Celebrating in STYLE!

NICK PICKARD on marking 30 glorious years of Hollyoaks

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Nick Pickard is synonymous with Hollyoaks, and is the only member of the original 1995 cast still in the soap. So when TV Times catches up with the actor for an exclusive chat ahead of the Chester-set drama's 30th anniversary on 23 October, we're surprised to learn that he nearly didn't play his popular alter ego, charming chef Tony Hutchinson.

'I've been acting since I was seven,' shares the now 50-year-old star. 'I was in a couple of films as a kid and did the rounds on TV and theatre. Then, in 1995, my brother John - who was in 2point4 Children for the BBC at the time - and I opened our own pub [in London's Notting Hill].

'I almost didn't go to my recall for Hollyoaks because I had plasterers coming in. My mum was like, "Don't be stupid, you're going!" Back then, it was just another job.'

IN THE BEGINNING...

Created by Sir Phil Redmond of Grange Hill and Brookside fame, Hollyoaks was initially intended as light, escapist fare, where the most serious issue the characters faced was wooing the person they fancied.

'That went out of the window, didn't it?!' Nick laughs. 'A few months later, in March 1996, Shebah Ronay's character, Natasha Andersen, died after her drink was spiked with ecstasy. I remember thinking, “We’re doing real stuff now.” I don’t think there’s an issue we haven’t covered – and I’ve done half of them myself!’