Texas Longford
Texas Savage is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Bianca Hendrickse-Spendlove. She debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 17 May 2010. Texas was introduced by producer Paul Marquess as the on-screen sister of India Longford. Texas was initially portrayed as a "quite light and quite daft" character. Her first main storyline began in the aftermath of India's murder, her subsequent grief storyline and later being targeted by Silas Blissett. Texas has also featured in the online spin-off series, Hollyoaks: Freshers. In February 2013 it was announced that Texas would depart the serial as she was murdered in a "whodunit" storyline. She departed in a flashback on 13 May 2013 after it was revealed her husband, Will Savage, had pushed her out of the window at the wedding venue.
Character creation and casting
The character's arrival was announced in early May 2010. Texas was introduced as the sister of established character India Longford, initially appearing from 17 May. It was later revealed that Bianca Hendrickse-Spendlove was a regular cast member. Texas was one of many new characters which were introduced during Paul Marquess' revamp of the series. Texas is Hendrickse-Spendlove's first ongoing television role. A spokesperson from Hollyoaks said: "Texas is always causing trouble. She's very beautiful and always gets her own way with men, which drives India insane."Development
Characterisation
Texas is described on the serial's official website as bursting into the series "much to her sister's horror". Texas was said to "wreak even more havoc" during her stay at university. Texas often wants what India has got and has good intentions but "just can't help getting herself into trouble". Texas does not care about the way she looks, but always manages to look "fantastic". As a "force of nature" she almost has a "super-natural ability to make other people feel good about themselves". Texas is slightly fragile and vulnerable. She has a backstory of relationships with mad men, faced drug problems and has been bankrupted. She's had bad boyfriends, drug problems and been bankrupted. In 2012, series producer Emma Smithwick told Gareth McLean from Radio Times that there were not enough "strong, smart and intelligent women" in the series and the only female she would spend time with was Texas.Silas Blissett's murder spree
In December 2010, Marquess said that viewers would see a new side to Texas after India is murdered. Texas arranges an online date and is unaware that it is Silas Blissett. It was reported in The Belfast Telegraph that the storyline would begin with "rebellious" Texas ignoring "sensible" India's concerns about internet safety. However, when India notices that Texas' date is attractive, she ignores her own advice and meets up with him. India is then murdered. Marquess opined that it was interesting to see Texas cope with tragedy because she was "quite a new character in the show" and up that point had been "quite light and quite daft". Marquess added that Texas wrongly feels responsible for India's murder. The storyline is about "dealing with really, really strong emotions when you're relatively young." Texas begins sleeping with Doug Carter, drinking and taking cocaine to cope. Hendrickse-Spendlove told a columnist for TVTimes that Texas has never had to organise a funeral before, so she is a "headless chicken" trying to deal with everything. It all "gets to much" for Texas and she sleeps with Doug and forces him to get her some cocaine. Texas' self-destructive behaviour gets worse and lands her into trouble with Silas. Texas is a "complete wreck" and misses India's funeral. She "takes some pills, goes to the pub and drinks"; then Silas finds her passed out and takes her into the woods. Hendrickse-Spendlove said that it was the "perfect opportunity" for Silas to kill her character, but when Texas reveals that she was the original dating contact, Silas realises that he killed the wrong sister. The actress told Inside Soap's reporter that Silas "feels a pang of guilt and tries to redeem himself by taking Texas to hospital". She warned viewers that next time Texas may not be as lucky.Silas later attempts to lure Texas into danger once again. However, his enemy Lynsey Nolan knows he is the killer and attempts to defuse the situation. Hassan told Inside Soap that Texas is in contact over the internet with a girl going through "a similar trauma". Texas repeats something her friend said and Lynsey realises that Silas has previously said the same thing. Lynsey realises that Silas is "out to get Texas" and arranges a meeting. When Lynsey arrives she is met with Silas and she hits him with a brick. The serial later revealed that Silas would commit another murder on during Halloween. They revealed that his victim would be either Texas, Lynsey, Theresa McQueen or Amy Barnes. Silas sets Lynsey a challenge to discover the identity of the victim and he will hand himself in. Hollyoaks released a picture of Silas' victim which revealed that they were dressed in a Catwoman outfit. In addition they released another promotional image showing the four character dressed in matching Catwoman outfits. However, the promotional campaign was used as a red herring to conceal the actual victim, Heidi Costello.
Relationship with Dodger and Jodie
Texas' casual relationship with Dodger Savage develops further when he starts sleeping with Jodie Wilde, which makes Texas jealous. Jodie later reveals that she is attracted to someone else and kisses Texas. The storyline was promoted via a special Valentine's Day advert; which features Texas, Jodie and Dodger kissing each other. As the storyline develops; Texas and Dodger agree to help Jodie out with her dance assignment. However, Texas cannot dance and Theresa takes her place. Hendrickse-Spendlove told Inside Soap's reporter that Texas sees Theresa as a threat. Texas gets the impression that Jodie and Theresa are into each other because they get on well during dance rehearsals. However, when Texas gets drunk, Jodie takes her home and she stays over. When they wake up next to each other the following morning, Texas cannot remember "if anything happened between them". Hendrickse-Spendlove explained that Texas has "got a million questions going round and round inside her head, and still isn't entirely sure where she stands with Jodie." Dodger then becomes jealous of them both.Mac told Daniel Kilkelly of Digital Spy that the three characters are "so different and yet they're so similar" because they share the same morals of not wanting to be "tied down". Their relationships with each other initially consist of a successful "friends with benefits" type of relationship. None of the trio complains when another is sleeping around because they all want that type of freedom. Mac added that Texas and Jodie are "testing the water" and experimenting with each other. Speaking of Dodger's own preference between Texas and Jodie; the actor said that "it literally depends on the day". He likes the thought that Jodie likes both sexes, but at the same time has a long history with Texas and is still "massively attracted to her". Mac attributed Jodie's dance exam as the storyline that developed the relationship among the threesome and revealed that storyline would continue to build up. He hoped that there would be an eventual outcome for the characters, but thought that Dodger needed to remain a "lone ranger" for a while longer.
Texas later decides that she would like to make her relationship with Jodie official. Hendrickse-Spendlove told Laura Morgan of All About Soap that Texas is the type of female who had kissed another before, but never felt any attraction. She explained that Jodie is the only female her character is attracted to and Jodie turned Texas’ "world upside down"; so it is not as though Texas "suddenly decided to become a lesbian". Texas avoids Jodie following their previous kiss because she feels awkward. Texas is reminded of how much she has misses having Jodie as a friend and decides to spend time with her. Hendrickse-Spendlove said that Texas takes the plunge and the pair kiss "passionately". At which point she felt that Texas is "pretty out of her depth" as she thinks the only solution to her feelings is to have sex with Jodie. The actress was thankful because “Jodie does the right thing and tells Texas that they shouldn't rush into anything."
The storyline then returns to the ongoing theme of a love triangle; as Dodger's personal problems gain Texas' attention. She misses a date with Jodie to be Dodger's confidant for the evening. Hendrickse-Spendlove said that Texas is actually "shocked" to see Dodger opening up and he spends the night in her room without having sex. Texas tells Jodie that she still likes Dodger; and visions of grandeur ensue as she thinks that she "can change his womanising ways". She soon realises that she is mistaken and "feels sad" that she gave up a chance with Jodie, but still cannot get Dodger off her mind. The actress added that Texas' feelings for him grow stronger after seeing his sensitive side. While her feelings for him have taken over again, she wonders whether kissing Jodie was a mistake once again. It is at this point that Texas realises that she needs to decide between Jodie and Dodger.
In May 2012, Manning announced that she had left the series and thanked viewers for supporting Texas and Jodie's relationship. In August 2012, Smithwick revealed that a lesbian storyline was never planned for Texas and Jodie. Texas and Dodger were "the main story" which meant that Jodie had to depart Hollyoaks. She developed Jodie as the character who changed Texas and Dodger's lives, leaving them questioning their self-identity. The story arc culminated in Texas and Dodger realising what they like about each other through their involvement with Jodie.