Steph Roach

Stephanie "Steph" Roach (née Dean, previously Cunningham) was the daughter of Frankie Osborne and Johnno Dean, the sister of Jake, Craig and Debbie Dean, the half-sister of Brian Bloom and Presley Dean, the foster half-sister of Barry Newton, the adoptive half-sister of Tom Cunningham and Jade Albright, the wife of the late Gilly Roach, and the widow of Max Cunningham.
During her arrival Steph was seen as nothing more tyen your mean girl teen, she would often belittle others as well as lie and make up rumours most notably towards Lisa Hunter leading to one of Lisa's biggest stories in Self Harming. 
After appearing sporadically for over two years, Steph would be given a family and would become more of a regular character and Steph would begin to have some development, in 2003 she would become a victim ofToby Mills who attacks her causing her to have epilepsy and by May 2005, Steph would be involved in a brief spinoff, Hollyoaks: In Too Deep where she would meet one of Toby's victims. Steph along with her younger brother, Craig would have a hand in her mother, Frankie becoming married to Jack Osborne a relationship that became one of the shows longest serving. 
By the later 2000s, Steph would enter into four serious relationships with Max Cunningham, Niall Rafferty, Fernando Fernandez and Gilly Roach. Two of whom (Max and Gilly) she would marry however Steph would be met with tragedy when Max is killed accidentally by Niall on her wedding shortly after marrying him by June 2008, Steph would also be heavily involved in the first season of Hollyoaks Later and also Niall's exit during that season. 
By 2010, Steph would be diagnosed with cervical cancer. Despite later being said to be terminal, Steph would not die as a result of her cancer but as a result of a fire started by Dominic Reilly who was ordered to do so by local gangster, Warren Fox. Steph would choose to die in the blaze rather than the cancer. 
Steph would make a return as a Christmas angel in December 2011 in a bid to help a suicidal Doug Carter. 
When Tom becomes a father to baby girl in September 2015, he names his daughter, Steph Cunningham-Lomax in memory of Steph, suggested by Peri.
== Biography ==
=== 2000-2002: Arrival ===
Steph is first seen in March 2000 as a school friend of Zara Morgan and is seen attempting to flirt with both of Zara's older brothers, Adam and Luke Morgan and through the rest of the year Steph would appear sporadically and seen giving Zara 'advice' over her relationship with Paul Millington. By 2001, Steph would become jealous of new student, Lisa Hunter whom Steph would begin to bully leading to Lisa self harming, Steph would also begin dating Lisa's boyfriend in Brian Drake but after seeing how she been treating Lisa, Steph would begin to take a liking to Lisa and the two of them would become friends and Steph is seen in a friendship group that consisted of herself, Zara, Abby Davies and Lisa and the girls would often take in turns to clash with one another often causer by Stephs lies. 
By 2002, Steph would become attracted towards the villainous, Scott Anderson and would begin sleeping with him upsetting Zara as Scott raped her older sister, Beth Morgan however after months of fooling around with Scott, Steph would be devastated when Scott puts an end to their "relationship". By November 2002, Step's older sister, Debbie arrives to check in on Steph and ends up getting a job at Il Gnosh much to Steph's annoyance and soon after the rest of Steph's family arrive her mother and father, Frankieand Johnno and brothers Jake and Craig as they move to Hollyoaks village to start a new life.
=== 2003: Toby's Attack & Epilepsy ===
By July 2003, Steph would become a victim of Toby Mills and although he does not kill her he attacks Steph in an attempt to kill her which Hospitalized and she is later diagnosed with Epilepsy and this ends depressing Steph causing her family to wonder how to support her through it and Step begins to become paranoid and unable to trust people again however with the support of her family and friends, Steph begins to get her life back on track but steph would discover by November 2003 that it was Toby whom attacked her as well as him being the serial killer whom killed several women from July 2002.
Steph is left frustrated as shes unable to confront Toby as he was killed in self-defenceby Dan Hunter, Steph instead takes her frustration out on Lisa giving the fact that Lisa was Toby's sister in law due to Toby being engaged to Lisa's older sister, Ellie Hunter. Steph attacks Lisa demanding an explanation on why Toby would do such a thing as well as kill numerous women during that period however despite Steph temporarily bulling Lisa again the girls would make up as the year ends. 
=== 2004-2006: Relationships with Dan and Cameron & Moving in with The Osborne's ===
Steph would support Dan after his released from prison and the two would begin a brief relationship upsetting Debbie however Steph is unfazed that shes gone behind her older sisters back and even tells Frankie to get Debbie to back off, Steph and Dan would grown closer when Dan supports her after Johnno leaves his family for a younger woman named Michelle however by December 2004, Steph would be dumped by Dan as he wants to rekindle with Debbie but tragically Dan is killed in a car crash, Steph makes up with Debbie before Debbie departs the village a week later. By April 2005 both Steph and Craig decide that Frankie needs to move on from Johnno and set they're mother on a couple of dates one of which included former Detective,Will Davies eventually Steph and Craig set Frankie on a date with local pub land lord in, Jack Osborne and would eventually move in The Dog in the Pond to live with Jack and his son, Darren Osborne, Steph would then attend the double wedding of Jack and Frankie and Jake and Becca in August 2005. 
By September 2005, Steph would begin attending college and she would grow close with her former school friend and student in Cameron Clark whom Steph would begin a relationship with him but would find it difficult as Cameron battles with OCD and Steph would seek support in Cameron's close friend in Jeremy Peterson and eventually Steph and Cameron would come to an end as Cameron would depart the village to go on tour by March 2006. For the rest of the year Steph would deal with the fall out of Jake's relationship with Becca coming to an end after its revealed that Becca has been having an affair with, Justin Burton and the fact Jake ended up accidentally killing, Diane Valentine and by September 2006, Steph would be caught in the cross fire of The Dog in the Pond Explosion caused by Sam Owen but Steph and her family would surrive however would be devastated by the deaths and the fact they ho temporarily homeless.
Steph along with her mother and the rest of the family would move back into the new Dog by November 2006 and would be delighted to find Debbie has arrived for the new opening, Steph would go on an audition with Debbie in an attempt to get a part in the West End however Steph is deemed not good enough much to her devastation and despite Darren's best efforts, Steph decides to stay in Hollyoaks and begins helping out in running The Dog. 
=== 2007-2008: Relationships with both Max Cunningham & Niall Rafferty ===
After supporting Craig coming out as gay in September 2007 as well as his relationship with John Paul McQueen, by October 2007, Steph begins to babysit, Tom Cunningham and would soon find herself falling for his older brother, Max Cunningham whom feels the same way the two would soon begin a relationship however both Steph and Max take up minor issues with one another leading them into an on-off relationship despite getting engaged by 2008 and eventually Steph would end up sleeping with the manipulative Niall Rafferty after one of they're fall outs.
She is supported by both Max and Niall after Jake is sectioned in May 2008 but Steph would eventually opt to be with Max and the two would prepare to marry by June 2008 much to Niall's jealously and tragically Max would be killed by Niall accidentally whom was drunk driving and speeding on Steph's wedding day to Max but after the two got married, Steph would see Max dying in the arms of his best friend, O.B., Steph would be left devastated and attend Max's funeral by July 2008 and would adopt Tom. 
Steph decides to go on a break away from the village with Craig and Tom by November 2008 after hearing Niall killed Tina Reilly by exploding a church however she is unaware that she and Tom are bring watched and followed by Niall eventually the three would finally discover Niall is woth them when he breaks into their holiday home and ties them up but Steph refuses to sympathize with Niall whom has confessed how much he loves Steph leading to Niall attack Craig but Steph would soon be shocked when Niall kills himself by jumping off a cliff. Steph would return to the village with Tom after thanking Craig for being there for her and Tom. 
=== 2009-2010: Relationships with Fernarndo and Gilly, Cancer & Death ===
In March 2009, Steph along with her friend, Sarah Barnes decide to open some dance classes at The Loft and this would lead Steph to meet dance teacher, Fernando Fernandez whom Steph would have a relationship with but during her bond with Fernarndo, Steph gets increasingly close with Gilly Roach and its obvious the two have feelings for one another but Steph would be devastated by the death of Sarah by October 2009 and forious with the return of Jake by November 2009 two occasions she is supported by both Fernando and Gilly.
By January 2010, Steph finally chooses to be with Gilly however she would be devastated to discover his left the village to go travelling and would return with a new girlfriend named, Jem Costello by March 2010 however Gilly would sleep with Steph and end his relationship with Jem but Steph would discover that she had Cervical Cancer and decides to get married to Gilly despite their on and off relationship and eventually the two would marry but Steph would later be informed that her cancer is terminal devastating her, Gilly and Tom.
In October 2010, Warren Fox would return to the village after supposedly been dead since May 2009 its revealed Warren along with Mandy Richardson are planning revenge on Tony Hutchinson for him leaving Mandy abroad. Warren would then coast a desperate Dominic Reilly to burn down the Gnosh a business of Tony's which Stephs flat is above as Dom sets fire to the business the fire breaks out intonStephs flat and Steph manages to save, Amy Barnes and her children Leah and Lucas however despite Gilly's best efforts to get Steph out, Steph accepts her fate and decides to stay in the burning building leading to her death this devastates Gilly and Steph's familyband her funeral is held in December 2010 and Dom is sentenced to fives years having also killed Malachy Fisher due to the explosion. Warren would however go unpunished. Tom would move in with The Osbornes where he has remained since.
=== 2011: Ghostly Return ===
In December 2011, Steph would make somewhat of a return as a ghost/angel type in an effort to help, Doug Carter see how important he is too peoples lives which included the likes of Doug's friends, Ste Hay,Riley Costello and even enemies such as Brendan Brady. Steph would also be accompanied by Doug's ex Rebecca Massey whom also appeared as a ghost as she was murdered by serial killer, Silas Blissett in April 2011, Steph is successful in showing Doug how important he is to the people in his life leading him to not want to die Steph is happy as she fades away. 
=== 2012-2022: Legacy ===
Steph has been mentioned various times by her family since her death especially by both Franke and Tom. In 2013, Tom mentions to Darren that Steph would have believed him over Sienna Blake's lies. In October 2013, Dom is released from prison having served half of his sentence for killing both Steph and Malachy.
By 2014, Tom would meet Peri Lomax and by September 2015 they would have a baby girl they both would name, Steph Cunningham-Lomax whom is named after Steph. 
In May 2016, Warren is released from prison and would return to Hollyoaks by July 2016, Frankie would throw a campaign in getting Warren out the village and when Warren confronts Frankie over this, Frankie stated that she will never forgive Warren for Steph's death as she knows he was some how behind it.
In November 2017, Steph's voice is heard over a music peace as her mother Frankie passes away due to a stroke. 
Steph is mentioned in March 2022 by both Zara and Lisa when they reminisce over their school days and memories in the village during their catch up. 
== Background Infomation ==
* Before the arrival of the Dean family, Steph's name was "Steph Webster".
* Carley Stenson decided to quit the role of Steph in 2010, but producer Lucy Allan requested that Stenson extended her contract to play out a cervical cancer storyline. Stenson agreed and Steph was killed off in the Il Gnosh fire by Allan's successor Paul Marquess.
== See Also ==
* List of appearances
* Dean family
== Gallery ==
Steph cunningham.jpg|Promotional image
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Category:2011 returns
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Category:1986 births
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Category:Residents of 2 Oakdale Drive