List of Hollyoaks characters introduced in 2009


The following is a list of characters that first appeared on the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks in 2009, by first appearance.

Hayley Ramsey

[|Natty]

Natty, played by former Emmerdale actor Danny Tennant, made his first on-screen appearance on 2 February 2009.
Tennant originally auditioned for another role, but producers asked him to audition for the role of Natty in which he was successful.
On 31 March 2009, Natty invited his friend Daniel Raven to meet Ste. The two also became friends. In May, Natty revealed he had a son whom he gave up because he could not cope. Daniel, Natty and [|Abi] Raven run a charity called 'Kidz with Kidz', they set it up for young teenagers who are struggling parenthood. Any parents that they feel are struggling, the charity will take the baby and give it to a better home. On 21 May, he comforted an upset Zoe Carpenter over her failed film project, they shared a kiss. In June, he got a job at the SU Bar they soon become a couple despite Abi and Daniel trying to sabotage their relationship. It appeared Natty is a victim of a previous scam set up by Daniel and Abi, in which he was also drugged and received crank calls until he snapped, resulting in losing custody of his child. When Abi and Daniel attempted to steal Lucas Hay, Natty helped Ste get him back. He was not seen again until October 2009, when he moved in briefly with Ste and started working at Relish. He has not been seen since.

Loretta Jones

Persephone Hart

Persephone Hart, played by Elizabeth Hadley, is a girl who attended Steph Cunningham's Dance school. She first appeared on 3 March 2009. She bullied Tom and Holly Cunningham several times by ordering Tom around and making fun of Holly's dancing. She lied to her sister Lydia about Sarah Barnes hitting her when Sarah took her aside at the dance class and told her to try to get along with Holly and Tom. Lydia ordered Steph to fire Sarah or she would go to the police and Steph was given no choice but to fire her. Persephone was found out when Lydia wanted to ask Holly and Tom what had happened after Persephone lied that Sarah hit them as well. Persephone was forced to tell her she had made the whole thing up. Lydia then apologised to Sarah, spoke to Steph and got Sarah her job back. On 27 April 2009, Sarah bribed Holly to make friends with Persephone so she could spend time with Lydia, however Holly and Persephone only ended up arguing. On 8 May 2009, Persephone ruined Lydia and Sarah's meal together when she turned up at Sarah's and asked Lydia to look after her.

Lydia Hart

Fernando Fernandez

Fernando Fernandez, played by Jeronimo Best, first appeared on 23 March 2009 as a teacher of Steph Cunningham's rival dance classes.
Casting auditions were held for the part of the Spanish character. Eventually after the initial stages actor Jeronimo Best was offered to portray the role. Best was chosen despite not being the same nationality as Fernando, with Best being of Mexican descent. Despite the character's occupation being a dance instructor, Best revealed that he was asked to improvise on set because he didn't know how to perform any of the routines the character specialises in.

Storylines

Fernando's first storyline was setting up a rival dance class against Steph Cunningham. Steph takes a liking to him, as does Cindy Cunningham. Fernando reveals that he had recently broke up with his girlfriend, who resembles Zoe Carpenter It is later revealed that in fact, she had died and he left Spain to clear his mind.
Fernando returns after a brief departure. Fernando and Steph go on a couple of dates, and he finds a love rival in Gilly Roach, who starts to develop feelings for Steph. Steph and Fernando eventually start a relationship. Gilly remains amicable with Steph and Fernando, despite his growing feelings for Steph. Steph's foster brother Barry "Newt" Newton runs away from home, and with the stress of his disappearance, Steph forgets Fernando's birthday. After Gilly informs her of her mistake, he gives her some tickets to an outdoor pursuits week for her to offer Fernando. Fernando, Steph, Gilly, Zoe and Sarah Barnes go on the trip. Steph and Gilly nearly kiss but are caught in a trap by the group leader Kingsley and Fernando. Feeling angry, Gilly throws Fernando's bag into the lake, after Fernando reveals he is unable to swim. However, Steph's epilepsy tablets were in the bag, and subsequently she and Fernando have to abandon the trip and return home. Gilly also leaves. Steph overhears a poem Gilly wrote with racist undertones towards Fernando, she assumes Gilly's best friend Rhys Ashworth wrote the poem and she tells Fernando, who finds Rhys and punches him. Fernando finds it hard to bond with Tom Cunningham. However, they begin to get to know each other. After this, Fernando proposes marriage to Steph, which she accepts. However, when Steph starts to feel more for Gilly, she calls off their engagement and Fernando leaves.

Reception

of The Guardian joked about Steph failed engagement to Fernando stating: "With the best will in the world, I don't feel that marriage was ever going to last." She also poked fun at Fernando's reaction stating: "Fernando was heartbroken yet stoic, vowing to keep his head held high and cope with his loss through the power of dance."

Daniel Raven

Daniel Raven, played by Chris Hargreaves, is the friend of Natty who he first introduced to Ste Hay.
On 3 April 2009, Daniel and his wife Abi were called by Ste when Amy Barnes went into labour. After the birth of Lucas Hay, Daniel and Abi visited the baby regularly and gave Ste advice on how to win over Mike Barnes. On 16 April, Ste revealed that Daniel and Abi would become Lucas's Godparents, however when they were on their own with Lucas, it appeared that they had bigger plans to be in Lucas's life. Daniel, Natty and Abi run a charity called 'Kidz with Kidz', they set it up for young teenagers who are struggling with being parents. Any parents that they feel are struggling, Daniel and the charity will take the baby away to give it to a better home. On 21 May, Abi told Daniel that she was keeping Lucas because his mother did not even want him.
In July, Natty became suspicious of Abi and Daniel. Daniel then taunted Natty and explained his plans. Natty then beat him up. With Natty out of the way, Daniel and Abi continued to drug Ste and were happy when, after an argument, Ste decided to stop Mike from seeing Lucas. Daniel then interviewed a couple to adopt Lucas, and after finding out Abi had slept with Ste, tried to convince Ste, who had shaken Lucas, to give him up. Ste agreed, however Abi took Lucas and phoned the police. Daniel was arrested and Abi gave Lucas back to Ste. Daniel was then released and told Ste, who planned to leave with Abi, that she was only interested in Lucas. Ste realised this and told Abi to leave. Daniel and Abi then admitted they still loved each other and left.

Abi Raven

Abi Raven, played by Elaine Glover, is the wife of Ste Hay's friend Daniel Raven who first appeared on 3 April 2009 when Amy Barnes gave birth to Lucas Hay.
Abi is a nurse who arrived to deliver Lucas. On 6 April 2009, she revealed to Ste and Mike Barnes that Amy had left hospital during the night. On 13 April, Abi tried to convince Sarah Barnes to trust Ste and let him host a naming party for Lucas. On 17 April, at the naming party, Ste announced that Abi and Daniel would be Lucas's Godparents, however when they were on their own with Lucas, it appeared that they had bigger plans to be in his life.
On 19 May 2009, Abi revealed that her and Daniel had a baby together called Michael who died of SIDS and this was the reason for her, Daniel and Natty's care for Lucas. However even though Daniel planned to give Lucas away to better parents, Abi disagreed to the idea as he had promised her that she would have Lucas. In July, Ste moved in with Abi and Daniel, they then continued to drug him. Mike confronted Abi after an argument with Ste and questioned she and Daniel's interest in Ste and Lucas. After discovering Daniel had interviewed a couple to possibly adopt Lucas, Abi and Ste began to grow closer. Abi told Daniel she will leave him and take Lucas if he tried to give him up. Abi was comforted by Ste. Abi the leant in to kiss him, however he pulled away and left. Ste was scared Abi had told Daniel of their kiss and attempted to avoid them. Whilst on their own, Abi and Ste once again comforted each other and slept together.
After discovering Daniel had interviewed a couple to adopt Lucas, Abi told him she would leave him. Daniel caught Ste almost shaking Lucas and convinced him to give him to the parents. Abi took Lucas and phoned the police. Daniel was arrested and Abi gave Lucas back to Ste. Daniel was then released and told Ste, who planned to leave with Abi, that she was only interested in Lucas. Ste realised this and told Abi to leave. Abi and Daniel then admitted they still loved each other and left.

Lucas Hay

Lucas Hay is the son of Ste Hay and Amy Barnes, and the half-brother of Leah Barnes and Hannah Hay-O'Connor. He was born on-screen in episode 2530, originally broadcast on 3 April 2009 and was delivered by Ste and his friend Daniel Raven's wife, Abi Raven. His name was chosen by Ste. Lucas was played by a child actor, William Hall, from 2013 to 2022. In January 2023, it was announced that the character had been recast from William Hall, who had played Lucas for nine years, to Oscar Curtis, an older actor, for an issue-led storyline which would test Ste as a parent and see Lucas befriending some of the village's other teenage characters. Curtis made his debut as Lucas on 15 March 2023.

Charlotte Lau

Adrian Kennedy

Adrian P. Kennedy, played by Richard Lawrence, was Zoe Carpenter's film studies lecturer at Hollyoaks Community College.
Adrian first appeared when Zoe lost her film, which was needed to grade her college course, from her computer. He told her that she needed to hand it in and gave her an extension in order to complete a new one. However, Adrian was unaware that Zoe had in fact stolen a script from Mike Barnes and used it for her film. On 9 June 2009, Adrian played Zoe's film, which he passed, in the SU Bar. Zoe realised that Sarah Barnes was watching the film, which was about Mike's struggle with the birth of Sarah and his possibility to put her up for adoption. Sarah was very unhappy and thought Mike had told Zoe his past. Adrian made an indecent proposition to Zoe, telling her that he will forget her plagiarism if she slept with him. Zoe was horrified and left humiliated. On 18 June, Zoe went to see him, he assumed she was accepting his offer, however, she told him it was not worth it. He then failed her.
After finding out about the proposition Zoe's friends were disgusted and vowed revenge on him. However, at the Graduation ball, Zak Ramsey, Kris Fisher, Archie Carpenter and Rhys Ashworth followed Adrian into the staff toilets, wearing disguises, and soaked him with water and then threw faeces over him. Zoe was shocked but bemused and also humbled that her friends would do anything for her.