Gay characters in hollyoaks

It’s Pride Month, and I loved every minute of talking to the cast at Hollyoaks, as part of Metro.co.uk’s loving, varied and vast coverage of all things LGBTQ+.

And, along with the many voices over the world we are endlessly proud to platform, Jeremy beautifully nailed the importance of Pride – and THAT feeling of being part of it.

‘I’m old so I have a long history of Pride,’ he spoke wistfully.

It was like “Oh shit, that didn’t work!”

‘So I then had to do the cover of Attitude!’

Considering the climate for gay actors entering the industry now, he continued: ‘I had to go through that, it wasn’t terrible but it was a lot of thought. However he ended up becoming a father after sleeping with Lola and getting her pregnant.

As Ben grew older, he got into a relationship with childhood friend Abi Branning.

COs, you know, spoilers. He has so many layers and they’re all this bitter taste at the moment.

‘It’s been really fun to play and he’s such a terrible character on the surface but we’re digging, we’re using JCBs to get down to the core of Rex. It’s a new character and sometimes those processes need to be established. For a large majority of it, I was quite nervous because it was a whole new experience for me even when it comes to cameras and positioning everything about acting, so when you finally see it, it feels really good.’

As now being felt by the HayRay fandom, the thrill over genuine representation in exciting formats is palpable, particularly with an audience like Hollyoaks’, with a large proportion of younger viewers.

But whatever happens, he’s going to be at the thick of the action where he belongs. Last month he got married to Callum Highway.

Ben’s story proved that whilst his dad may not of accepted his sexuality at first, he did eventually come around and that other around him were there to give him support.

Ripley Lennox – Hollyoaks

The character Ripley Lennox is the first non-binary character to appear in a soap.

They first appeared in July 2020 as a new market stall owner at the Cunningham’s Grand Bizarre.

Ripley is played by actor Ki Griffin, who also identifies as non-binary and uses they/them pronouns.

Ki has made soap history.

Matty Barton – Emmerdale

In 2009, Hannah Barton arrived in Emmerdale with mum Moira, dad John, brother Adam and sister Holly.

In 2012, she decided to leave the Dales and moved to London.

Six years later Matty broke int0 Butler’s Farm house and was caught by Cain.

And, without giving too much away, I can reveal that that is very much with each other as married Ste finds himself in an exceptionally passionate situation with sinister Rex.

I can’t say a lot, but there are big twists to come there after those sparks fly!

‘I wouldn’t say sparks flying, I would say explosions, inferno,’ Jonny corrected me with a grin.

Normally when you’re going through the coming out process you’re not feeling celebratory, you’re feeling anxious, concerned, worried, fearful, then suddenly you have this moment of joy. However, Brendan and Ste's relationship will become violent, touching on domestic abuse. It’s nice to be really physical, I’m moving around, jigging around, using his arms, folding my arms, I’ve got my hands in my pockets.

‘The first Pride you go to – I don’t know if it’s changed now – in my day, you come to terms with your sexuality yourself, then you come to terms with it hopefully well with your parents and your friends and your family. I said, ‘What are we going to do about this?

‘Because those questions were going to come up. Synonymous with years of representation, groundbreaking storylines and character journeys, as well as iconic ships that have had audiences over several generations in a tizzy, the Channel 4 soap is an ally and then some.

Now approaching its 30th anniversary, Hollyoaks boasts a history of fantastic gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans and non-binary characters, all who have been at the centre of storylines both focusing on their gender identity and sexual orientation but, just as crucially, not.

‘There is an enormous power that soaps have,’ actor Jeremy Sheffield mused during another of my conversations.

‘Young people can deal with plot lines which are on every day.

For decades, it has led the discussion on some of the leading topics in the UK and the world, some that other shows in later timeslots haven’t dared even touch. I don’t know now what effect that has on people’s careers.