1997

←1996 1997 1998→
1997 was Hollyoaks's third year of production. This year, Hollyoaks received its first award nomination - "Most Popular Children's Programme" at the National Television Awards.
== Overview ==
Phil Redmond remained as executive producer and Jo Hallows as series producer for a second year.
Keeping in with the new vision, 1997 proved to be a dramatic year for the show with an increase in topical storylines and dramatic events. 16-year-old Cindy Cunningham discovered that she was pregnant and kept it secret from her family, Jude Cunningham and Maddie Parker were subjected to a terrifying siege by Michael St. John Thomas, Kurt Benson was accused of attempted murder after pushing Spike from scaffolding during a fight, and Jack Osborne learned of his secret daughter by a then-teenaged Dawn Cunningham.
In mid-1997, incoming Channel 4 Chief Executive Michael Jackson made plans to axe Hollyoaks, planning to use the money for the programme for Redmond's other Channel 4 soap opera, Brookside. These plans were abandoned, however, when Jackson was made aware of the successes for the network and the elusive target audience it brought in. Meanwhile, new Head of Drama Gub Neal expressed wishes for Hollyoaks to be moved out of the Chester suburbs: a suggestion ignored by Redmond and Hallows as they were not contractually obligated to carry out these wishes.
Teenage Cindy gave birth to a daughter on Christmas Day (169). Kurt and Ruth Osborne eloped to Hull (105), whilst Tony Hutchinson was thrilled when Julie Matthews jilted him at the altar (130). Michael's rooftop siege results in deadly consequences for himself (85), Susi Harrison is told that her father has died (89), Lee Stanley dies in a car crash (145) and passenger Ollie Benson dies in hospital (146), and Dawn loses her battle with leukemia on Christmas Day (169).
== Events ==
=== Hollyoaks events ===
* 6th January - Jack Osborne discovers that he has a six year old daughter, conceived during an affair with Dawn Cunningham.
* 13th February - Sarah Ramsey, a woman who Tony Hutchinson slept with in Ibiza in September 1996, gives birth to his son Beau. Tony would not learn of Beau's existence until 2022.
* 27th February - Jude Cunningham and Maddie Parker are kidnapped by Michael St. John Thomas.
* 3rd March - Michael St. John Thomas forces Jude Cunningham to drive him and Maddie Parker to Loch Lomond so he can elope with Maddie. The trio end up on a roof-top, and Michael attempts to throw Jude from the roof. However, he is distracted by Maddie, and Jude pushes Michael from the roof to his death. (Final appearance of the character)
* 17th March - Susi Harrison's father dies from a massive cardiac arrest. Bazz is homophobically attacked.
* 27th March - Kurt Benson attacks Spike upon catching him attempting to force himself on Ruth Osborne. During the fight, Kurt pushes Spike, who falls from the scaffolding and onto a spike.
* 3rd April - Kurt Benson is arrested on suspicion of the attempted murder of Spike.
* 14th April - First appearance of Dennis Richardson.
* 28th April - Last appearance of Darren Osborne until 1999.
* 19th May - Kurt Benson and Ruth Osborne elope in Hull.
* 9th June - Kurt Benson's trial for actual bodily harm and the attempted murder of Spike begins. Susi Harrison attempts to stab Lucy Benson with a climbing pick, but strikes Rob Hawthorn instead. After the incident, she goes missing. (Final appearance of Susi)
* 12th June - Kurt Benson is found not guilty on the charges of actual bodily harm and the attempted murder of Spike.
* 19th June - After Jude Cunningham exposes Jack Osborne and Dawn Cunningham's affair in 1991, Celia Osborne takes their son, Darren, and leaves for the United States. (Final appearance of Celia)
* 24th June - Jason and Robbie Roscoe are born.
* 10th July - Cindy Cunningham discovers that she is pregnant.
* 11th August - Julie Matthews jilts Tony Hutchinson at the altar after realising she doesn't actually love him. Tony is thrilled as he was going to do the same. Jude Cunningham accidentally sets fire to Maddie Parker's flat.
* 14th August - After her disastrous failed wedding to Tony Hutchinson the day before, Julie Matthews leaves the village. (Last appearance of the character until 2002)
* 18th August - Maddie Parker leaves the village, moving back home to her mother. (Final appearance of the character)
* 8th September - Lewis Richardson visits his mother Helen to tell her about his concerns over his abusive alcoholic father Dennis. (First appearance of Helen Richardson)
* 6th October - Driving at speed whilst drunk, Lee Stanley flips the car which he and Ollie Benson are driving in, in an attempt to avoid a reversing lorry. Stan dies in the crash. Kurt Benson also crashes the car in which he, Tony Hutchinson and Bazz are in, leaving Kurt comatose. Bazz goes missing following the accident. Max Cunningham meets O.B., whom he bickers with. (First appearance of O.B.)
* 7th October - Ollie Benson dies of his injuries sustained in the car accident.
* 9th October - Kurt Benson awakens from his coma. Bazz is found in a nearby river after a car accident a few days earlier.
* 13th October - Struggling with the news of her unborn baby's father's death, Cindy Cunningham throws herself down a flight of stairs.
* 20th October - Ollie Benson's funeral takes place.
* 27th October - Spike takes Ruth Osborne hostage and attempts to rape her, but she is rescued by Rob Hawthorn.
* 18th December - Cindy Cunningham goes into labour.
* 22nd December - On Christmas Day, Jambo Bolton proposes to Dawn Cunningham on a boat ride, which she accepts. However, she dies from leukaemia shortly afterwards. Cindy Cunningham gives birth to the daughter of her and her late boyfriend Lee Stanley, who she names Holly Cunningham. (Final appearance of Dawn and first appearance of Holly)
* 29th December - Dawn Cunningham's funeral takes place. Cindy Cunningham collapses from an infection developed whilst giving birth.
=== Historical events ===
*3rd April - Anna Blake abandons her husband Dirk and three young children. They wouldn't see her again until March 2013.
*14th August - Ivy Shaw is born as Ivan Hawthorne.
*8th October - Zack Loveday is born.
*1st December - Amber Sharpe is born.
=== Real life events ===
* 28th January - Connor Calland (Jordan Price) is born.
* 20th June - Theo Graham (Hunter McQueen) is born.
* 24th June - Kassius Nelson (Jade Albright) is born.
* 11th July - Persephone Swales-Dawson (Nico Blake) is born.
* 22nd September - Iz Hesketh (Kitty Draper) is born.
== Cast ==
* Janice Bolton was recast from Debbie Arnold to Stephanie Schonfield.
* Max Cunningham was recast from Ben Sheriff to Matt Littler in September 1997.
=== Appearances ===
=== Debuts ===
See also: :Category:1997 debuts.
Number	Character 	Actor 	Debut date
 	Dennis Richardson	David McAlister	14th April 1997
 	Helen Richardson 	Kathryn George 	8th September 1997
 	O.B. 	Darren Jeffries	6th October 1997
 	Jill Patrick 	Lynda Rooke 	30th October 1997
 	Sol Patrick 	Paul Danan 	3rd November 1997
 	Gina Patrick 	Dannielle Brent	20th November 1997
 	Kate Patrick 	Natasha Symms 	27th November 1997
 	Holly Cunningham 	Karis Sharkey 	22nd December 1997
=== Returns ===
None
=== Departures ===
See also: :Category:1997 departures.
Number	Character 	Actor 	Departure date
 	Michael St. John Thomas	Tom Hudson 	3rd March 1997
 	Darren Osborne 	Adam Booth 	28th April 1997
 	Susi Harrison 	Deborah Chad 	9th June 1997
 	Celia Osborne 	Carol Noakes 	19th June 1997
 	Julie Matthews 	Julie Buckfield 	14th August 1997
 	Maddie Parker 	Yasmin Bannerman	18th August 1997
 	Lee Stanley 	Nathan Valente 	9th October 1997
 	Ollie Benson 	Paul Leyshon 	16th October 1997
 	Bazz 	Toby Sawyer 	10th November 1997
 	Dawn Cunningham 	Lisa Williamson 	22nd December 1997
== Episodes ==
See also: :Category:1997 episodes.
== See also ==
* :Category:1997 minor characters
* :Category:1997 births
* :Category:1997 marriages
* :Category:1997 deaths
←1996 1997 1998→