Gangsters In Soap Opera

This page is dedicated to the origins of gangsters in the soap opera universe. Gangsters have been a huge part of soap drama. Every soap opera has had a gangster male or female that has caused trouble in their respective soap. Some Gangsters have even become such a legendary figure within in their soaps. In England where soaps are more present all the main soaps have well named house hold gangsters, Coronation Street's most notably gangster is likely Jez Quigley. Emmerdale's is Ray Mullan although the two said soaps are not that well known to have many types of these characters. However the next three, Brookside, EastEnders and Hollyoaks are three soaps that are extremely well known to have these types of characters. Brookside have had many throughout its 21 year history but the most well known is that of Barry Grant. EastEnders have had many throughout its many decades of being on air ranging from henchmen to full time mobsters the most well known gangster is legendry hardman, Phil Mitchell which in some fans eyes its controversial choice. Hollyoaks perhaps has had the most gangsters if not its only just behind EastEnders and it's been round 10 years lesser. Hollyoaks' most known gangster is the unpredictable hardman in Warren Fox although, Brendan Brady has rivaled his popularity since. Scottish soap opera, River City has had its fair share and we're only in its 21st year! Lenny Murdoch is the fan favourite here and has been since 2005. The British soap like drama's such as Waterloo Road and Skins have had a few criminal like gangsters.

The American soaps have had many gangsters with them having huge impacts on the shows and being major characters. Stefano DiMera from Days Of Our Lives has been depicted as the shows all tike greatest villain, he has had many whom have worked for him throughout the years as the character was known to have many contacts and henchmen. General Hostpital a rival American soap is also known to have had various gangsters throughout the years. Currently the have Ava Jerome doing the criminal deeds.

In Australia both Neighbours and Home And Away are not really known to have many gangster type characters although a few have been created. Although whenever they have created gangsters they are often described by fans as "cartoon like" villains. Most notable one being that of Rocco fron Neighbours.

## Origins

### Coronation Street

For the first 37 years of the shows history they was no real gangster that entered the cobbles but in 1997 that was about to change with the introduction of, Jez Quigley. While the show have had many criminals and villains such as Mike Baldwin and Alan Bradley neither where gangsters. Jez on the other hand was a gangster through and through. A drug dealer with many connections Jez was Coronation Street's first real creation of a gangster. The character appeared in 1997 and 1999-2000 he made the lives of Tony Harrocks, Leanne Battersby and Steve McDonald a living hell bulling his way around the famous cobbles however eventually Irish hardman and Steve father, Jim McDonald took it upon himself to deal with Jez and beat him up leading to Jez dying in hostpital after spleen was untreated from a rupture after tge beating. Jim served 8 years in prison for manslaughter. However Jez's reign was put to an end.

In 2009 Coronation Street introduced a well connected gangster and debt collector known as, Rick Neelan who entered the cobbles gunning for Joe McIntyre to pay up his thousands of pounds debt. Rick hassled Joe and threatened him and his loved ones eventually the debts and Rick's threats got to much for Joe who attempted to fake his death but tragically resulted in his actual death much to his wife's, Gail Platt and daughter, Tina McIntyre. Rick left in 2010 after Joe's death but he returned two years later in May 2012 this time hassling Terry Duckworth to pay his debts eventually a vengeful Tina managed to get Rick arrested after Rick kidnapped Rita Sullivan. Rick was sentenced to 8 years imprisonment but would returned 7 years later in March 2019 having been released as its revealed to the viewers that Rick is the one who Gary Windass is in debt with, as always Rick hassles and threatens Gary like he did his previous debters, only this time Rick showed more of his darker side when he attempted to kill Gary, only for Gary to manage to fight of Rick and kill him instead. Rick's reign was thought to be ended but he returned in September 2022 as a vision for his daughter, Kelly Neelan to get revenge on Gary however this is not real Rick but a imagination by Kelly.

Inbetween Rick's recurring appearances Coronation Street had a few minor gangsters appearing. A major drug lord going by the name of Ronan Trueman first appeared in 2017. He was the father of Cormac Trueman who died at the Connors home making Ronan attempt revenge on Michelle, Ryan, Robert and Ali. However during a car chase Ronan was impaled after a crash on a tree trunk but alive. However Ali attempted to helps Ronan only for Ronan to tell him his coming for him and his family and he won't stop. This leads Ali to pull the trunk from Ronan which kills him.

In 2019. Human Traffickier, Rachel Healy made her debut for a brief storyline involving Eileen Grimshaw's new boyfriend and immigrant, Jan Lozinski who attempted inform on Rachel and her unseen husband. This led to Rachel later finding out and shooting Jan in the back however Jan surrives but Rachel flees but is later arrested.

In March 2021, Coronation Street introduced a dangerous drug dealer called Harvey Gaskell, Harvey terrorised the local youths such as Jacob Hay and Simon Barlow into selling drugs for him. Eventually, Harvey's pestering of Simon would lead him into a feud with Simon's family, especially his adoptive mother, Leanne Battersby, who eventually was forced to sell drugs for Harvey herself to write off Simon's debt however Leanne managed to get Harvey locked up, Harvey later escaped a prison van and attempted to kill Leanne he later shoots who he thinks is Leanne but it turns out to be Natasha Blakeman. After the murder Harvey was caught and sent to prison. He has seen made a few reappearances, Coronation Street writers even teased a softer side to the character.

In July 2022. A former associate of Rick's known as Kieron Edgerton kidnapped Kelly after discover she's Rick's daughter stating Rick owes him. Later on Kelly puts that aside and asks Kieron to kill Gary as revenge for killing Rick. Kieron agrees but Kelly changed her mind he instead decided to kill Kelly but her boyfriend, Aadi Alahan jumps infront of her as Kieron fires the bullet. Kieron and his associate flee but are caught off screen and Imprisoned. Aadi surrives the shooting.

Jacob Hay's father, Damon soon arrives in the famous cobbles in December 2022. It was revealed that Damon was the half brother of Harvey meaning Harvey was infact related to Jacob. Damon later shows his dark side when he has Harvey attacked in prison as well as besting up his own son which led him to leave Coronation Street. Despite his son leaving the cobbles, Damon remained in the street for half a year, causing a stir with his criminal dealings and sneaky ways. Damon leaves the cobbles in July 2023 after his affair with Sarah Barlow is exposed.

Some Coronation Street fans claim that villains. Tony Gordon and Pat Phelan however these two characters are what you describe as a "one man crime wave". Meaning they work within themselves and only have reaction to those who stand I the way of their crimes they do have contacts but they are more buissness partners from past deals rather than gangster associates. Some Coronation Street fans might claim that Gary Windass is a gangster but he seems to have calmed from the brief life if crime he had.

## Criminal Table

This table lists and ranks every soap opera gangsters by the amount of known crimes they have committed.

Method:

* Number-Character-Soap-Number Of Crimes

## What The Fans Say

This section is for wiki admins to research the web from social media and forums alike and put down what the majority of them think.