Riley Costello
Encyclopedia
Riley Costello is a fictional character
from the British Channel 4
soap opera
Hollyoaks
, played by Rob Norbury. Riley was introduced in July 2010 with his on-screen family by series producer Paul Marquess
as part of a cast overhaul of the series.
buys The Dog in the Pond
. Riley attracts the attention of Michaela McQueen
(Hollie-Jay Bowes
). Zak Ramsey
(Kent Riley
) is jealous, so challenges Riley to penalty shootouts, unaware he is a footballer. During a fashion show for Heidi, Riley strips for the cat walk, where Theresa McQueen
(Jorgie Porter
) is attracted to him. Carl continues to push Riley into training for football. Riley and Seth
are invited to a cage fighting party by sister Jem
's ex-boyfriend Liam McAllister (Chris Overton), who plans to get revenge on Carl for ruining his football career with older brother Nathan McAllister (Michael Bisping
). Riley sleeps with Sami
(Candy McCulloch), Nathan's girlfriend, and is drugged. After Nathan and Liam lock Riley and Seth in a cage, they tie Carl up with a noose around his neck. Nathan and Liam make Riley and Seth cage fight each other, after convincing Seth that Carl is ashamed of him. The Costellos soon escape, with help from Sami, and are chased by Nathan and Liam, who have a gun. Carl manages to get the gun, and flees with Riley and Seth. Nathan follows again, and in a rooftop confrontation, he ends up falling from the roof to his death.
Riley bonds with Mercedes Fisher (Jennifer Metcalfe
) following her husband's death however, Carl is unhappy at their blossoming relationship. Mercedes tries to finish with him however he proposes to her she rejects but they continue with their relationship. However, Mercedes is having an affair with Carl and is nearly caught on several occasions. Soon, Riley realises that he loves her and asks her to marry him, to which Mercedes says yes, to Carl's disgust, Mercedes later discovers she is pregnant, and is unsure of who the baby's father is.
In March, he hears Lynsey Nolan
(Karen Hassan
) being attacked in her and Cheryl's flat and manages to chase off the attacker before he can harm her. However when her asks Lynsey to stay at his house with his family, Lynsey realises it was Silas
(Jeff Rawle
) who tried to attack her and escapes. In a pub confrontation, Lynsey accuses Silas of attacking her and Riley throws her out and continues to deny he attacked her, however in a meeting with Lynsey and Texas
(Biance Hendrikse-Spendlove) Riley realises there is more to his granddad. He confronts him in the park and questions him about the attack to which Silas has a heart attack and is rushed to hospital. In October 2011, Riley and Mercedes wedding day arrives but Mercedes is unable to deal with the guilt and reveals she has been having an affair with his father Carl. Riley then walks out of the weddings and drives off leaving Mercedes crying, a few days later Riley has a one night stand with student Ash Kane (Holly Weston) and regrets this and ignores her afterwards. Riley later attempts to call Mercedes but it goes through to voice mail he leaves a message but Mercedes is unable to reply as she is being held in a basement by Silas.
On Halloween 2011 Heidi is murdered and Riley argues with Lynsey when does not believe that it was Silas who killed his Mum. During the argument Lynsey smashes Silas's wife's urn to reveal the rings of Silas's victims. When Silas walks in he bends down to the ashes at which point Riley notices Silas is holding Mercedes engagement ring. Riley confronts Silas who admits he killed Heidi by accident but does not reveal where he is hiding Mercedes.Riley and Carl find Mercedes, under the cellar, just as she is about to give birth. Riley delivers Mercedes baby boy, but later realises he cannot forgive her and wants nothing more to do with her or her baby.
took over from Lucy Allan
as series producer of Hollyoaks. Marquess immediately changed several of the show's production team and cast in a 'shake up', and after less than two months in office, had axed a total of 14 characters. Following this, Marquess began casting new characters.
Regular auditions were held for the part of Riley, a young footballer and member of the Costello clan. Former Grange Hill
and Hollyoaks: In the City
actor Rob Norbury was cast in the role. The Costellos were introduced as the family of already-established character Jem Costello
(Helen Russell-Clark). The family consists of Carl Costello
(Paul Opacic
), a former premiership footballer with a history for cheating on his wife, Heidi
(Kim Tiddy
), a former model, and their children, Riley, who is training to become a footballer to impress his father, Seth
(Miles Higson), who is desperate to step out from his older brother's shadow, and Jasmine
(Victoria Akin), who is secretly suffering gender identity disorder
. Speaking of the family's casting, Marquess said, "We can't wait for this huge new boost of energy exploding on screen. These exciting new characters join our fantastic core cast. Together they will ensure that 2010 will be a year to remember on Hollyoaks."
". Norbury was questioned about his character's relationship with younger brother Seth during an interview on the official Hollyoaks website. He responded saying: "I think it's kind of like any brotherly relationship. As the older brother you've got to look out for them, but also they're there for you to have a little mess around with. I don't know which direction things will go, but at the moment a lot of the time when we're together, we don't seem that bothered about each other. But as brothers we get on, and that's kind of like most brothers isn't it. You don't want to know too much about them, you just want them there, to have a laugh with and to argue with." The relationship was further explored in the third series
of spin-off Hollyoaks Later.
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 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 Rob Norbury. Riley was introduced in July 2010 with his on-screen family by series producer Paul Marquess
Paul Marquess
Paul Marquess is a Northern Irish-born British television producer.-Television career:His credits include Brookside, The Bill and Family Affairs. He also originated the idea for the series Footballers' Wives...
as part of a cast overhaul of the series.
Storylines
Riley first appears with his family when CarlCarl Costello
Carl Costello, is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Paul Opacic. The character was introduced by executive producer Paul Marquess and debuted onscreen during the episode airing on 19 July 2010. He came to the village as the new owner of The Dog in the...
buys The Dog in the Pond
The Dog in the Pond
The Dog in the Pond is a fictional public house in the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks. It has been at the centre of the show's setting since it began in 1995. The pub was burnt down in episodes airing in September 2006 during the 'Fire at The Dog', which killed five regular characters...
. Riley attracts the attention of Michaela McQueen
Michaela McQueen
Michaela McQueen is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Hollie-Jay Bowes. Michaela was the first of the McQueen family to be seen on-screen in 2006, when she was credited as Michaela Jones. On 8 June 2010, Hollie-Jay Bowes announced that she had quit...
(Hollie-Jay Bowes
Hollie-Jay Bowes
Hollie-Jay Bowes is an English actress best known for her role as Michaela McQueen in Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks. Her parents changed her name from Billie Jean to Hollie Jean as her father thought she would get bullied at school and be called 'Billie Bowes', and at 13, she changed her name to...
). Zak Ramsey
Zak Ramsey
Zak Timothy Ramsey is a fictional character from the long-running Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Kent Riley. Zak first appeared in 2004, when he was credited as 'Zak Barnes'. After only four months, Riley was dropped from the programme. The character received a revival 18 months later...
(Kent Riley
Kent Riley
Kentigan Peter "Kent" Riley is an English actor, born in Fazakerley, Liverpool, & brought up in Lydiate, where he attended St Gregory's Junior School, where he caught the bug for acting, starring in many of the schools performing arts projects...
) is jealous, so challenges Riley to penalty shootouts, unaware he is a footballer. During a fashion show for Heidi, Riley strips for the cat walk, where Theresa McQueen
Theresa McQueen
Theresa McQueen is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Jorgie Porter. She made her first appearance in November 2008. The character was introduced as an extension of already established McQueen family...
(Jorgie Porter
Jorgie Porter
Jorgina Alexandra "Jorgie" Porter, is an English actress, notable for her role as Theresa McQueen in the Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks...
) is attracted to him. Carl continues to push Riley into training for football. Riley and Seth
Seth Costello
Seth Costello is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Miles Higson. He made his first on-screen appearance on 20 July 2010. His first major storyline was in 2011 when he was the centre of a Steroids plot...
are invited to a cage fighting party by sister Jem
Jem Costello
Jem Costello is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Helen Russell-Clark. She made her first on-screen appearance on 5 March 2010.-Character creation and casting:...
's ex-boyfriend Liam McAllister (Chris Overton), who plans to get revenge on Carl for ruining his football career with older brother Nathan McAllister (Michael Bisping
Michael Bisping
Michael Gavin Joseph Bisping is an English mixed martial artist born in Cyprus but living in Clitheroe, Lancashire. He currently fights as a middleweight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship and is the former Cage Warriors Fighting Championship light heavyweight champion, former Cage Rage light...
). Riley sleeps with Sami
Sami
Sami may refer to:*Sami cuisine* Sami people of the Scandinavian Peninsula, the Kola Peninsula, Karelia and Finland* Sami languages of the Sami people* Sami shamanism, a faith of the Sami people...
(Candy McCulloch), Nathan's girlfriend, and is drugged. After Nathan and Liam lock Riley and Seth in a cage, they tie Carl up with a noose around his neck. Nathan and Liam make Riley and Seth cage fight each other, after convincing Seth that Carl is ashamed of him. The Costellos soon escape, with help from Sami, and are chased by Nathan and Liam, who have a gun. Carl manages to get the gun, and flees with Riley and Seth. Nathan follows again, and in a rooftop confrontation, he ends up falling from the roof to his death.
Riley bonds with Mercedes Fisher (Jennifer Metcalfe
Jennifer Metcalfe
Jennifer Joanne Metcalfe is an English actress and model. She joined the cast of soap opera Hollyoaks in June 2006, playing feisty Mercedes McQueen.-Personal life:...
) following her husband's death however, Carl is unhappy at their blossoming relationship. Mercedes tries to finish with him however he proposes to her she rejects but they continue with their relationship. However, Mercedes is having an affair with Carl and is nearly caught on several occasions. Soon, Riley realises that he loves her and asks her to marry him, to which Mercedes says yes, to Carl's disgust, Mercedes later discovers she is pregnant, and is unsure of who the baby's father is.
In March, he hears Lynsey Nolan
Lynsey Nolan
Lynsey Nolan is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Karen Hassan. The character originally appeared in the first series of the Hollyoaks spin-off, Hollyoaks Later, as the former girlfriend of Kris Fisher...
(Karen Hassan
Karen Hassan
Karen Hassan is a British actress, born in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Her work includes roles in Hollyoaks Later and Hunger. As of 2010 she is playing Lynsey Nolan in the main series of Hollyoaks.-Hollyoaks:...
) being attacked in her and Cheryl's flat and manages to chase off the attacker before he can harm her. However when her asks Lynsey to stay at his house with his family, Lynsey realises it was Silas
Silas Blissett
Silas Blissett is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Jeff Rawle. Rawle's casting was announced in December 2010 and it was revealed that he would portray a killer. Rawle was approached by Hollyoaks and met with series producer, Paul Marquess, who...
(Jeff Rawle
Jeff Rawle
Jeff Rawle is a British actor, perhaps best known for playing the long-suffering George in the news-gathering sitcom Drop the Dead Donkey...
) who tried to attack her and escapes. In a pub confrontation, Lynsey accuses Silas of attacking her and Riley throws her out and continues to deny he attacked her, however in a meeting with Lynsey and Texas
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...
(Biance Hendrikse-Spendlove) Riley realises there is more to his granddad. He confronts him in the park and questions him about the attack to which Silas has a heart attack and is rushed to hospital. In October 2011, Riley and Mercedes wedding day arrives but Mercedes is unable to deal with the guilt and reveals she has been having an affair with his father Carl. Riley then walks out of the weddings and drives off leaving Mercedes crying, a few days later Riley has a one night stand with student Ash Kane (Holly Weston) and regrets this and ignores her afterwards. Riley later attempts to call Mercedes but it goes through to voice mail he leaves a message but Mercedes is unable to reply as she is being held in a basement by Silas.
On Halloween 2011 Heidi is murdered and Riley argues with Lynsey when does not believe that it was Silas who killed his Mum. During the argument Lynsey smashes Silas's wife's urn to reveal the rings of Silas's victims. When Silas walks in he bends down to the ashes at which point Riley notices Silas is holding Mercedes engagement ring. Riley confronts Silas who admits he killed Heidi by accident but does not reveal where he is hiding Mercedes.Riley and Carl find Mercedes, under the cellar, just as she is about to give birth. Riley delivers Mercedes baby boy, but later realises he cannot forgive her and wants nothing more to do with her or her baby.
Character creation and casting
In 2010, Paul MarquessPaul Marquess
Paul Marquess is a Northern Irish-born British television producer.-Television career:His credits include Brookside, The Bill and Family Affairs. He also originated the idea for the series Footballers' Wives...
took over from Lucy Allan
Lucy Allan (producer)
Lucy Jane Allan is a British television producer, best known for her work on Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks.Allan's other credited work include a script editor for Dream Team and assistant to director in Chica de Río....
as series producer of Hollyoaks. Marquess immediately changed several of the show's production team and cast in a 'shake up', and after less than two months in office, had axed a total of 14 characters. Following this, Marquess began casting new characters.
Regular auditions were held for the part of Riley, a young footballer and member of the Costello clan. Former Grange Hill
Grange Hill
Grange Hill is a British television drama series originally made by the BBC. The show began in 1978 on BBC1 and was one of the longest running programmes on British television...
and Hollyoaks: In the City
Hollyoaks: In the City
Hollyoaks: In the City was a British television drama series set in Liverpool and first broadcast in 2006. Hollyoaks: In the City was a spin-off of Channel 4 soap opera, Hollyoaks, originally devised by Phil Redmond...
actor Rob Norbury was cast in the role. The Costellos were introduced as the family of already-established character Jem Costello
Jem Costello
Jem Costello is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Helen Russell-Clark. She made her first on-screen appearance on 5 March 2010.-Character creation and casting:...
(Helen Russell-Clark). The family consists of Carl Costello
Carl Costello
Carl Costello, is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Paul Opacic. The character was introduced by executive producer Paul Marquess and debuted onscreen during the episode airing on 19 July 2010. He came to the village as the new owner of The Dog in the...
(Paul Opacic
Paul Opacic
Paul Opacic is an English actor. He is currently best known for his role as Carl Costello in Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks.-Career:...
), a former premiership footballer with a history for cheating on his wife, Heidi
Heidi Costello
Heidi Costello is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Kim Tiddy. She made her first on-screen appearance on 20 July 2010 and made her final appearance in the series on 1 November 2011, after the character was accidentally murdered by her father, Silas...
(Kim Tiddy
Kim Tiddy
Kim Tiddy , is an English actress, is known for playing the part of PC Honey Harman, in the ITV soap opera The Bill, and Heidi Costello in the British Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks.-Personal life:...
), a former model, and their children, Riley, who is training to become a footballer to impress his father, Seth
Seth Costello
Seth Costello is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Miles Higson. He made his first on-screen appearance on 20 July 2010. His first major storyline was in 2011 when he was the centre of a Steroids plot...
(Miles Higson), who is desperate to step out from his older brother's shadow, and Jasmine
Jasmine Costello
Jason Costello is a fictional character from the English Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Victoria Atkin. The character debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 2 August 2010 and was introduced by series producer Paul Marquess as a member of the yet to be established Costello family...
(Victoria Akin), who is secretly suffering gender identity disorder
Gender identity disorder
Gender identity disorder is the formal diagnosis used by psychologists and physicians to describe persons who experience significant gender dysphoria . It describes the symptoms related to transsexualism, as well as less severe manifestations of gender dysphoria...
. Speaking of the family's casting, Marquess said, "We can't wait for this huge new boost of energy exploding on screen. These exciting new characters join our fantastic core cast. Together they will ensure that 2010 will be a year to remember on Hollyoaks."
Characterisation
Riley has been described by Kim Tiddy, who portrays Heidi, as a "Jack-the-lad" type character. Another source calls Riley a "lotharioLothario
Lothario is a male first name which came to connote an unscrupulous seducer of women.In The Impertinent Curiosity, a story-within-the-story in Don Quixote , by Miguel de Cervantes, a man named Anselmo coerces Lothario, his faithful friend, to test the virtue of Anselmo's wife, Camila...
". Norbury was questioned about his character's relationship with younger brother Seth during an interview on the official Hollyoaks website. He responded saying: "I think it's kind of like any brotherly relationship. As the older brother you've got to look out for them, but also they're there for you to have a little mess around with. I don't know which direction things will go, but at the moment a lot of the time when we're together, we don't seem that bothered about each other. But as brothers we get on, and that's kind of like most brothers isn't it. You don't want to know too much about them, you just want them there, to have a laugh with and to argue with." The relationship was further explored in the third series
Hollyoaks Later (series 3)
The third series of Hollyoaks Later is a British television series and late night spin-off of Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks. The series is ran on E4 and began on 25 October 2010.-Development:...
of spin-off Hollyoaks Later.
Reception
Rob Norbury was nominated for the sexiest male award in the 2011 Inside Soap AwardsInside Soap Awards
The Inside Soap Awards is a yearly award ceremony run by Inside Soap magazine since 1996. The awards celebrate the British and Australian soap operas and their actors. Until 2007, EastEnders had won the award for "Best Soap" on every occasion...