Lewis Richardson

Lewis Richardson was the son of Helen and Dennis Richardson, the brother of Mandy Richardson and the half-brother of Tom Cunningham.
== Biography ==
=== 1995-1998: Arrival and Mandy's Abuse ===
"Wide Boy" Lewis Richardson met Tony Hutchinson in October 1995, using him for a computer game competition. In July 1996, Lewis moved into 2b Oakdale Drive with Dawn and Jude Cunningham - the soon-to-be step-daughters of their landlord Terry Williams. Lewis's fifteen-year-old sister Mandy followed him to the village in October 1996, and he was left incredulous when he discovered that she had slept with seventeen-year-old Ollie Benson and continued to date him. Lewis later began a relationship with Jude, which struggled when she had a relapse of alcoholism due to the reminders of Lewis's abusive father Dennis.
As Dennis's abuse became too much to bare, Mandy and their mother Helen hid in Lewis's flat until Dennis moved into a hostel. In February 1998, Lewis went on Rob Hawthorn's hill walk in Wales and was paired with Ruth Benson after she had an argument with her husband Kurt. After getting lost, the pair took refuge in a cave and ended up kissing. In May 1998, Lewis learned from criminal Benny Stringer that Jude had been helping him steal cars, and he broke up with her.
In June 1998, Mandy went missing and Dennis and Lewis went on a months-long search to find her. After finding her at a strip club in Soho, Mandy fled and the family were led to believe that she had committed suicide. In October 1998, Lewis discovered that Mandy had been admitted to hospital where he revealed that Dennis had sexually abused her. Lewis supported Mandy when she went to the police and defended her when Dennis tried to convince Mandy to drop the charges. Dennis ended up receiving seven years imprisonment.
=== 1998-2000: Relationship with Ruth ===
In October 1998, Lewis slept with Ruth on a ferry whilst looking for Kurt. After Kurt and Ruth separated in January 1999, Ruth and Lewis began a relationship. However, Ruth ended up sleeping with Luke Morgan, only confessing to Lewis when she discovered that he was sixteen, resulting in Lewis breaking up with her. Lewis went on to have a relationship with Luke's sister Beth, but broke up with her when he began feeling that she was too young for him. When Ruth made plans to move back to the United States after being rejected by Lewis, he changed his mind and stopped her from leaving at the airport.
Kurt's 'death' in September 1999 caused problems between Ruth and Lewis as he struggled with her grief. However, it was the return of Rob that caused the most trouble, as the vengeful man kidnapped Lewis, Ruth, Tony, and Kurt's sister Lucy and tried to drown them in a nautical test centre. At Lewis's friend Finn's Millenium Eve party, Rob set fire to Finn's Bus (where the party was being held) but was the only casualty in the blast. With Finn homeless, Lewis offered to let him move in with him and Ruth.
Lewis went into business with Finn in February 2000, buying the Yard from Mr. Morgan to build a nightclub. Befriending local club owner Lorraine Wilson, Lewis began gambling in her club. In April 2000, Ruth discovered that she was pregnant, to Lewis's delight, but decided to have an abortion and tell him that she miscarried. A few weeks later, Lewis discovered the truth and exploded, hitting Ruth. His gambling habit soon became an addiction and he fell in debt to Lorraine from borrowing money from her.
=== 2000-2001: Debts, Abuse and Death ===
Finn and Lewis's nightclub The Loft opened in September 2000, but was immediately plagued with problems due to Lewis's debts to Lorraine. Lorraine began using her own security guards to deal drugs at the club, resulting in Taylor James being attacked. Employee Cindy Cunningham's daughter Holly, hidden in the cloakroom as Cindy couldn't find a babysitter, ended up swallowing an ecstasy tablet. The ordeal resulted in Ruth's father Jack Osborne withdrawing his name from the club's licence.
Lorraine had Lewis's flat trashed, with Lewis hiding various expensive items in The Octagon to sell and increase the insurance payout from the robbery. Ruth discovered the truth and a bitter argument ensued, resulting in Ruth slapping him and Lewis giving her a beating. Ruth forgave Lewis when he agreed to attend Gamblers Anonymous, but he was quickly lured away by Lorraine, which soon became a habit. Ruth confronted him and accidentally pushed him down the stairs, and Lewis made sure to make her feel guilty over his broken arm.
When Lewis failed to kidnap her son in Barcelona, Lorraine threatened to tell Ruth about the affair, so Lewis decided to tell her first. Ruth ended their relationship as a result, and Jack hinted to Lewis's mother Helen that he thought the relationship ended due to violence. Lewis's gambling addiction worsened and, after almost hitting Helen, Lewis decided to go to Ireland in March 2001. He returned to the village in May, having acquired a bit of wealth. However, a visit from a loan shark revealed that he had taken a loan out in Kurt's name.
Lewis became desperate, beginning a relationship with Geri Hudson, but stealing the takings from her charity event Game 4 It and selling her car whilst she was on holiday. He then went on to blackmail high-profile footballer Jason Cunliffe over his affair with Geri, and was caught by Ruth attempting to set fire to The Loft. Ruth convinced Finn and Tony to buy Lewis out of the club. When Ruth moved to Northgate Mews, Lewis followed in hopes of a reconciliation. Ruth refused, having discovered the loan in Kurt's name. He then tried to force himself on Ruth before beating her to near-death when she compared him to his father. Believing to have killed her, Lewis took an overdose of pills and suffered a slow and painful death of liver failure in hospital.
=== 2001-2019: Aftermath ===
Learning of the abuse Ruth had endured from Lewis, Mandy refused to forgive her brother - feelings that carried on after his death. Mandy and Helen fell out as a result, with Mandy's manipulative friend Laura Burns filling Mandy's role in the family. Meanwhile, Ruth moved to London after Lewis's funeral, and Helen became obsessed with having another baby in her grief. In December 2001, Adam Morgan suggested that Mandy had entered a downwards spiral as a result of Lewis's death, moments before she crashed the car and left Adam paralysed.
Max remembered Lewis in November 2002 when his friend Jamie Nash ended up in a coma after a potholing disaster. In October 2005, Tony rebranded The Loft but decided to keep the name as a tribute to Lewis. In December 2019, Mandy, Cindy and their brother Tom reminisced over late family members and Mandy mentioned that she missed Lewis.
== Rescue Count ==
=== Successful Rescues ===
#Victoria Finnigan, 31st May 2001 - Pushed her out of the way when roof tiles almost fell on top of her.
=== Failed Rescues ===
None
== Appendices ==
=== Residences ===
=== Employment History ===
== Background information ==
* Lewis was originally intended to have the storylines of Rob Hawthorn. However, actor Ben Hull was unavailable for filming due to prior commitments, so producers quickly created the role of Rob.
* Actor Ben Hull quit the role of Lewis in 2001.
== Quotes ==
== See Also ==
* List of appearances
* Richardson family
Category:Hollyoaks characters
Category:Hollyoaks: Off On One characters
Category:Hollyoaks: Movin' On characters
Category:1995 debuts
Category:2001 departures
Category:2001 deaths
Category:1978 births
Category:Deceased characters
Category:Richardson family
Category:Businesspeople
Category:Residents of 36 Grange Drive
Category:Residents of 2b Oakdale Drive
Category:Residents of 10b Springfield Gardens
Category:Residents of 12 Tatton Crescent
Category:Book characters