Gemma Atkinson teases Hollyoaks return following harrowing re-run

The episode aired as part of Hollyoaks@25

Gemma Atkinson

by Marianna Manson |
Updated on

Vintage Hollyoaks star Gemma Atkinson has teased she could be returning to the soap after one of her character’s most memorable episodes was aired last night as part of Channel 4’s Hollyoaks@25 series.

Gemma became a household name playing Lisa Hunter from 2001 – 2005 as the teenager navigated a troubling self-harm storyline.

Lisa Hunter Hollyoaks
Gemma played troubled teen Lisa ©Limehouse pictures

Last night’s episode left viewers emotional with scenes of Lisa cutting herself, but Gemma has said she was “proud” to be a part of such an important storyline.

“It was such an honour to be asked to portray the self-harm storyline,” she said.

CHECK OUT: 23 of Hollyoaks most shocking deaths EVER

Gallery

29 of Hollyoaks most shocking deaths EVER - SLIDER

Hollyoaks shocking deaths1 of 30
CREDIT: Lime Pictures

Hollyoaks shocking deaths

Sarah Barnes2 of 30
CREDIT: Lime Pictures

1. Sarah Barnes parachute death!

If you had to imagine the worst possible way to die, we're guessing that realising your parachute is duff (mid jump) would be high up there. This is exactly what happened to Sarah Barnes back in 2005. While Sarah was in a relationship with her friend Zoe Carpenter, a jealous third party, Lydia, tried to cut Zoe's parachute ropes so she could have Sarah to herself. Oops, Lyds got the wrong 'chute and Sarah plunged to her death.

Maddie Morrison3 of 30
CREDIT: Lime Pictures

2. Maddie Morrison's minibus of hell

Maddie was Hollyoaks City College's resident Mean Girl, before she found love with Callum Kane. Sadly, Mad's sins caught up with her when she drove the fateful exploding minibus of hell. She cheated death after the initial crash/explosion – only to be hit in the head by a flying bus door moments later. That's karma for ya.

Nico Blake4 of 30
CREDIT: Lime Pictures

3. Nico Blake's death by a maze inferno!

The moment our hearts truly opened to Sienna Blake was when she watched her twincestuous daughter die before her eyes. Nico's final words to her mama? "I hate you." Nico, who was already a serial killer (despite only being a school girl), burned to death in a maze in last year's 'Oaks Spooktacular.

Joe Roscoe5 of 30
CREDIT: Lime Pictures

4. Joe Roscoe's fairground death!

The ultimate nightmare of a fairground ride breaking down while you're on it is the very reason our ferris wheel days are over. But Joe and Mercedes McQueen were lucky when a cherrypicker came to usher them to safety from the Big Wheel at the Hollyoaks Spooktacular . Or they would have been if Joe didn't slip and break his neck.

Max Cunningham6 of 30
CREDIT: Lime Pictures

5. Max Cunnigham's devastating hit and run death!

First man of Hollyoaks, general 'Oaks legend and probably has a bench named after him somewhere in the village, Max Cunningham (Tom's big bro) looked like he'd finally found happiness with his new wife, Steph Dean. But when he pushed Tom to safety out of the way of a speeding car, he was hit and died at the roadside – still in his wedding suit. Sob!

Warren Fox Louise Summer7 of 30
CREDIT: Lime Pictures

6. Louise Summer suffocating by husband-to-be Warren Fox!

Another wedding day death, this time it was lovely Louise who didn't stick around long enough to open the wedding pressies. After discovering fiancé, Warren Fox, was having an affair with her bridesmaid, Mandy Richardson, Lou planned to shoot Warren and frame Mandy for it. Only Warren discovered her plan and smothered her to death. She was preggers at the time.

Texas Longford8 of 30
CREDIT: Lime Pictures

7. Texas Longford pushed out a window!

Yet ANOTHER wedding day disaster – basically, don't get married in Hollyoaks guys. Texas had been tricked into marrying Will Savage after he faked being paralysed after he threw himself down some stairs, letting Texas believe she pushed him. Tex was actually in love with Will's brother, Dodger, and planned to leave with him, but guilt made her marry Will. She was pushed out of a window on her wedding day and after a big WhoDunnit story, it was revealed it was Will. Poor Texas.

Callum Kane9 of 30
CREDIT: Lime Pictures

8. Callum Kane's death by samurai sword!

Unlucky Callum was stabbed through the back with a samurai sword – obvs – while he was attempting to rescue Esther Bloom from a deranged stalker. It was even more shocking because, a few months earlier, he had a near miss with an armed robbery gone wrong.

Ziggy Roscoe10 of 30
CREDIT: Lime Pictures

9. Ziggy Roscoe's Christmas death!

Another weepy, Ziggy had just saved Leela Lomax from Killer Cameron's gas explosion. It looked like he escaped with just cuts and bruises and viewers were looking forward to him spending the rest of his life with his true love, Tegan Lomax. But it wasn't to be. Sadly, Zig suffered internal injuries and passed away while sat in a chair, dressed in a Santa outfit. Tegan found him and thought he was asleep at first. One of Oak's saddest deaths ever.

Lynsey Nolan11 of 30
CREDIT: Lime Pictures

10. Lynsey Nolan's shock strangling!

Lovely Lynsey was pals with Cheryl and Brendan Brady. She died after being strangled by murderous GP, Dr Browning, when he discovered she was about to expose Mercedes McQueen's lies about stabbing herself. She was discovered by Brendad, who thought she was just having a little sleep on the sofa, but he soon realised she was dead. Lynsey's death was a total shock as Hollyoaks hadn't revealed she was leaving.

Riley Costello12 of 30
CREDIT: Lime Pictures

11. Riley Costello's shooting!

Poor Riley had just realised that his true love was Mitzeee Minniver and was on his way to tell her when he got caught in the cross-fire of Brendan Brady's feud with undercover cop, Walker. He took a bullet meant for Brendan and died. Weep.

Tina McQueen13 of 30
CREDIT: Lime Pictures

12. Tina McQueen dramatic explosion death!

Blown up in an exploding church by a secret brother you didn't know about? Sounds legit. That's how rarely-mentioned-these-days Tina McQueen left the soap. She'd been kidnapped and tied up in the church by local vicar, Niall Raffety, who was actually the baby Myra McQueen had given up for adoption years before. Niall packed the church with explosives and detonated them.

Carmel McQueen14 of 30
CREDIT: Lime Pictures

13. Carmel McQueen train crash death!

One of Hollyoaks' most popular characters, Carmel died when a train the McQueen family were on for cousin Porsche's wedding crashed into Sienna's car which was on the tracks. While rescuing Theresa McQueen, the train exploded and Carmel was left trapped and with fatal injuries. She passed away while Myra told her a fairy tale. Gruesome and so, so sad.

Steph Dean15 of 30
CREDIT: Lime Pictures

14. Steph Dean shock cancer suicide!

Steph's death is up there with the saddest too, already dying from cervical cancer, she rescues Amy Barnes and Leah and Lucas from a burning building. They survive but Steph tells her new husband, Gilly, that she's ready to die and walks back into the flames.

Rae Wilson16 of 30
CREDIT: Lime Pictures

15. Rae Wilson murder by Silas!

Rae was beaten up and strangled by serial killer Silas Blissett because he didn't like the way she had casual sex. Silas tried to frame Brendan Brady for the murder because he memorably had beef with Rae.

Rhys Ashworth17 of 30
CREDIT: Lime Pictures

16. Rhys Ashworth's double death!

Unlucky Rhys had not one, but TWO deaths in Hollyoaks. His first death was when Maddie Morrison's minivan crashed into the wedding venue where Ste Hays and Dough Carter were getting married, along with Cindy Cunningham and Tony Hutchinson. Trapped under a fallen girder, he had ruptured an artery and bled to death before an ambulance could get to him.His second death came when he returned as a symptom of Cindy's bi-polar. They planned to leave Hollyoaks together, but Rhys was hit by a bus.

Will Savage18 of 30
CREDIT: Lime Pictures

17. Will Savage's murder by the glove-handed killer!

It was suspected that weird Will was immortal after miraculously surviving two roof-top falls and a major explosion. But evil Will was one of the victims of the Glove-Handed-Killer and a fatal injection saw the end of him.

Doug Carter19 of 30
CREDIT: Lime Pictures

18. Doug Carter leaving party explosion!

Sweet Doug was killed off when Sinead O'Connor unwittingly brought a bomb into his and Ste Hay's leaving party. D'oh. Doug rescues Sinead, then attempts to save Ste but they get trapped in the building. Ste is rescued by emergency services but Doug died from internal injuries.

Nathan Nightingale20 of 30
CREDIT: Lime Pictures

19. Nathan Nightingale's scaffolding fall!

Nathan's shock death came just as he discovered his fiancée, Lisa, having an affair with his dad, Mac. An almighty row broke out and Mac shoved Nathan away from him. Nathan then tripped on a toolbox and fell off the scaffolding to his death.

Amy Barnes21 of 30
CREDIT: Lime Pictures

20. Who killed Amy Barnes?

Hollyoaks legend Amy was brutally murdered earlier this year, just after marrying Ryan Knight. It's still not clear what happened on the night of her death, but Ste Hay is currently facing trial for her murder.

Lindsey Butterfield22 of 30
CREDIT: Lime Pictures

21. Lindsey Butterfield's murder by Silas!

After being unmasked as the Glove Handed Killer, it was only a matter of time before karma caught up with her. She was murdered by Hollyoaks' other notorious serial killer, Silas Blisset, when he discovered she'd been cheating with two brothers – he didn't like promiscuous women and strangled her.

Patrick Blake23 of 30
CREDIT: Lime Pictures

22. Patrick Blake suffocated by grand-daughter Nico!

He wasn't the nicest character to have lived in Hollyoaks, but being suffocated by his own grand-daughter, while he was terminally ill with motor neuron disease, was a bit harsh. Nico killed him when she discovered he had evidence of her confessing to killing Carly Bradley. So he had to go.

Clare Devine24 of 30
CREDIT: Lime Pictures

23. Clare Devine killed by Mercedes!

Evil Claire was responsible for many deaths during her time in the village, including Doug Carter, Leanne Holiday and Ash Kane, when she detonated a bomb made for Mercedes. She met her grisly end when Mercedes pushed her in front of a car.

Lily McQueen25 of 30
CREDIT: Lime Picture

24. Lily McQueen

After cheating on her husband Prince McQueen with Romeo Quinn, Lily felt guilty and began to self-harm to cope with it. She then ran away with Romeo and changed her mind at the last minute and returned home to reunite with her hubby but tragedy struck and she died after contracting sepsis.

Frankie Osborne26 of 30
CREDIT: Lime Pictures

25. Frankie Osborne

Hollyoaks viewers were left devastated in 2017 when Frankie Osborne died from a suspected stroke. During the Hollyoaks High explosion Frankie attempted to reunite with Jack Osborne but collapsed home alone.

Dirk Savage27 of 30
CREDIT: Lime Pictures

26. Dirk Savage

We're still devastated that the beloved Dirk Savage was killed in a shock accident. Following an altercation between Dirk and Milo, Dirk fell into the swimming pool and when Milo tried to turn on the lights to save him it ended up killing him.

Tegan Lomax28 of 30
CREDIT: Lime Pictures

27. Tegan Lomax

Things appeared to be going well for Tegan who had finally reached an agreement with Diane and Tony Hutchinson to co-parent Dee Dee and Rose. However following a storm Tegan was hit by a tree and later died in hospital. Her death led to Ste Hay joining the far-right extremists.

Russ Owen29 of 30
CREDIT: Lime Pictures

28. Russ Owen

Russ Owen had only just returned to the village after getting engaged to Mercedes McQueen but things went downhill for him when his affair with Goldie McQueen came to light. Viewers were stunned when it was later revealed that serial killer Breda McQueen had killed him.

Kyle Kelly30 of 30
CREDIT: Lime Pictures

29. Kyle Kelly

Hollyoaks fans were left devastated when Kyle Kelly ended his own life after secretly battling with depression.

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"Especially being so young myself, I didn't really understand much about it and we of course wanted it to be right, so the team at Hollyoaks arranged an afternoon for me to meet a young girl who used to self harm."

Speaking to The Mirror, she continued, “She talked me through why she did it, how it made her feel and how she got through it. She was amazingly brave and open with me and she helped me so much. The response we had was really positive and I’m glad Lisa’s storyline helped so many people.

Gemma Atkinson Lisa Hunter
Gemma hopes the episodes will help ©Limehouse pictures

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"I’m hoping these re-runs will help those who need it to.”

And she hasn’t ruled out returning in the future, saying, “I would always return to Hollyoaks.

"It’s because of that show I’m where I am today and have been able to do so much stuff since, it was my platform, my learning curve into the acting world and I’m so grateful to them.

"I couldn't do it long term as I love my job hosting the drive time show for Hits Radio.”

If you want to talk to someone about your mental health please call Samaritans on 116 123, or you can email jo@samaritans.org.

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