Mandy Richardson
Encyclopedia
Mandy Richardson is a fictional character
from the British
Channel 4
soap opera
Hollyoaks
, played by Sarah Jayne Dunn
. She debuted on-screen during October 1996 and has been involved in such storylines including dealing with sexual abuse while she was a child by her father Dennis (David McAllister), numerous failed relationships, and the death of daughter Grace to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
. Dunn left the series in 2006, making brief returns in 2007 and 2008. She returned again in 2010 in a storyline which also saw the return of Warren Fox
(Jamie Lomas
). In September 2011, Dunn announced her departure from the show and Mandy made her last appearance on 2 September 2011 before departing the village offscreen.
was cast in 1996 as Mandy, a member of the Richardson family. In 2006, Dunn decided to quit the show after 10 years.
In 2008, Dunn signed a 6-month contract to return to the soap. Speaking of her return, Dunn admitted she was thrilled to be returning, stating: "I always said 'never say never' so it was nice not to be killed off. I don't think I can look as it as going back because it's still a job in the industry and when you're an actor you just want to be working. Hollyoaks is riding such a wave at the moment — it's a great time to be there." She later expressed her feelings towards returning: "The cast has changed a bit but the lovely thing is most of the crew are the same. I felt a bit like the new girl on the first day but within an hour it was as if I'd been there ages. I actually asked to come back. It seemed the right time for my character," she continued; "Mandy came back for Max's wedding and stayed for his funeral, but I wanted to return and re-establish the character rather than just dip in and out. I've worked quite a lot since and can bring that experience to Mandy, who has changed a lot. I am contracted for six months which means I'll be on-screen until the end of the year — who knows what will happen after that? I'm just happy to be back and having a brilliant time, which is all I'm concentrating on at the moment."
Mandy's return coincided with the exit of Matt Littler
, who portrayed Mandy's stepbrother Max Cunningham
. Following her return, Mandy was involved in an affair storyline with Warren Fox
(Jamie Lomas
). Her exit, and end to the storyline, also saw the departure of Roxanne McKee
, who played Louise Summers. In 2009, it was rumoured that Dunn could make a possible return to the soap, along with McKee, for the exit of Lomas.
In September 2010, Dunn stated on her Twitter
account that she would be returning to Hollyoaks later in 2010 for a "few episodes". It was confirmed on the official Hollyoaks website on 26 October 2010 that she would return in the episode of the same day. Speaking of her return, Dunn stated, "It's great to be back, I feel like I've never been away and it's fantastic to work with all my old friends. I'm really excited about being a part of the show again and about the storylines that producer Paul Marquess and the rest of the team have in the pipeline for Mandy." Dunn also praised her return storyline, which featured a more edgier side to Mandy. She told Manchester Evening News
, "At the moment she's come back and she's causing loads of trouble. It's quite nice because they put a different spin on the character. When they asked me back they said, 'This is what the storyline is going to be', and I said, 'Brilliant, it sounds loads of fun'. It's totally unexpected, I think, for everyone watching."
Profiling Mandy, Virgin Media
state: "Mandy never had it easy." Also branding her "a bit of a bossy boots with a domineering personality" and make note of her troubled life stating: "she has gone through varying degrees of popularity throughout her Hollyoaks life but has undoubtedly also been put through the mill."
In September 2011, Dunn revealed she had left Hollyoaks again and already finished filming.
her when she was younger. Mandy finds the strength to take a stand against her father and he is sentenced to seven years in prison. Mandy's life slowly returns to normal and she begins a relationship with Luke Morgan
(Gary Lucy). When Luke is raped by Mark Gibbs (Colin Parry), he feels ashamed and ends his and Mandy's relationship. Unaware of the true reasons for Luke splitting up with her, Mandy embarks on short-lived relationships with Darren Osborne
(Ashley Taylor Dawson
) and Ben Davies
(Marcus Patric
). Luke admits the true reasons for ending the relationship to Mandy, who agrees to support him.
Mandy helps deliver half brother Tom Cunningham
(Ellis Hollins
) following their's mother Helen Cunningham
's (Kathryn George) pregnancy. Mandy's brother Lewis Richardson (Ben Hull
) commits suicide following debt problems, which causes Mandy and Helen's relationship to suffer. After Mandy and Jamie Nash
(Stefan Booth
) sleep together, Adam Morgan
(David Brown) confronts her about her behaviour and they pair are involved in a car accident, which leaves Adam paralysed. Mandy and local barman Toby Mills
(Henry Luxembourg) begin a short relationship, which Toby ends. Mandy and Adam then begin a secret relationship, which ends when she sleeps with Luke again. Due to losing both Adam and Luke, Mandy confides in friend Laura Burns
(Lesley Crawford), who becomes obsessed with Mandy. Laura attacks Mandy and locks her in her flat, later attempting to kill her. Mandy's stepbrother Max Cunningham
(Matt Littler
) rescues her with the help of Adam, Tony Hutchinson
(Nick Pickard
), Becca Hayton (Ali Bastian
) and Laura's brother Brendan. Laura is later sectioned and Mandy is informed of her mental health issues.
Mandy finds out her mother is having an affair with Tony, which soon ends, and also discovers that her father, who is dying of liver cancer, is being released from prison. After Dennis's release, Mandy confronts him and refuses to forgive him. She then buys him alcohol to make his death come sooner. When he eventually does die, Mandy begins to rebuild her life, turning to Tony for support despite his former affair with Helen. They become a couple, but soon cheat on each other; Tony with Ruth Osborne
(Terri Dwyer
) and Mandy with Ben. Despite this, they continue their relationship. When Helen and Gordon Cunningham
(Bernard Latham) are killed in a car accident, Mandy is given guardianship of Tom, but later puts him in Max's care. Mandy's emotional turmoil worsens when she suffers a miscarriage, which causes her to hit Tony. After Tony is arrested for hitting her back, Mandy admits to abusing him first, they seek counselling and eventually marry in Rome
. Shortly after returning, Mandy falls pregnant and gives birth to Grace Hutchinson. Grace dies of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
whilst under the supervision of teenagers Nancy Hayton
(Jessica Fox
) and Hannah Ashworth
(Emma Rigby
). A devastated Mandy is unable to talk to Tony about her daughter's death, turning instead to his brother Dominic Reilly
(John Pickard
). After sharing a brief kiss, Mandy leaves Tony and the village.
Mandy returns in 2007 for Becca's funeral after she is killed in prison. Mandy tells Tony that she is pregnant and in a serious relationship with a man named Mark. Months later, Tony receives a letter from Mandy informing him that she had given birth to a girl named Ella.
Mandy returns to Hollyoaks again in June 2008 with Ella to attend the wedding of Max to Steph Dean (Carley Stenson
). On her arrival, she reveals she and Mark have split up. Mandy and Tony's then-partner Jacqui McQueen (Claire Cooper
) begin a feud, Jacqui believing Mandy to be a threat. After the wedding, Max is run over and killed by Niall Rafferty
(Barry Sloane
). Mandy then decides to stay in Hollyoaks, becoming a wedding planner with Louise Summers (Roxanne McKee
) for Carmel McQueen
(Gemma Merna
). Mandy works closely with Louise's fiancé Warren Fox
(Jamie Lomas
), which causes Louise to become suspicious of them. Mandy's stepsister Cindy Cunningham
(Stephanie Waring
) then makes Louise believe Mandy and Warren are having an affair. However, this pushes Warren further away from Louise, who turns to alcohol. Following more accusations from a drunken Louise, Mandy and Warren sleep together and begin an affair. Louise apologises for her behaviour. Cindy is suspicious of Mandy and Warren after finding Mandy's underwear. Louise then attacks Cindy, believing she is trying to split her and Warren up.
Warren ends his affair with Mandy, who, devastated, tells Louise the truth. After slapping Mandy, Louise tells her that Warren had murdered her previous husband, Sean Kennedy
(Matthew Jay Lewis
). A shocked Mandy reluctantly agrees to set Warren up before stealing his money. However, unknown to Mandy, Louise plots to kill Warren and frame Mandy. On the wedding day, CCTV footage of Warren and Mandy is shown to the wedding guests by Jacqui and Myra McQueen
(Nicole Barber-Lane
). Meanwhile, Louise and Warren have a confrontation after he finds the gun she had planned to kill him with. He then suffocates her. Mandy decides to leave the village once more with Tony, much to the jealousy of Jacqui but Tony later returns.
Off-screen in 2009, Tony and Mandy go travelling, deciding to give their relationship another go. However, when Mandy tells Tony that she may not be able to have children of her own anymore, he is upset and returns to Hollyoaks, leaving Mandy stranded in a foreign country.
In October 2010, Mandy arrives at Steph's house. Darren asks Mandy why she is back and she reveals she came back to see Steph, but refuses to talk about what happened between her and Tony after they left together. They talk over a bottle of wine and almost kiss, before Tom enters. Days later, Mandy takes Tom to Relish for lunch when he claims to have seen the ghost of Warren, who apparently died the previous year. After taking him home, Mandy and Frankie Osborne
(Helen Pearson
) argue over custody of Tom. Tony begins to avoid Mandy after seeing her, so she confronts him about why he left her abroad. Mandy meets with Warren, revealing she is in a relationship with him and they both agree to take revenge on Tony.
Mandy discovers Tony is in debt and Dom had gone to Warren for money. Later that night, Tony's restaurant Il Gnosh is burned down by an unseen arsonist. The fire spreads and Steph is killed, with Malachy Fisher
(Glen Wallace
) later dying in hospital. Mandy then meets Warren, believing he caused the fire. Panicking, she attempts to end their relationship, but he manipulates her after convincing her that he is the only person she can talk to and that he will solve all of her problems, making Mandy trapped in his twisted plans.
Mandy tells Tony that she wants to get custody of Tom, when Frankie hears this she is not happy and won't let her take Tom. Mandy then reminds Frankie that she will get custody because she is Tom's legal guardian. After months of him receiving threatening text messages, Mandy is exposed as Warren's stalker. Mandy leaves the village after she tells Tony she originally wanted revenge on him and tells Tom she will be back for him.
Mandy arrives at Cinergy, and Cindy persuades her to let Carmel McQueen
(Gemma Merna
) wash her hair but Mandy is shocked when Carmel puts eggs in her hair and demands she stops and washes her hair properly. Later on, Noah Baxter (Law Thompson) and Carmel are arguing over who should be the new boss and Cindy tells them that Mandy is the new boss. Upset about the way Cindy is spending money, Mandy teams up with Texas Longford
(Bianca Hendrickse-Spendlove) and they decided to make fake art pictures so Cindy will buy them. As Texas is painting, Mandy realizes that she isn't good at painting. Jamil Fadel comes through and helps Texas to paint. While doing that, Mandy and Jamil realize he is good and Mandy persuades him to paint more pictures. Cindy discovers that Mandy has been scamming her but later forgives her.
Mandy and Tony reignite their relationship. Tony and Mandy begin looking for jobs and after Tony gets a job as chef at the Dog he comes home to find Mandy has left him a note and has moved away from Hollyoaks.
, Dunn was nominated for the 'Best Actress' and 'Sexiest Female' awards. In 2006, she was nominated for the same awards. At the 2007 awards, Dunn was nominated for 'Best Exit'. The BBC
included Mandy's storyline featuring abuse at the hand of her father in the article about controversial issue led storylines tackled in soap opera and branded the plot as "harrowing".
Virgin Media profiled some of Hollyoaks' "hottest females" in their opinion, of Mandy they stated: "Hollyoaks veteran Mandy Richardson has been strutting her stuff on the Chester cobbles for years. She's always avoided the chop but that might all change now she's dragged Warren back. You know what they say, if looks could kill…"
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
from the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
Hollyoaks
Hollyoaks
Hollyoaks is a long-running British television soap opera, first broadcast on Channel 4 on 23 October 1995. It was originally devised by Phil Redmond, who has also devised shows including Brookside and Grange Hill...
, played by Sarah Jayne Dunn
Sarah Jayne Dunn
Sarah Jayne Dunn is an English actress best known for playing Mandy Richardson in Hollyoaks.-Biography:Dunn was born in Leigh, Lancashire and educated at Lowton High School, excelling in drama and performing arts, and a part time career as a model...
. She debuted on-screen during October 1996 and has been involved in such storylines including dealing with sexual abuse while she was a child by her father Dennis (David McAllister), numerous failed relationships, and the death of daughter Grace to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
Sudden infant death syndrome
Sudden infant death syndrome is marked by the sudden death of an infant that is unexpected by medical history, and remains unexplained after a thorough forensic autopsy and a detailed death scene investigation. An infant is at the highest risk for SIDS during sleep, which is why it is sometimes...
. Dunn left the series in 2006, making brief returns in 2007 and 2008. She returned again in 2010 in a storyline which also saw the return of Warren Fox
Warren Fox
Warren Fox is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Jamie Lomas. He first arrived in 2006 as an old acquaintance of Sean Kennedy and quickly became known as the show's main villain...
(Jamie Lomas
Jamie Lomas
Jamie Lomas is an English actor best known for his role as bad boy Warren Fox on the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks....
). In September 2011, Dunn announced her departure from the show and Mandy made her last appearance on 2 September 2011 before departing the village offscreen.
Characterisation
The Mirror described her as the "whiny, but strangely also rather loveable Mandy".Creation and development
Sarah Jayne DunnSarah Jayne Dunn
Sarah Jayne Dunn is an English actress best known for playing Mandy Richardson in Hollyoaks.-Biography:Dunn was born in Leigh, Lancashire and educated at Lowton High School, excelling in drama and performing arts, and a part time career as a model...
was cast in 1996 as Mandy, a member of the Richardson family. In 2006, Dunn decided to quit the show after 10 years.
In 2008, Dunn signed a 6-month contract to return to the soap. Speaking of her return, Dunn admitted she was thrilled to be returning, stating: "I always said 'never say never' so it was nice not to be killed off. I don't think I can look as it as going back because it's still a job in the industry and when you're an actor you just want to be working. Hollyoaks is riding such a wave at the moment — it's a great time to be there." She later expressed her feelings towards returning: "The cast has changed a bit but the lovely thing is most of the crew are the same. I felt a bit like the new girl on the first day but within an hour it was as if I'd been there ages. I actually asked to come back. It seemed the right time for my character," she continued; "Mandy came back for Max's wedding and stayed for his funeral, but I wanted to return and re-establish the character rather than just dip in and out. I've worked quite a lot since and can bring that experience to Mandy, who has changed a lot. I am contracted for six months which means I'll be on-screen until the end of the year — who knows what will happen after that? I'm just happy to be back and having a brilliant time, which is all I'm concentrating on at the moment."
Mandy's return coincided with the exit of Matt Littler
Matt Littler
Matt Littler is a British actor and director born in Bury, Greater Manchester, United Kingdom. He is most famous for playing the role Max Cunningham from 1997 to 2008 in the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks.- Career :...
, who portrayed Mandy's stepbrother Max Cunningham
Max Cunningham
Max Cunningham is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Matt Littler. From 1995 to 1996, Max was portrayed by Ben Sheriff before Littler took over. In 2008, Max, along with Tony Hutchinson , was the longest running character in Hollyoaks...
. Following her return, Mandy was involved in an affair storyline with Warren Fox
Warren Fox
Warren Fox is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Jamie Lomas. He first arrived in 2006 as an old acquaintance of Sean Kennedy and quickly became known as the show's main villain...
(Jamie Lomas
Jamie Lomas
Jamie Lomas is an English actor best known for his role as bad boy Warren Fox on the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks....
). Her exit, and end to the storyline, also saw the departure of Roxanne McKee
Roxanne McKee
-Biography:After completing a BA degree in 2001 in Social Policy & Political Studies at Royal Holloway, University of London, McKee rose to fame by winning Hollyoaks On The Pull, a Channel 4 initiative to discover new talent for the popular British soap Hollyoaks...
, who played Louise Summers. In 2009, it was rumoured that Dunn could make a possible return to the soap, along with McKee, for the exit of Lomas.
In September 2010, Dunn stated on her Twitter
Twitter
Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
account that she would be returning to Hollyoaks later in 2010 for a "few episodes". It was confirmed on the official Hollyoaks website on 26 October 2010 that she would return in the episode of the same day. Speaking of her return, Dunn stated, "It's great to be back, I feel like I've never been away and it's fantastic to work with all my old friends. I'm really excited about being a part of the show again and about the storylines that producer Paul Marquess and the rest of the team have in the pipeline for Mandy." Dunn also praised her return storyline, which featured a more edgier side to Mandy. She told Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
The Manchester Evening News is a regional daily newspaper covering Greater Manchester in the United Kingdom. It is published every day except Sunday and is owned by Trinity Mirror plc following its sale by Guardian Media Group in early 2010. It has an average daily circulation of 90,973 copies...
, "At the moment she's come back and she's causing loads of trouble. It's quite nice because they put a different spin on the character. When they asked me back they said, 'This is what the storyline is going to be', and I said, 'Brilliant, it sounds loads of fun'. It's totally unexpected, I think, for everyone watching."
Profiling Mandy, Virgin Media
Virgin Media
Virgin Media Inc. is a company which provides fixed and mobile telephone, television and broadband internet services to businesses and consumers in the United Kingdom...
state: "Mandy never had it easy." Also branding her "a bit of a bossy boots with a domineering personality" and make note of her troubled life stating: "she has gone through varying degrees of popularity throughout her Hollyoaks life but has undoubtedly also been put through the mill."
In September 2011, Dunn revealed she had left Hollyoaks again and already finished filming.
Storylines
Mandy first appears as a naive schoolgirl who dreams of becoming a model, and becomes the underage temptress of Ollie Benson (Paul Leyshon). It is revealed that Mandy's father Dennis (David McAllister) had sexually and physically abusedChild abuse
Child abuse is the physical, sexual, emotional mistreatment, or neglect of a child. In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Children And Families define child maltreatment as any act or series of acts of commission or omission by a parent or...
her when she was younger. Mandy finds the strength to take a stand against her father and he is sentenced to seven years in prison. Mandy's life slowly returns to normal and she begins a relationship with Luke Morgan
Luke Morgan
Lucas "Luke" Morgan is a fictional character from long-running Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Gary Lucy. He played the part between 1999 and 2001 before a brief return in 2002. He was introduced as part of the Morgan family alongside sisters Beth and Zara, brother Adam and parents Andy...
(Gary Lucy). When Luke is raped by Mark Gibbs (Colin Parry), he feels ashamed and ends his and Mandy's relationship. Unaware of the true reasons for Luke splitting up with her, Mandy embarks on short-lived relationships with Darren Osborne
Darren Osborne
Darren Osborne is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks. Darren was introduced by executive producer Phil Redmond as part of the Osborne family. Darren made his first on-screen appearance on 18 November 1996 and was initially played by Adam Booth, before the Booth...
(Ashley Taylor Dawson
Ashley Taylor Dawson
Ashley Taylor Dawson is an English actor and singer. He is best known for his role as Darren Osborne in the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, in which he is one of the longest serving cast members and as being a member of UK pop band allSTARS*.-Personal life:Ashley Dawson was born Wilmslow,...
) and Ben Davies
Ben Davies (Hollyoaks)
Benjamin "Ben" Davies is a fictional character from the long-running Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Marcus Patric. He first appeared in 2000 and, after departing from the main show in 2005, made further appearances in spin-offs, Hollyoaks: Let Loose and Hollyoaks: In the City, which...
(Marcus Patric
Marcus Patric
Marcus Patric is an English actor, possibly best known for the role of Ben Davies in the British soap opera Hollyoaks and its spin-offs Hollyoaks: Let Loose and Hollyoaks: In the City, which he won after entering the televised open-audition "Hollyoaks: On The Pull".-Filmography:*2000 - 2005...
). Luke admits the true reasons for ending the relationship to Mandy, who agrees to support him.
Mandy helps deliver half brother Tom Cunningham
Tom Cunningham
Thomas "Tom" Cunningham is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Ellis Hollins. Hollins has portrayed the character since his birth in 1999.-Storylines:...
(Ellis Hollins
Ellis Hollins
Ellis Hollins is a British Soap Award winning child actor. He is most famous for playing the role Tom Cunningham in the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, which he has played since 1999...
) following their's mother Helen Cunningham
Helen Cunningham
Helen Cunningham is a fictional character from the long-running Channel 4 soap opera, Hollyoaks, played by Kathryn George. George first appeared in the role in 1997 before the character was written out in 2004 when she was killed in a car accident...
's (Kathryn George) pregnancy. Mandy's brother Lewis Richardson (Ben Hull
Ben Hull
-Career:Ben's first appearance was in 1994 when he appeared ITV Drama, Revelations.He then went on to appear as Martin Wells in Children's ITV series Children's Ward....
) commits suicide following debt problems, which causes Mandy and Helen's relationship to suffer. After Mandy and Jamie Nash
Jamie Nash
Jamie Nash is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Stefan Booth. The character appeared between 2001 and 2002.-Storylines:Jamie arrived as one of the new students at Hollyoaks Community College...
(Stefan Booth
Stefan Booth
Stefan Booth is an English actor and singer currently starring in the BBC soap opera EastEnders as Greg Jessop. He left the series in August 2011 and will return to the show.-Background:...
) sleep together, Adam Morgan
Adam Morgan (Hollyoaks)
Adam Morgan is a fictional character from the long-running Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by David Brown.-Background:Adam is the son of Andy and Sue Morgan and brother of Beth, Luke and Zara...
(David Brown) confronts her about her behaviour and they pair are involved in a car accident, which leaves Adam paralysed. Mandy and local barman Toby Mills
Toby Mills
Tobias "Toby" Alexander Mills is a fictional character from the long-running British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Henry Luxemburg.-Storylines:...
(Henry Luxembourg) begin a short relationship, which Toby ends. Mandy and Adam then begin a secret relationship, which ends when she sleeps with Luke again. Due to losing both Adam and Luke, Mandy confides in friend Laura Burns
Laura Burns (Hollyoaks)
Laura Burns is a fictional character from the long-running Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Lesley Crawford between 2000-2002.-Character creation:...
(Lesley Crawford), who becomes obsessed with Mandy. Laura attacks Mandy and locks her in her flat, later attempting to kill her. Mandy's stepbrother Max Cunningham
Max Cunningham
Max Cunningham is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Matt Littler. From 1995 to 1996, Max was portrayed by Ben Sheriff before Littler took over. In 2008, Max, along with Tony Hutchinson , was the longest running character in Hollyoaks...
(Matt Littler
Matt Littler
Matt Littler is a British actor and director born in Bury, Greater Manchester, United Kingdom. He is most famous for playing the role Max Cunningham from 1997 to 2008 in the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks.- Career :...
) rescues her with the help of Adam, Tony Hutchinson
Tony Hutchinson
Anthony "Tony" Hutchinson is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Nick Pickard. Tony first appeared on-screen on 23 October 1995, the first episode of the series, and is the only original character still on the show to the present day...
(Nick Pickard
Nick Pickard
Nicholas "Nick" Pickard is an English actor, best known for his role as Tony Hutchinson on soap opera Hollyoaks.He is currently the longest serving cast member and appeared in the very first episode in 1995...
), Becca Hayton (Ali Bastian
Ali Bastian
Alexandra Louise "Ali" Bastian is an English television actress, best known for playing Becca Dean in the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks from 2001 to 2007, and PC Sally Armstrong in long-running ITV drama series The Bill from 2007 to 2009.-Biography:Born in Windsor, Berkshire, to Paula C. Marriott...
) and Laura's brother Brendan. Laura is later sectioned and Mandy is informed of her mental health issues.
Mandy finds out her mother is having an affair with Tony, which soon ends, and also discovers that her father, who is dying of liver cancer, is being released from prison. After Dennis's release, Mandy confronts him and refuses to forgive him. She then buys him alcohol to make his death come sooner. When he eventually does die, Mandy begins to rebuild her life, turning to Tony for support despite his former affair with Helen. They become a couple, but soon cheat on each other; Tony with Ruth Osborne
Ruth Osborne
Ruth Osborne is a fictional character from the long-running Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Terri Dwyer. She first appeared in 1995 as part of the Osborne family before leaving in 2001. Since then, she has made guest appearances between 2003–2004 and 2008. In 2009 Dwyer said she'd return...
(Terri Dwyer
Terri Dwyer
Teresa "Terri" Dwyer is an English actress. She is best known for her role in the in the British soap opera, Hollyoaks as Ruth Osborne.-Career:...
) and Mandy with Ben. Despite this, they continue their relationship. When Helen and Gordon Cunningham
Gordon Cunningham
Gordon Hilton Cunningham is a fictional character from the long-running Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Bernard Latham. He first appeared as one of the original characters on the show when it started, he left in 2004 when the character died of a heart attack which he had after being...
(Bernard Latham) are killed in a car accident, Mandy is given guardianship of Tom, but later puts him in Max's care. Mandy's emotional turmoil worsens when she suffers a miscarriage, which causes her to hit Tony. After Tony is arrested for hitting her back, Mandy admits to abusing him first, they seek counselling and eventually marry in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
. Shortly after returning, Mandy falls pregnant and gives birth to Grace Hutchinson. Grace dies of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
Sudden infant death syndrome
Sudden infant death syndrome is marked by the sudden death of an infant that is unexpected by medical history, and remains unexplained after a thorough forensic autopsy and a detailed death scene investigation. An infant is at the highest risk for SIDS during sleep, which is why it is sometimes...
whilst under the supervision of teenagers Nancy Hayton
Nancy Hayton
Nancy Anne Hayton is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Jessica Fox. The character first appeared on 6 July 2005. Since the character's inception she has been involved in many notable storylines such as a three-way open relationship, drug taking,...
(Jessica Fox
Jessica Fox
Jessica Fox is an English actress. She is most notable for playing young witch Enid Nightshade in the CITV show The Worst Witch, whom she began playing in the late 1990s...
) and Hannah Ashworth
Hannah Ashworth
Hannah Rose Ashworth is a fictional character from long-running Channel 4 soap opera, Hollyoaks, played by Emma Rigby. Hannah first appeared on-screen from October 3, 2005 until her exit on February 12, 2010....
(Emma Rigby
Emma Rigby
Emma Catherine Rigby , is an English actress, best known for her role in Hollyoaks as Hannah Ashworth.-Career:In February 2010 Emma Completed, with International Fashion Photographer Rory Lewis.-Television:...
). A devastated Mandy is unable to talk to Tony about her daughter's death, turning instead to his brother Dominic Reilly
Dominic Reilly
Dominic "Dom" Reilly is a fictional character from the long-running Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by John Pickard. Dom made his first appearance on 13 September 2005 as the estranged half-brother of Tony Hutchinson, whose portrayer, Nick Pickard, is John Pickard's brother...
(John Pickard
John Pickard (British actor)
John Pickard is a British actor who is currently best known for appearing in Channel 4's Hollyoaks playing Dominic Reilly from 2005-2010. He is the brother of fellow Hollyoaks star Nick Pickard, who plays Tony Hutchinson, Dom's half-brother, in the soap...
). After sharing a brief kiss, Mandy leaves Tony and the village.
Mandy returns in 2007 for Becca's funeral after she is killed in prison. Mandy tells Tony that she is pregnant and in a serious relationship with a man named Mark. Months later, Tony receives a letter from Mandy informing him that she had given birth to a girl named Ella.
Mandy returns to Hollyoaks again in June 2008 with Ella to attend the wedding of Max to Steph Dean (Carley Stenson
Carley Stenson
Carley Anne Stenson is an English actress and singer, best known for playing Steph Cunningham in the Channel 4 series Hollyoaks. She also appeared as a performer in Abbamania, and is a member of the all-female band Diamond...
). On her arrival, she reveals she and Mark have split up. Mandy and Tony's then-partner Jacqui McQueen (Claire Cooper
Claire Cooper
Claire Elizabeth Cooper is an English actress who currently plays Jacqui McQueen in British Channel 4 series Hollyoaks...
) begin a feud, Jacqui believing Mandy to be a threat. After the wedding, Max is run over and killed by Niall Rafferty
Niall Rafferty
Niall Rafferty is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Barry Sloane. He first appeared during an episode broadcast on 3 December 2007. Former Brookside actor Sloane was cast as the "mysterious" hairdresser Niall and was introduced by the series' producer...
(Barry Sloane
Barry Sloane
Barry Paul Sloane is an English actor. He trained as a musician and actor before landing his first professional acting role in the film In his Life: The John Lennon Story. He has appeared in numerous TV shows, notably the BAFTA award-winning dramas Pleasureland and The Mark of Cain...
). Mandy then decides to stay in Hollyoaks, becoming a wedding planner with Louise Summers (Roxanne McKee
Roxanne McKee
-Biography:After completing a BA degree in 2001 in Social Policy & Political Studies at Royal Holloway, University of London, McKee rose to fame by winning Hollyoaks On The Pull, a Channel 4 initiative to discover new talent for the popular British soap Hollyoaks...
) for Carmel McQueen
Carmel McQueen
Carmel Valentine is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Gemma Merna. She debuted on-screen during episodes airing in August 2006 and was introduced by series producer Bryan Kirkwood as part of the McQueen family...
(Gemma Merna
Gemma Merna
Gemma Ann Merna is an English actress. She is known for playing Carmel Valentine in Hollyoaks.-Awards:...
). Mandy works closely with Louise's fiancé Warren Fox
Warren Fox
Warren Fox is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Jamie Lomas. He first arrived in 2006 as an old acquaintance of Sean Kennedy and quickly became known as the show's main villain...
(Jamie Lomas
Jamie Lomas
Jamie Lomas is an English actor best known for his role as bad boy Warren Fox on the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks....
), which causes Louise to become suspicious of them. Mandy's stepsister Cindy Cunningham
Cindy Cunningham
Cindy Longford is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Stephanie Waring...
(Stephanie Waring
Stephanie Waring
Stephanie Waring Stephanie Waring Stephanie Waring (born 19 February 1978; Urmston, Greater Manchester, England is an English actress, best known for portraying Cindy Cunningham in the early evening soap opera Hollyoaks.-Personal life:...
) then makes Louise believe Mandy and Warren are having an affair. However, this pushes Warren further away from Louise, who turns to alcohol. Following more accusations from a drunken Louise, Mandy and Warren sleep together and begin an affair. Louise apologises for her behaviour. Cindy is suspicious of Mandy and Warren after finding Mandy's underwear. Louise then attacks Cindy, believing she is trying to split her and Warren up.
Warren ends his affair with Mandy, who, devastated, tells Louise the truth. After slapping Mandy, Louise tells her that Warren had murdered her previous husband, Sean Kennedy
Sean Kennedy (Hollyoaks)
Sean Kennedy is a fictional character from the long-running Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Matthew Jay Lewis. He first appeared in 2006 and briefly in 2007.- Storylines :...
(Matthew Jay Lewis
Matthew Jay Lewis
Matthew Jay Lewis a British actor who trained at The Central School of Speech and Drama. He has worked extensively in both commercials and TV. His TV work includes his role as Matt Ellis in five's one time flagship soap Family Affairs....
). A shocked Mandy reluctantly agrees to set Warren up before stealing his money. However, unknown to Mandy, Louise plots to kill Warren and frame Mandy. On the wedding day, CCTV footage of Warren and Mandy is shown to the wedding guests by Jacqui and Myra McQueen
Myra McQueen
Myra McQueen is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Nicole Barber-Lane. She debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 19 June 2006 and was introduced by series producer Bryan Kirkwood as part of the McQueen family.-Character development:The...
(Nicole Barber-Lane
Nicole Barber-Lane
Nicole Barber-Lane is an English actress best known for playing Myra McQueen in the long-running teen soap Hollyoaks.Before working in Hollyoaks, Barber-Lane appeared in Emmerdale, Bodies, The Cops, and in a Yorkshire Building Society commercial. She has featured in Woman, Red and NOW magazines...
). Meanwhile, Louise and Warren have a confrontation after he finds the gun she had planned to kill him with. He then suffocates her. Mandy decides to leave the village once more with Tony, much to the jealousy of Jacqui but Tony later returns.
Off-screen in 2009, Tony and Mandy go travelling, deciding to give their relationship another go. However, when Mandy tells Tony that she may not be able to have children of her own anymore, he is upset and returns to Hollyoaks, leaving Mandy stranded in a foreign country.
In October 2010, Mandy arrives at Steph's house. Darren asks Mandy why she is back and she reveals she came back to see Steph, but refuses to talk about what happened between her and Tony after they left together. They talk over a bottle of wine and almost kiss, before Tom enters. Days later, Mandy takes Tom to Relish for lunch when he claims to have seen the ghost of Warren, who apparently died the previous year. After taking him home, Mandy and Frankie Osborne
Frankie Osborne
Francine "Frankie" Osborne is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Helen Pearson. She made her first on-screen appearance on 9 October 2002...
(Helen Pearson
Helen Pearson
Helen Pearson is an English television actress, currently seen as Frankie Osborne in the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks....
) argue over custody of Tom. Tony begins to avoid Mandy after seeing her, so she confronts him about why he left her abroad. Mandy meets with Warren, revealing she is in a relationship with him and they both agree to take revenge on Tony.
Mandy discovers Tony is in debt and Dom had gone to Warren for money. Later that night, Tony's restaurant Il Gnosh is burned down by an unseen arsonist. The fire spreads and Steph is killed, with Malachy Fisher
Malachy Fisher
Malachy "Mal" Fisher is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Glen Wallace. Malachy first appeared in 2007 on a recurring basis and became a permanent character in 2008. The character has been noted for being at the centre of a HIV plot...
(Glen Wallace
Glen Wallace
Glen Wallace is an Northern Irish actor, born in Ballymena, Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland.He is most notable for playing Malachy Fisher on popular Channel 4 teen soap opera, Hollyoaks from 2007 onwards. He also played Mr Michaels in Wire in the Blood in 2006. He appeared in Casualty, playing Bill...
) later dying in hospital. Mandy then meets Warren, believing he caused the fire. Panicking, she attempts to end their relationship, but he manipulates her after convincing her that he is the only person she can talk to and that he will solve all of her problems, making Mandy trapped in his twisted plans.
Mandy tells Tony that she wants to get custody of Tom, when Frankie hears this she is not happy and won't let her take Tom. Mandy then reminds Frankie that she will get custody because she is Tom's legal guardian. After months of him receiving threatening text messages, Mandy is exposed as Warren's stalker. Mandy leaves the village after she tells Tony she originally wanted revenge on him and tells Tom she will be back for him.
Mandy arrives at Cinergy, and Cindy persuades her to let Carmel McQueen
Carmel McQueen
Carmel Valentine is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Gemma Merna. She debuted on-screen during episodes airing in August 2006 and was introduced by series producer Bryan Kirkwood as part of the McQueen family...
(Gemma Merna
Gemma Merna
Gemma Ann Merna is an English actress. She is known for playing Carmel Valentine in Hollyoaks.-Awards:...
) wash her hair but Mandy is shocked when Carmel puts eggs in her hair and demands she stops and washes her hair properly. Later on, Noah Baxter (Law Thompson) and Carmel are arguing over who should be the new boss and Cindy tells them that Mandy is the new boss. Upset about the way Cindy is spending money, Mandy teams up with Texas Longford
Texas Longford
Texas "Tex" Longford is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Bianca Hendrickse-Spendlove. She debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 17 May 2010. Texas was introduced by producer Paul Marquess as the on-screen sister of established character India...
(Bianca Hendrickse-Spendlove) and they decided to make fake art pictures so Cindy will buy them. As Texas is painting, Mandy realizes that she isn't good at painting. Jamil Fadel comes through and helps Texas to paint. While doing that, Mandy and Jamil realize he is good and Mandy persuades him to paint more pictures. Cindy discovers that Mandy has been scamming her but later forgives her.
Mandy and Tony reignite their relationship. Tony and Mandy begin looking for jobs and after Tony gets a job as chef at the Dog he comes home to find Mandy has left him a note and has moved away from Hollyoaks.
Reception
Dunn has been nominated for several awards for her portrayal of Mandy. At the 2002 British Soap AwardsBritish Soap Awards
The British Soap Awards is an annual awards ceremony to honour the best of British soap operas.The first event took place in 1999 and takes place in May each year. Although it is an ITV production, the events were held at the BBC Television Centre, in London until 2010. The 2011 awards relocated to...
, Dunn was nominated for the 'Best Actress' and 'Sexiest Female' awards. In 2006, she was nominated for the same awards. At the 2007 awards, Dunn was nominated for 'Best Exit'. The BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
included Mandy's storyline featuring abuse at the hand of her father in the article about controversial issue led storylines tackled in soap opera and branded the plot as "harrowing".
Virgin Media profiled some of Hollyoaks' "hottest females" in their opinion, of Mandy they stated: "Hollyoaks veteran Mandy Richardson has been strutting her stuff on the Chester cobbles for years. She's always avoided the chop but that might all change now she's dragged Warren back. You know what they say, if looks could kill…"
External links
- Character profile on the E4 website