about training and drama schools. I was really lucky, as I finished drama school and went straight into a show. It was the same with the part of Dodger, too - I was finishing Wicked in the West End on a Saturday and started Hollyoaks on the Tuesday."
Do you ever miss the stage?
"I really do. I went to New York at the weekend and saw some shows, and there's nothing like performing live. As I've now done a musical and a TV show, I'd love to do a play at some point - whether it's while I'm in Hollyoaks or in the future. If I managed to do that, it would be three boxes ticked for me. But I'd hate to have to choose one and give up on another for good. At the moment, I'm loving every minute at Hollyoaks."
'Hollyoaks' Scarlett Bowman interview: 'Maddie will hunt for George'
Hollyoaks' Maddie Morrison and her fellow sixth formers are left stunned next week as they finally discover their friend George's sad secret.
Homeless George (Steven Roberts) was recently given a place to stay by Callum (Laurie Duncan) after life on the streets became too dangerous for him to handle. However, the rest of his friends are still unaware of his troubles.
The situation changes dramatically next week as George finds himself back in the clutches of evil human trafficker Deena (Sian Breckin), who held him captive last month.
With George nowhere to be found, Callum is finally forced to tell everyone the truth - sparking a desperate search for the troubled teenager.
Digital Spy recently chatted to Scarlett Bowman, who plays Maddie, to hear how her character and the rest of the sixth formers react to the sinister situation.
How does Maddie feel when she discovers George's secret?
"Maddie is very upset, but she's also a little bit angry that she wasn't told about it sooner. She starts to question why she was kept in the dark, especially as Callum was so involved in the whole situation.
"It's really hard for Maddie that the two people she's closest to had this big secret. But then she starts to understand a bit more and you'll see her try to help. It's a really tough time for the whole sixth form group, though."
How does Maddie try to help George?
"Maddie gets involved in the search for George, so you'll see her leave Hollyoaks to look for him. It's a united front amongst the sixth formers, as it's such a crazy and serious situation. It's also Maddie who decides to get the police involved.
"Everyone's really confused about why George didn't confide in them, so all the secrecy is hard to deal with. So even though everyone is banding together to help, Maddie is harbouring a lot of angst towards Callum. She's upset and offended that her boyfriend didn't tell her the truth."
Was it nice to get involved in a meaty storyline for the show?
"I loved that, as it's what everyone wants. What you crave is to get involved in a really big, meaty storyline like this. Whenever there's a story involving one of the sixth formers, then the rest of us get brought in eventually, because we're all part of the same web. I really enjoyed going out on location and shooting Maddie and Callum's hunt for their best friend."
Maddie and Callum have been going out for a while now. Do you think they're a good match as a couple?
"Honestly, no! Initially I thought they were, because they're so different and opposites attract. But they could actually be too different. Also, Maddie just brings problem after problem, because she's got so many issues and that just complicates things even more. At the end of the day, Callum is quite a young boy and he just doesn't understand what's wrong with her."
Why is Maddie so territorial when it comes to her friendships?
"It's a good question! I think it's because in her family, she's the middle sister, so she feels quite displaced at home. Once she's found someone who she's really close to, she becomes afraid of them leaving her or abandoning her, so she tries to make everybody want to be her friend.
"When Maddie's got her group, she doesn't want anyone else coming in. On top of that, she's particularly like that towards Ruby, because Ruby is very confident with boys and her sexuality, whereas Maddie isn't like that at all."
Is it fun to play a character who has a mean side?
"It can be! Sometimes after a while I think, 'No, not again!' (Laughs) But it is fun, and it's good to play a character who gets a reaction out of people."
Do you have to justify those mean moments to play Maddie properly?
"Yeah, I try to. When you're playing a character who's being mean to someone, you do have to try to justify it somehow. But Maddie does take things to the extreme, which you will see!"
Could Ruby and Maddie ever be friends?
"Never say never. I think with Maddie, it's just a case of her getting to know someone. But if she doesn't know somebody very well, she refuses to give them the benefit of the doubt, sets her boundaries and ends up appearing quite the bitch."
What do you hope the future has in store for Maddie?
"I'd like to see Maddie at home or with a family member, so the audience can get a better idea of where she's coming from. I think it would help to explain why she is the way she is, and maybe girls could identify with her a bit more."
How are you finding your time on the show in general?
"I'm loving it. It's very busy but it's a lot of fun. We all get on really, really well here and tend to form bonds quite quickly. I spend a lot of time with Lucy Dixon (Tilly), Steven Roberts (George) and Mandip Gill (Phoebe), but I get on well with everyone."
'Hollyoaks' Mandip Gill interview: 'Phoebe role is really exciting'
Hollyoaks' homeless teenager Phoebe Jackson returns to screens with a twist next week as she betrays her loyal friend George Smith.
George (Steven Roberts) hasn't seen Phoebe since they were both held captive by evil human trafficker Deena (Sian Breckin) last month, so he's delighted when she turns up at the Kane house safe and well.
However, it soon becomes clear that a happy reunion isn't on the cards as Phoebe leads George straight back into the hands of Deena, sparking a fresh ordeal for the troubled sixth former.
Digital Spy recently chatted to Mandip Gill, who plays Phoebe, to hear all about the latest twist to the tale.
How are you settling in at Hollyoaks?
"Really well! It sounds like a cliché, but Hollyoaks really is like a big family. I've made a lot of friends here. Also, a lot of us are in the same boat, as there's loads of new cast members at the moment. We're all there for each other."
You've certainly been thrown in at the deep end! How did you feel about getting such a big storyline straight away?
"I was really thrilled. I was quite lucky, because just before I started at Hollyoaks, I finished doing a physical theatre play in Manchester about child grooming. I'd done that two years in a row, so I'd already worked with Barnado's and had spoken to people who'd gone through the same situation as Phoebe. That meant that I already had some knowledge of the issues we're dealing with, which served me well in my audition process and then also when it came to creating the character."
How do you view the character of Phoebe and her friendship with George?
"Phoebe is very streetwise and a very strong character. After living on the streets, she knows a lot more about certain situations than she should at her age. When it comes to George, Phoebe has never really had anyone who's taken an interest in her like him. Her mum's not really interested in her anymore, and she doesn't have a father figure as it stands. But George cares about Phoebe, and he's somebody who's on her journey with her. She looks out for him because he does the same for her in return."
How much do you know about Phoebe's backstory?
"At the moment, I know little bits. Over the next few weeks, you'll find out more about why she's in this situation and where she's come from. We don't find out everything about her background, but I imagine it will transpire in time."
What can you tell us about Phoebe's return next week?
"When we last saw Phoebe, it looked like she'd escaped with George - but that's not the case. Phoebe has been back at Deena's house the whole time, so she thinks that George has just escaped and left her. She really needs his help, so Phoebe is feeling really betrayed.
"Phoebe now feels that the only thing she has left is her dog Thunder. But Deena then threatens to hurt Thunder, saying that if Phoebe doesn't bring George back, something will happen to her dog."
How does Phoebe react?
"Phoebe is not a nasty person, but she can't help but feel like George has just run away and left her. So she's back to where she was before - it's just Phoebe, her dog and she's looking after number one. She comes to the village and leads George back into Deena's clutches, and then they find themselves back at Deena's house. I can't say too much about what happens next, but you'll see that Deena is holding them captive again."
It sounds like there's some more dark scenes ahead. How easy is it to switch off from those afterwards?
"I find it quite easy to switch off at the end of the day. I don't get too engrossed as it is only acting, but when I'm actually filming, I do like to consume myself in what's happening. So if we're filming dark scenes, I like to keep the mood like that - just so I know where I am emotionally. But at the end of the working day, I'm not affected and I can just say that was Phoebe, that was work and put it to one side."
How have you found working with Steven, who plays George?
"He's absolutely brilliant. I feel really privileged that I've been able to work with Steven, because he's taught me so much. When I first started, he was really, really welcoming. He hadn't been on Hollyoaks for that long when I joined, but suddenly he had this major storyline. He's a really, really nice person, and we actually live together in real life as well."
Have you formed a bond with Thunder the dog too?!
"Yes, I did eventually! I actually had a major phobia of dogs, and then on my first day on set I discovered I'd be working with a staffie! I'd been expecting a smaller dog. But I can totally see why people bond with animals. I got to know the dog and learned what kind of things Thunder liked, so that way I could keep him interested in me and make sure he did exactly what I needed him to do in the scenes."
You already have a lot of roles on your CV. How does Hollyoaks compare to your previous work?
"This is my first TV job, so it's very different to what I've done in the past. Phoebe is also extremely unlike the characters that I've played before. Even with the theatre production that I did before joining Hollyoaks, the character was nothing like Phoebe.
"I've never really played a gritty role before - I'm used to playing girl-next-door types. But this is a role that I can really get my teeth into. Phoebe has got loads of different sides to her, so it's really exciting."
After the first set of Deena episodes aired last month, a lot of fans were wondering whether we'd see Phoebe again. Are you pleased she made that impact?
"It's really nice. I wasn't in very many scenes, but it seems that people do want to know what happened to Phoebe, and they do care about her. But I am aware that people's opinions on Phoebe will change, because of what she does to George next week."
Are you hoping Phoebe can stick around and become a regular?
"Hopefully! I guess that's what a lot of people would want in this position - it would be ideal, especially playing such a great character.
"Moving forward, it'd be interesting to see which people she would start hanging around with. With Phoebe and George, you wouldn't expect them to be friends, but they are. So it'd be good to see which other characters she'd choose to be friends with if she did stick around."
'Hollyoaks' James Atherton teases Savage Party event - interview
Hollyoaks student Will Savage launches a desperate bid to prove himself next week as his family remains homeless and broke.
Will decides to take control of the situation by organising an Enchanted Forest-themed music festival in the village to raise funds, boosting interest with the promise of a major headliner.
When Will fails to deliver on his word, his cousin Dennis tries to save the day by recruiting Mercury-signed singer-songwriter Maverick Sabre to perform. Will this be enough to get the Savages back on track?
Digital Spy recently chatted to James Atherton, who plays Will, to hear his thoughts on the special episodes.
What was it like to film the Savage Party episodes with Maverick Sabre?
"It was so cool and Maverick Sabre is such a nice guy. He was really lovely on set - he came in and felt like part of the team straight away.
"Joe Tracini, who plays Dennis, had more scenes with him than me. But he came in to film with us on a Saturday and we had competition winners here too, so it was like being at one of his gigs. It was absolutely buzzing on set and his voice is amazing."
Was it nice for you to have the Savages taking centre stage in the show?
"Absolutely - it was really nice as the whole week is centred around this brotherly rivalry between Will and Dodger. It was great to see that come to a head, as that tension has been building for a while now. Will is sick of Dodger getting all the credit and all of his dad's affection.
"Will is at university now, he's playing rugby, he's proving himself and he's coming out of his shell, so he feels that he deserves a bit more affection from his dad. So with the family having nowhere to live now that Bart's sold the campervan, that's what this festival is all about for Will. He's going to take the bull by the horns, be the one earning money for the family and get them out of this mess, rather than Dodger doing it all his way."
How does Will's planning go?
"He thinks it'll be alright - he's done this sort of thing before as he put on the warehouse party in Hollyoaks Later last year. But I'm not going to lie to you, it's not the best! It doesn't go according to plan and you'll see that he has to be helped out a lot by his mates."
Will and Dodger end up in a physical fight as the week continues. What was it like to film that scene with Danny Mac?
"Well, in real life, Danny and I live together so we're really good mates. What was good about that fight was that it was a proper brotherly scrap. No-one wanted to throw a punch, so it was a lot of rolling about and not really hurting each other! But at the same time, you'll see that there's a lot of angry frustration between them."
Dennis is also in the mix. Do you think the Savages look down on him slightly?
"Well, I think they see him as that annoying little cousin who's always there. Also, as Dennis idolises Dodger, Will just doesn't give him the time of day at all. But it's pretty much Dennis who saves the day here - he's the hero in the whole story!"
Did you also enjoy filming the Enchanted Forest promo which is airing on Channel 4 at the moment?
"That was amazing. It looks incredible with the way it's been shot, and it was really special to film it. We shot it over a weekend, they used loads of special cameras on it, and it was like being at a festival. I don't know how they've done it, but it looks beautiful."
Will was more of a geeky character when we first met him, but now he's dressing differently and his glasses are gone. Do you prefer playing the new Will or the old one?
"I really enjoyed playing the old Will, when he was more insular. It was really fun to come in, put the glasses on and get stuck behind a book, especially because it's so different from me in real life.
"But what we've tried to do with Will is show that when people go to university and settle in with a group of friends, they do relax and come out of their shell. He feels more comfortable in his own skin now, and I think that's what they've tried to show over the last six months.
"At the same time, I think we'll maybe see a bit more of the old Will coming back after the music festival. He realises that maybe the festival was more of a Dodger thing to do, when perhaps he can find other ways of making money. I think we'll see him using his brain a bit more, rather than this rugby brawn that has started coming out recently."
Do you think Will breaking up with Theresa was the best move for him?
"I think they needed to do it for the whole university storyline. Again, it's another thing that happens at uni - I know that a lot of my mates split up with girlfriends back home when they met all these new friends and started partying. I think it was right for Will and you've seen him grow because he's not been with Theresa. It's been good for the character."
Could Will's spark with Ash be explored further?
"I think we'll have to wait and see! It's kind of been underlying since Ash first came in, and it's continuing to brew. But we'll have to see if anything comes of it in the next few months or so…"
What have the highlights been from your time at Hollyoaks so far?
"One of my favourite weeks was actually the Theresa break-up week, where we went to Barney's castle. I think that was a great week and it was really fun to film - we had a great time on set there. This festival storyline has also been brilliant and so much fun. And Hollyoaks Later was great to be a part of last year - so there's been a few highlights, really!"
Where would you like Will to go next?
"I'd really love to see him get one over on Dodger and really show him! I'd also quite like to see Will pushed in a direction where he's maybe a bit edgier or where he's got to do something that's really out of his comfort zone to help his family. Maybe something a bit dodgy - obviously Dodger's the one that has always been like that, but Will's grown up in the same family.
"It'd be nice to see what he'd do if he was faced with a situation where he'd have to do something that's against the law. It'd be good to see him get in a bit of trouble!"
'Hollyoaks' James Atherton teases Savage Party event - interview
Hollyoaks student Will Savage launches a desperate bid to prove himself next week as his family remains homeless and broke.
Will decides to take control of the situation by organising an Enchanted Forest-themed music festival in the village to raise funds, boosting interest with the promise of a major headliner.
When Will fails to deliver on his word, his cousin Dennis tries to save the day by recruiting Mercury-signed singer-songwriter Maverick Sabre to perform. Will this be enough to get the Savages back on track?
Digital Spy recently chatted to James Atherton, who plays Will, to hear his thoughts on the special episodes.
What was it like to film the Savage Party episodes with Maverick Sabre?
"It was so cool and Maverick Sabre is such a nice guy. He was really lovely on set - he came in and felt like part of the team straight away.
"Joe Tracini, who plays Dennis, had more scenes with him than me. But he came in to film with us on a Saturday and we had competition winners here too, so it was like being at one of his gigs. It was absolutely buzzing on set and his voice is amazing."
Was it nice for you to have the Savages taking centre stage in the show?
"Absolutely - it was really nice as the whole week is centred around this brotherly rivalry between Will and Dodger. It was great to see that come to a head, as that tension has been building for a while now. Will is sick of Dodger getting all the credit and all of his dad's affection.
"Will is at university now, he's playing rugby, he's proving himself and he's coming out of his shell, so he feels that he deserves a bit more affection from his dad. So with the family having nowhere to live now that Bart's sold the campervan, that's what this festival is all about for Will. He's going to take the bull by the horns, be the one earning money for the family and get them out of this mess, rather than Dodger doing it all his way."
How does Will's planning go?
"He thinks it'll be alright - he's done this sort of thing before as he put on the warehouse party in Hollyoaks Later last year. But I'm not going to lie to you, it's not the best! It doesn't go according to plan and you'll see that he has to be helped out a lot by his mates."
Will and Dodger end up in a physical fight as the week continues. What was it like to film that scene with Danny Mac?
"Well, in real life, Danny and I live together so we're really good mates. What was good about that fight was that it was a proper brotherly scrap. No-one wanted to throw a punch, so it was a lot of rolling about and not really hurting each other! But at the same time, you'll see that there's a lot of angry frustration between them."
Dennis is also in the mix. Do you think the Savages look down on him slightly?
"Well, I think they see him as that annoying little cousin who's always there. Also, as Dennis idolises Dodger, Will just doesn't give him the time of day at all. But it's pretty much Dennis who saves the day here - he's the hero in the whole story!"
Did you also enjoy filming the Enchanted Forest promo which is airing on Channel 4 at the moment?
"That was amazing. It looks incredible with the way it's been shot, and it was really special to film it. We shot it over a weekend, they used loads of special cameras on it, and it was like being at a festival. I don't know how they've done it, but it looks beautiful."
Will was more of a geeky character when we first met him, but now he's dressing differently and his glasses are gone. Do you prefer playing the new Will or the old one?
"I really enjoyed playing the old Will, when he was more insular. It was really fun to come in, put the glasses on and get stuck behind a book, especially because it's so different from me in real life.
"But what we've tried to do with Will is show that when people go to university and settle in with a group of friends, they do relax and come out of their shell. He feels more comfortable in his own skin now, and I think that's what they've tried to show over the last six months.
"At the same time, I think we'll maybe see a bit more of the old Will coming back after the music festival. He realises that maybe the festival was more of a Dodger thing to do, when perhaps he can find other ways of making money. I think we'll see him using his brain a bit more, rather than this rugby brawn that has started coming out recently."
Do you think Will breaking up with Theresa was the best move for him?
"I think they needed to do it for the whole university storyline. Again, it's another thing that happens at uni - I know that a lot of my mates split up with girlfriends back home when they met all these new friends and started partying. I think it was right for Will and you've seen him grow because he's not been with Theresa. It's been good for the character."
Could Will's spark with Ash be explored further?
"I think we'll have to wait and see! It's kind of been underlying since Ash first came in, and it's continuing to brew. But we'll have to see if anything comes of it in the next few months or so…"
What have the highlights been from your time at Hollyoaks so far?
"One of my favourite weeks was actually the Theresa break-up week, where we went to Barney's castle. I think that was a great week and it was really fun to film - we had a great time on set there. This festival storyline has also been brilliant and so much fun. And Hollyoaks Later was great to be a part of last year - so there's been a few highlights, really!"
Where would you like Will to go next?
"I'd really love to see him get one over on Dodger and really show him! I'd also quite like to see Will pushed in a direction where he's maybe a bit edgier or where he's got to do something that's really out of his comfort zone to help his family. Maybe something a bit dodgy - obviously Dodger's the one that has always been like that, but Will's grown up in the same family.
"It'd be nice to see what he'd do if he was faced with a situation where he'd have to do something that's against the law. It'd be good to see him get in a bit of trouble!"
