2003

←2002 2004→
 was Hollyoaks's ninth year of production.
== Overview ==
2003 saw the future of Hollyoaks secured as executive producer Phil Redmond backtracked on threats to pull the programme following the cancellation of Brookside in October 2002. After Brookside's final episode was transmitted in November 2003, Hollyoaks began transmitting at five episodes weekly, which it would continue to do until 2020.
This year was dominated by the mystery serial killer storyline, especially when the killer was unmasked in April 2003. Other stories included Norman Sankofa's homelessness, Steph Dean's struggle with epilepsy, Dennis Richardson's release from prison, and Matt Musgrove's involvement in Scott Anderson's scams. Another late night special - titled Hollyoaks: Leap of Faith - was transmitted in November 2003.
Ruth Osborne revealed to Tony Hutchinson that their 2001 fling left her pregnant, but she ultimately miscarried (1153). Ellie Hunter married Toby Mills in a small ceremony (1052), Izzy Cornwell married Ben Davies despite Scott Anderson's attempts to ruin the day (1147), but Chloe Bruce jilted Matt Musgrove upon learning of his involvement in Scott's scams (1060). Serial killer Toby Mills killed a number of women - including O.B.'s girlfriend Roxy (1001) and his own mother (1030) - before meeting his maker with help from Dan Hunter (1116), whilst the Richardsons were informed that Dennis had succumbed to liver cancer (1143).
== Events ==
=== Hollyoaks events ===
* 2nd January - On the night of celebrity Dave Johnson's concert in the village, Izzy Cornwell and another woman are attacked by The Hollyoaks Serial Killer.
* 23rd January - Scott Anderson is arrested on suspicion of three counts of murder. After being expelled from Hollyoaks Comprehensive School, Brian Drake leaves the village. (Final appearance of the character)
* 7th February - Norman Sankofa is rushed to hospital due to starvation.
* 25th February - Lee Hunter discovers the body of a victim of The Hollyoaks Serial Killer.
* 6th March - Bombhead is arrested on suspicion of being the Hollyoaks serial killer after Steph Dean and Abby Davies frame him as a prank.
* 7th March - Scott Anderson is beaten up by Ben Davies for harassing Izzy Cornwell.
* 21st March - Tony Hutchinson is beaten up by Max Cunningham after Max discovers his affair with Helen Cunningham.
* 5th April - Luke Morgan's son Oliver is born. Oliver would not be mentioned until 2018.
* 14th April - Hollyoaks is rocked by an earthquake.
* 21st April - Dennis Richardson returns to the village, having been released from prison having sexually abused his daughter Mandy. (First appearance of the character since 1998)
* 22nd April - Roxy Maguire is beaten to death with a spanner by the Hollyoaks mystery serial killer - revealed to be Toby Mills.
* 29th April - Roxy Maguire's body is found by Dale Jackson.
* 2nd May - Dan Hunter is arrested on the suspicion of the murder of Roxy Maguire.
* 6th May - Max Cunningham is arrested for ABH after attacking Dennis Richardson. Les Hunter is arrested for assaulting a police officer.
* 13th May - Mandy Richardson discovers that her father Dennis has been diagnosed with liver cancer.
* 20th May - Mandy Richardson visits her terminally ill abusive father Dennis before shutting him out of her life for good. (Final appearance of Dennis)
* 23rd May - Jack Osborne's niece, Natalie, arrives in the village. (First appearance of the character)
* 29th May - Toby Mills proposes to Ellie Hunter, who accepts.
* 6th June - Steph Dean is beaten unconscious with a spanner by Toby Mills.
* 9th June - After witnessing Toby Mills's attack on Steph Dean, Linda Mills confronts her son. In the argument, Toby pushes Linda down a flight of stairs.
* 10th June - Linda Mills dies of her injuries sustained after being pushed down a flight of stairs by her son, Toby Mills.
* 17th June - Toby Mills tries to kill Steph Dean by removing her breathing tubes, but is interrupted by Jake Dean.
* 19th June - Steph Dean awakens from her coma.
* 20th June - Lee Hunter and Bombhead accidentally set Max Cunningham's burger van alight.
* 23rd June - Linda Mills's funeral takes place.
* 4th July - Steph Dean suffers a seizure.
* 6th July - Michelle Reid is murdered by Toby Mills. He dumped her body in a lake, which would not be found until 2005.
* 11th July - Steph Dean is diagnosed with epilepsy.
* 18th July - Toby Mills and Ellie Hunter marry.
* 25th July - Matt Musgrove is viciously assaulted by Scott Anderson.
* 1st August - Matt Musgrove and Chloe Bruce's wedding is interrupted when the police arrive to arrest Matt for his part in Scott Anderson's counterfeit cash scam. Chloe jilts Matt at the altar upon discovering the truth.
* 8th August - Adam Morgan leaves the village for New York, having accepted a place at a film school there. Matt Musgrove leaves the village after being dumped by fiancée Chloe Bruce. (Final appearance of Adam, last appearance of Matt until 2004)
* 12th August - Lee Hunter proposes to Abby Davies, who accepts.
* 25th August - Toby Mills attempts to strangle Steph Dean with a tea towel, but fails.
* August - Toby Mills goes missing.
* 5th September - The missing Toby Mills is found.
* 12th September - Steph Dean suffers a seizure.
* 16th September - The body of Paula Jones, a victim of the serial killer, is discovered.
* 23rd September - New Hollyoaks Community College students Mel Burton, Joe Spencer and Robbie Flynn arrive in the village. (First appearance of the characters)
* 29th September - Emma Chambers discovers that she is pregnant.
* 10th October - Izzy Cornwell is hit by a reversing delivery van. Whilst in hospital, Ben Davies proposes marriage to her and she accepts.
* 13th October - Darren Osborne returns to the village. (First appearance of the character since 2000)
* 3rd November - Mel Burton's family arrive in the village. (First appearances of Liz, Sophie and Justin Burton)
* 4th November - Ellie Mills attempts suicide by drowning herself, but is rescued by her husband Toby. Liz Burton introduces her family to her boyfriend, Richard Taylor. (First appearance of the character)
* 5th November - Toby Mills attempts to throw his wife, Ellie Mills, off a roof. Dan Hunter manages to rescue Ellie, but pushes Toby off the roof, who falls to his death. Dan loses grip of Ellie who slips, hitting the balcony below before also falling to the ground. (Final appearance of Toby Mills)
* 10th November - Richard Taylor's children Ali and Darlene arrive in the village. (First appearances of the characters)
* 12th November - Dan Hunter is arrested on suspicion of the murder of Toby Mills.
* 13th November - After being expelled from Hollyoaks Community College, Jodie Nash moves back home with her parents. (Final appearance of the character)
* 5th December - Izzy Cornwell collapses after a catfight with Becca Hayton.
* 12th December - Mandy Richardson is informed that her father has died of liver cancer.
* 18th December - Ben Davies and Izzy Cornwell marry.
* 23rd December - Ruth Osborne returns to the village. (First appearance of the character since 2001)
* 29th December - Ellie Mills awakes from her coma.
=== Historical events ===
*Phoenix Hathaway is born as Brooke Hathaway.
*1st February - Juliet Quinn is born.
*10th June - Sid Sumner is born.
=== Real life events ===
* 16th March - Turning it Around is transmitted.
* 21st April - Hollyoaks's 1,000th episode airs.
* 3rd November - Following the cancellation of Brookside, Hollyoaks introduces an episode on Wednesdays, therefore broadcasting five episodes a week.
== Cast ==
*Tom Cunningham was recast from unknown to Ellis Hollins.
*Johnno Dean was recast from Mark Powley to Colin Wells.
=== Appearances ===
=== Debuts ===
See also: :Category:2003 debuts.
Number	Character 	Actor 	Debut date
 	Natalie Osborne	Tiffany Mulheron	23rd May 2003
 	Mel Burton 	Cassie Powney 	23rd September 2003
 	Robbie Flynn 	Andy Newton-Lee 	23rd September 2003
 	Joe Spencer 	Matt Milburn 	23rd September 2003
 	Liz Burton 	Andrée Bernard 	3rd November 2003
 	Sophie Burton 	Connie Powney 	3rd November 2003
 	Justin Burton 	Chris Fountain 	3rd November 2003
 	Richard Taylor 	Richard Calkin 	4th November 2003
 	Ali Taylor 	Luti Fagbenle 	10th November 2003
 	Darlene Taylor 	Sarah Lawrence 	10th November 2003
=== Returns ===
See also: :Category:2003 returns.
Number	Character 	Actor 	Return date
 	Dennis Richardson	David McAlister 	21st April 2003
 	Darren Osborne 	Ashley Taylor Dawson	13th October 2003
 	Ruth Osborne 	Terri Dwyer 	23rd December 2003
=== Departures ===
See also: :Category:2003 departures.
Number	Character 	Actor 	Departure date
 	Brian Drake 	Jonathan Le Billon	23rd January 2003
 	Dennis Richardson	David McAlister 	20th May 2003
 	Adam Morgan 	David Brown 	8th August 2003
 	Matt Musgrove 	Kristian Ealey 	8th August 2003
 	Toby Mills 	Henry Luxemburg 	5th November 2003
 	Jodie Nash 	Kate McEnery 	13th November 2003
== Episodes ==
See also: :Category:2003 episodes.
== See also ==
* :Category:2003 minor characters
* :Category:2003 births
* :Category:2003 marriages
* :Category:2003 deaths
←2002 2004→