2008

←2007 2009→
 was Hollyoaks's fourteenth year of production.
== Overview ==
Bryan Kirkwood remained in the producer role, as did Carolyn Reynolds and Tony Wood in their executive producer roles, for third year. 2008 saw the transmission of the first spin-off commissioned under Kirkwood's tenure, Hollyoaks Later - a five-episode spin-off linked to the main series. This would continue annually until 2013. In its week of transmission, all Hollyoaks and Hollyoaks Later episodes were the top 10 most viewed on E4.
Main storylines over the year were Ste Hay's abuse of his girlfriend Amy Barnes, Sasha Valentine and Fletch's heroin addiction, Niall Rafferty carrying out a revenge plot against his biological family - the McQueens, Jack Osborne's debt troubles and Newt's schizophrenia. The main climax to Niall's storyline which saw Niall detonate bombs in a church reached 2,200,000 viewers. Niall was killed off in Hollyoaks Later.
Tina Reilly gave birth to a son, secretly conceived during her affair with Russ Owen (2333). Nancy Hayton married brother-in-law Jake Dean (2234), Max Cunningham and Steph Dean finally married after a series of temporary separations (2330), Carmel McQueen married Calvin Valentine (2387), whilst Mercedes McQueen married Malachy Fisher (L2008-5). Warren Fox foiled Louise Summers's attempt on his life on their wedding day by killing her, unaware she was pregnant (2460). Beth Clements was killed in a crash (2280), Max was fatally run over by Niall Rafferty on his wedding day (2330), Eamon Fisher dropped dead whilst drunkenly leaving The Dog in the Pond (2343), Kieron Hobbs was killed by Niall after learning his secret (2380), whilst Tina became Niall's final victim (2140) before his own suicide (L2008-4).
== Events ==
=== Hollyoaks events ===
* 2nd January - Nancy Hayton is arrested on suspicion of sexual assault.
* 3rd January - Valerie Holden is arrested for assault after a fight with Katy Fox.
* 8th January - Kathy Barnes is arrested after she is revealed to be the person targeting the Ashworth family. Kieron Hobbs arrives in the village. (First appearance of the character)
* 9th January - Amy Barnes is attacked by her boyfriend, Ste Hay.
* 10th January - After being rejected by her family, Kathy Barnes leaves the village. (Last appearance of the character until 2017)
* 18th January - Tina Reilly discovers that she is pregnant.
* 22nd January - Charlie Dean is diagnosed with leukemia.
* 31st January - Michaela McQueen collapses following an overdose of heroin administered by Niall Rafferty, combined with over-consumption of alcohol.
* 7th February - Gilly Roach proposes to Beth Clements, who accepts.
* 14th February - Nancy Hayton and Jake Dean marry. However, after the ceremony, Jake attempts to rape Nancy, and is stopped by his sister, Steph Dean.
* 20th February - Jack, Frankie Osborne, Newt and Louise Summers are held hostage inside The Dog in the Pond by Carl and Anthony.
* 21st February - Darren Osborne is shot whilst trying to save Jack, Frankie Osborne, Newt and Louise Summers from being held hostage inside The Dog in the Pond.
* 28th February - Mike Barnes is injured after being accidentally knocked off a ladder by Sarah Barnes.
* 3rd March - Calvin Valentine unintentionally proposes to Carmel McQueen, who accepts.
* 4th March - Myra McQueen is charged with benefit fraud. Marlena McQueen is attacked by Niall Rafferty. Calvin Valentine intentionally proposes to Carmel McQueen, who accepts again.
* 5th March - Niall Rafferty attempts to strangle Nana McQueen but is interrupted by Carmel McQueen.
* 11th March - Charlie Dean's christening takes place.
* 12th March - Jake Dean is arrested for attempting to rape his wife, Nancy Dean.
* 14th March - Jake Dean attempts to kill himself and adoptive son, Charlie, by gassing them in his car. Nancy rescues Charlie but leaves Jake to die.
* 21st March - Dom Reilly is attacked by a gang of girls, and is saved by Russ Owen.
* 24th March - After Tom Cunningham eats a hot cross bun which Max has hidden a ring inside, Max Cunningham proposes to Steph Dean using his hospital scans, which Steph accepts.
* 2nd April - A body is found in the woods by Newt and Lauren Valentine.
* 4th April - The body found by Newt and Lauren Valentine is identified as Sean Kennedy.
* 7th April - Warren Fox is arrested for the murder of Sean Kennedy. Elliot Bevan is rushed to hospital after suffering from hypothermia, having run away from home.
* 10th April - Unable to keep the secret of her brother, Warren Fox, being the murderer of Sean Kennedy, Katy Fox leaves the village. (Last appearance of Katy until 2017)
* 17th April - Rhys Ashworth and Beth Clements are arrested after their incestuous affair is discovered by Michaela McQueen.
* 18th April - Rhys Ashworth and Beth Clements decide to run away together, but whilst driving, the camper-van is involved in a head-on collision with a lorry. Beth is killed in the accident. (Final appearance of Beth Clements)
* 23rd April - Sasha Valentine takes an overdose of heroin.
* 25th April - Louise Summers is arrested on the suspicion of murdering her ex-husband, Sean Kennedy.
* 5th May - Carmel McQueen proposes to Calvin Valentine, who accepts.
* 15th May - Jake Dean falsely confesses to the murder of Sean Kennedy.
* 16th May - Frankie Osborne visits her son Jake in a psychiatric hospital following his confession. (Last appearance of the character until 2009)
* 20th May - Ravi Roy arrives in the village. (First appearance of the character)
* 5th June - Amy Barnes is hospitalised after being attacked by her boyfriend, Ste Hay.
* 9th June - Cindy Cunningham returns to the village with her daughter, Holly. (First appearance of the characters since 2004)
* 16th June - Newt and Eli set off a bomb in The Loft.
* 20th June - Max Cunningham proposes to Steph Dean, who accepts. Eli is revealed to be a vision in Newt's mind.
* 24th June - Leila Roy arrives in the village. (First appearance of the character)
* 25th June - Mandy Richardson returns to the village for the wedding of her step-brother, Max Cunningham. (First appearance of Mandy since 2007)
* 26th June - Max Cunningham is rushed to hospital with chest pains. Max's mother, Angela Cunningham, arrives for his wedding. (First appearance of Angela since 2006)
* 27th June - Max Cunningham and Steph Dean marry. However, after the ceremony, Max is struck by a car whilst saving his half-brother, Tom Cunningham, driven by a drunken Niall Rafferty, who crashes the car into a brick wall. Max dies from his injuries.
* 30th June - Niall Rafferty is arrested for the murder of Max Cunningham.
* 1st July - Tina Reilly is pushed down a flight of stairs by Niall Rafferty.
* 2nd July - Tina Reilly gives birth to a son via an emergency caesarean-section.
* 10th July - Max Cunningham's funeral takes place. Angela Cunningham leaves the village afterwards. (Final appearance of the character)
* 11th July - O.B. leaves the village, seeing the ghost of Max Cunningham. (Last appearance of Sam O'Brien until 2016 and final appearance of Max Cunningham).
* 16th July - Eamon Fisher dies in the carpark of The Dog in the Pond. Jack Osborne attempts suicide by overdosing.
* 17th July - Jack Osborne decides to fake his own death on the suggestion by Darren Osborne, after Darren discovers the body of Eamon Fisher.
* 22nd July - Sasha Valentine goes missing.
* 23rd July - Amy Barnes discovers she is pregnant.
* 24th July - John Paul McQueen proposes to Kieron Hobbs, who accepts.
* 29th July - Ste Hay is injured after falling off scaffolding.
* 31st July - The missing Sasha Valentine is found when she is arrested for breaking and entering.
* 5th August - Jack Osborne's funeral takes place, which his daughter, Ruth Osborne, returns for. (First appearance of Ruth since 2004, and final appearance of the character)
* 7th August - After hearing Jack Osborne's voice through Darren Osborne's phone, Newt suffers a breakdown and is sectioned. He is later diagnosed with schizophrenia.
* 8th August - Jack Osborne's family discover that he is still alive.
* 12th August - Eamon Fisher is reported as a missing person.
* 14th August - Calvin Valentine is stabbed during a confrontation with Nige Foster. Calvin strikes Nige with a wine bucket, causing him to hit his head on The Loft stage and seemingly die.
* 15th August - Leila Roy is arrested for handling stolen goods.
* 20th August - Steph Cunningham suffers an epileptic seizure.
* 2nd September - Jack Osborne suffers an angina attack caused by the stress from faking his own death. Craig Dean returns to the village. (First appearance of the character since 2007)
* 4th September - Kieron Hobbs discovers that Niall Rafferty is the long lost son of Myra McQueen.
* 5th September - Niall Rafferty kills Kieron Hobbs after spiking his drink. (Final appearance of Kieron Hobbs)
* 15th September - Kieron Hobbs's funeral takes place.
* 16th September - Calvin Valentine and Carmel McQueen marry.
* 19th September - Niall Rafferty's attempt to kill John Paul McQueen goes wrong when the drinks are swapped and Niall drinks John Paul's poisoned drink.
* 8th October - Niall Rafferty attempts to beat Myra McQueen with an iron but is interrupted by the McQueen family.
* 10th October - Mercedes McQueen and Carmel Valentine are kidnapped by Niall Rafferty.
* 13th October - Michaela McQueen and Tina Reilly are kidnapped by Niall Rafferty.
* 14th October - Niall Rafferty kidnaps the rest of Myra McQueen's children.
* 15th October - Jack Osborne is beaten unconscious by Niall Rafferty.
* 16th October - Niall Rafferty blows up a church with Myra, John Paul, Michaela, Mercedes, Tina, and Jacqui McQueen, Carmel Valentine and Jack and Darren Osborne inside.
* 17th October - Tina Reilly dies after being crushed by rubble in the church explosion. Niall is supposedly crushed by a falling statue, but keeps his survival secret.
* 20th October - Jack Osborne is arrested and charged with fraud. Dom Reilly visits his wife Tina in the morgue. John Paul McQueen leaves the village for Dublin. (Last appearance of John Paul until 2012 and final appearance of Tina)
* 21st October - Darren Osborne is arrested after confessing to the police about his role in the faked death of Jack Osborne.
* 22nd October - Malachy Fisher proposes to Mercedes McQueen, but she rejects.
* 4th November - New Hollyoaks Community College student Archie Carpenter arrives at the student halls. Leila & Ravi Roy's father, Govinda Roy, arrives in the village. (First appearance of the characters)
* 6th November - Tina Reilly's funeral takes place.
* 10th November - Bel Roy arrives in the village, applying for the stylist job at Evissa. (First appearance of the character)
* 11th November - Anita Roy moves into 65 Christleton Terrace with her family. (First appearance of the character)
* 20th November - Warren Fox attempts to kill Mark Gascoyne by beating him to death
* 21st November - Ash Roy arrives in the village. Nige Foster is revealed to have survived the beating from Calvin Valentine, and has been paid by Warren Fox to keep hidden. (First appearance of Ash Roy)
* 24th November - Tony Hutchinson meets and has a one-night-stand with Theresa McQueen, who lies about her age. Nancy Dean, Sarah Barnes and Zoe Carpenter are involved in a car accident. Eamon Fisher's funeral takes place. Malachy and Kris Fisher meet old friends Cheryl Brady and Lynsey Nolan. (First appearances of Theresa, Cheryl & Lynsey)
* 25th November - Niall Rafferty kidnaps Tom Cunningham.
* 26th November - Malachy Fisher proposes to Mercedes McQueen, who accepts. Dom Reilly meets Loretta Jones. (First appearance of the character)
* 27th November - Tony Hutchinson is arrested for sexual activity with a minor. After kidnapping Tom Cunningham, Steph Cunningham and Craig Dean, Niall Rafferty commits suicide by jumping off a cliff. (Final appearance of the character)
* 28th November - Mercedes McQueen and Malachy Fisher marry. Craig Dean leaves the village to Dublin to meet with John Paul. (Final appearance of the character)
* 1st December - Tony Hutchinson is arrested for sexual activity with a minor.
* 19th December - Lauren Valentine collapses after taking Newt's schizophrenia medication.
* 22nd December - Louise Summers discovers she is pregnant.
* 23rd December - Spencer Gray arrives in the village for his foster brother Warren Fox's wedding. (First appearance of the character)
* 26th December - On the day of his wedding to Louise Summers, Warren Fox discovers her plan to kill him and kills Louise by suffocating her with a pillow. Mandy Richardson leaves the village for Laos with her ex-husband, Tony Hutchinson, after reconciling. (Final appearance of Louise and last appearance of Mandy until 2010)
* 31st December - Zak Ramsey and Ash Roy are arrested for assaulting Gaz Bennett. In reality, Gaz injured himself to frame the pair.
=== Historical events ===
None
=== Real life events ===
* 2nd March - Hollyoaks: Summer's Got a Secret is transmitted on T4.
* 23rd March - The Hollyoaks Music Show is transmitted on T4. This was a pilot episode and would later be succeeded by annual series of 10-15 episodes up to 2011.
* 6th October - The Hollyoaks Wiki is created.
* 24th November - First ever episode of Hollyoaks Later airs.
== Cast ==
*Leah Barnes was recast from Magic Hurst to Jessica Croft-Lane.
=== Appearances ===
=== Debuts ===
See also: :Category:2008 debuts.
Number	Character 	Actor 	Debut date
 	Kieron Hobbs 	Jake Hendriks 	8th January 2008
 	Ravi Roy 	Stephen Uppal 	20th May 2008
 	Leila Roy 	Lena Kaur 	24th June 2008
 	Ella Richardson 	Unknown 	1st July 2008
 	Archie Carpenter	Stephen Beard 	4th November 2008
 	Govinda Roy 	Anthony Bunsee 	4th November 2008
 	Bel Roy 	Nila Aalia 	10th November 2008
 	Anita Roy 	Saira Choudhry 	11th November 2008
 	Ash Roy 	Junade Khan 	21st November 2008
 	Theresa McQueen 	Jorgie Porter 	24th November 2008
 	Cheryl Brady 	Bronagh Waugh 	24th November 2008
 	Lynsey Nolan 	Karen Hassan 	24th November 2008
 	Loretta Jones 	Melissa Walton 	26th November 2008
 	Spencer Gray 	Darren John Langford	23rd December 2008
=== Returns ===
See also: :Category:2008 returns.
Number	Character 	Actor 	Return date
 	Marlena McQueen 	Diane Langton 	4th March 2008
 	Harry Thompson 	Daniel Seymour 	13th March 2008
 	Cindy Cunningham 	Stephanie Waring 	9th June 2008
 	Holly Cunningham 	Lydia Waters (recasted from Karis Sharkey)	9th June 2008
 	Mandy Richardson 	Sarah Jayne Dunn 	12th June 2008 (voice)25th June 2008 (visual)
 	Angela Cunningham	Liz Stooke 	26th June 2008
 	Ruth Osborne 	Terri Dwyer 	5th August 2008
 	Craig Dean 	Guy Burnet 	2nd September 2008
=== Departures ===
See also: :Category:2008 departures.
Number	Character 	Actor 	Departure date
 	Kathy Barnes 	Sarah Jane Buckley	10th January 2008
 	Harry Thompson 	Daniel Seymour 	13th March 2008
 	Katy Fox 	Hannah Tointon 	10th April 2008
 	Beth Clements 	Sinéad Moynihan 	18th April 2008
 	Jake Dean 	Kevin Sacre 	16th May 2008
 	Angela Cunningham	Liz Stooke 	10th July 2008
 	Max Cunningham 	Matt Littler 	11th July 2008
 	Sam O'Brien 	Darren Jeffries 	11th July 2008
 	Ruth Osborne 	Terri Dwyer 	5th August 2008
 	Fletch 	Sam Darbyshire 	21st August 2008
 	Kieron Hobbs 	Jake Hendriks 	5th September 2008
 	Danny Valentine 	David Judge 	12th September 2008
 	Tina Reilly 	Leah Hackett 	20th October 2008
 	John Paul McQueen	James Sutton 	20th October 2008
 	Niall Rafferty 	Barry Sloane 	27th November 2008
 	Cheryl Brady 	Bronagh Waugh 	28th November 2008
 	Craig Dean 	Guy Burnet 	28th November 2008
 	Lynsey Nolan 	Karen Hassan 	28th November 2008
 	Mandy Richardson 	Sarah Jayne Dunn 	26th December 2008
 	Louise Summers 	Roxanne McKee 	26th December 2008
== Episodes ==
See also: :Category:2008 episodes.
== See also ==
* :Category:2008 minor characters
* :Category:2008 births
* :Category:2008 marriages
* :Category:2008 deaths
←2007 2009→