5 Reasons You Should Give British Soap ‘Hollyoaks’ a Chance

3. Diversity: All sexes, races, religions, sexuality and physical traits apply

Cast of Hollyoaks circa 2013. Photo courtesy Lime Pictures/Channel 4

Do you want some diversity and reflection of real life in your soap? Because Hollyoaks is offering a gluttonous dose of it, big time. Be it gay, straight, bisexual, transgender, white, black, purple, religious, atheist, skinny, or not so skinny, Hollyoaks is serving up a daily dish of real life with its cast which accurately reflects what REAL life looks like.

Hollyoaks defines conventional and unconventional attractiveness as simply being who you are. You may find people who look like your friends or neighbors or even yourself!

2. The Characters

The troublemaking Roscoe brothers. Charlie Wernham as Robbie, Alfie Browne-Sykes as Jason, Ayden Callaghan as Joe, Charlie Clapham as Freddie, Fabrizio Santino as Ziggy. Photo courtesy Lime Pictures/Channel 4

Not enough can be said about the types of characters you’ll find featured on Hollyoaks. The series has had some of the most groundbreaking and phenomenally three dimensional characters that I have ever seen. From past characters such as Kris Fisher (Gerard McCarthy) — the bi-sexual cross dresser; Victoria Atkins’ portrayal of Jason, a transgender teen who had to tackle his gender identity without the support of his family; to simply the best big brother anyone could ask for with Max Cunningham (Matt Littler).

Today’s Hollyoaks includes long term staples such as Tony Hutchison (played by Nick Pickard, the only original cast member still on the show), hunky devoted father Darren Osborn (Ashley Taylor Dawson), and the lovable and unforgettable John Paul McQueen (James Sutton), whose love story with Craig Dean set the internet ablaze in 2007 as people compared their epic love story As the World Turns‘ lackluster, albeit ground breaking tale between Luke Snyder and Noah Mayer.

The characters of Hollyoaks resemble that of real life and are presented in a realistic fashion that doesn’t leave you questioning if people like that actually exist. Thus you are instantly drawn to their stories, eagerly anticipating what will happen next. The writers and producers excel at creating characters so realistic, it’s as if you’re watching the story of a good friend (or bitter rival) unfold right before your eyes.