Zak Ramsey
Encyclopedia
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 however when producer Bryan Kirkwood
brought him back in 2006. Following the arrival of producer Paul Marquess
in January 2010, the series is currently undergoing a major overhaul and as part of a large cast cull, it has been announced that the character has been axed from the series for a second time.
Auditions were already underway for the part of Zak, when actor Kent Riley
received a call from his agent, he auditioned for the role, later going onto to be cast as Zak. After leaving the series Riley received a call being asking him to rejoin the cast for a more permanent stint.
In early 2010 it was announced that Allan had stepped down from the position of executive producer
, with Paul Marquess taking over the role. It was soon revealed that he planned revamp Hollyoaks, changing the productions team, then began a cast cull starting with the axing of three established characters. Stephanie Waring (who plays Cindy Hutchinson) then revealed that all remaining cast members feared their characters would be next to depart from the series. One month later the cast cull continued as Marquess announced his plans to axe a further 11 characters, including Zak at the end of Riley's contract. It was stated that the character will simply move on to pastures new at the end of his storyline-arc.
Zak has always been unlucky in his love life even though he often been described has having an eye for the female characters. He lusted after his close friend Zoe Carpenter
for over a year, he then had a brief romance with Katy Fox
that came to an end abruptly. He later found love with an unlikely partner, Michaela McQueen
. Of this Riley has spoke out about his delight that his character finally having a girlfriend after four years in the series and the fact that with Michaela, plenty of trouble comes with her for their, then budding romance.
, Lisa Hunter
, Steph Dean, Cameron Clark
and Bella Manning. His storylines mainly revolved around the other students and he later left the college.
After being off camera for over a year, he returned in September 2006, the student flat now occupied by Jessica Harris
(Jennifer Biddall
), Joe Spencer
, Olivia Johnson
, and new arrivals Will Hackett
, Zoë Carpenter
(Zoe Lister
), and Kris Fisher
(Gerard McCarthy
). Zak drank too much cheap vodka at the Loft and became sick. Ironically, this may have saved his life, since Kris, Zoë, Joe, and Olivia all went to the Dog in the Pond a few days later and were caught up in an explosion. Joe and Olivia were killed, and Zak moved into Olivia's room.
Zak had one night stands with both Zoë and Jess. After realising his feelings for Zoë, Zak tried his best to make things up to her, but this was soon ruined by flatmate Will who wanted Zoë to himself, and so set Zak up to look as though he had stolen from her. Zak soon began to distrust Will, and in April 2007, Zak and Zoë realised the extent of Will's madness. Zak then came to her rescue when Will took her hostage on the roof of the college. This resulted in Will being sectioned under the Mental Health Act. Zak then tried to kiss Zoë as he thought this was what she wanted, but she reacted badly because of Will and went home. When Zoë returned, Zak continued to pine for her, but soon realised she was falling for Darren Osborne
. Zak had saved Darren from muggers and a guilt-ridden Darren initially stayed away from Zoë, but Zak pushed them together.
In February 2008, Zak got close to flatmate Katy Fox
(Hannah Tointon), although she was dating his mate Justin Burton
. After Zak and Katy had been playing around with a shopping trolley in the corridors, they shared a kiss. Later, while Zak was helping Katy to study she confessed that she was upset that Justin was spending so much attention on, what had just be revealed, his son Charlie. Later at the Loft, Zak and Katy shared another passionate kiss. They became lovers, and Katy continued to lean on him for a few months, until finally in April 2008, Justin walked in on them kissing. Katy left town, and Zak was once again left alone. On July 14, 2008, Zak failed his degree in Sports Science and now must stay at HCC for another year to finish the course.
In the later half of 2008 Zak drunkenly slept with Michaela McQueen
who had been upset though both later regretted the incident and nothing happened for months afterwards. However on New Years Eve 2008, they slept together again. Calvin Valentine
then arrested Zak and Ash, for supposedly beating up Gaz however this was untrue. Michaela went to protested for Zak's release the two began a relationship in when Zak was cleared. Michaela and Zak have a fight which nearly results in them splitting up until they confess they love each other.
Zak's sister Hayley Ramsey
(Kelly Marie-Stewart) arrives. She is in a wheel-chair due to Guillain-Barre Syndrome
. Hayley was in hospital for four months and Zak never went to see her. Zak told him it hurt to much for him to go and he would have done anything for him to get the virus and not her. He told her when he went home he kept hating going because she was always laughing and smiling when she was ill and he did not know what to say to her. They sort out their differences.
Michaela tries to enroll Zak in the Army. Zak and Hayley's brother Caleb arrives. Zak then pretends to be attending training, later revealing he lied. Zak graduates with first class honours and decided to carry on and do a masters degree the next day Caleb was sent to fight in Afghanistan
. A year later Caleb dies in action and Zak becomes engaged to Michaela to cope with his grief. Zak has a one night stand that splits up him and Michaela. He then finds out Caleb died because his friend Tariq Mistry was saving an Afghan boy. Zak beats up Tariq but gets back with Michaela. Racist Des Townsend uses Zak's grief to brainwash him against Calvin. Zak realises that Des is a racist and tries to stop him from planning to attack Ravi Roy
. Zak saves Ravi after Des plants a smoke bomb in Ravi's burger bar, Relish. He makes an anonymous phone call to the police for an assault to save Ravi's sister Anita Roy
when he thought that Des was planning to attack her in the woods, but he actually got Gaz Bennett
to do it for him, which later led to Gaz's arrest.
Micheala finds out about Zak's role in Des's racist attacks and this was the final straw for the pair; causing them to split. Zak is then confronted by Tariq for his attack on him, but Zak apologises for what he has done and so Tariq agrees not to report him to the police as he could see he was grieving for Caleb at the time. Realising he has nothing in the village, Zak left for London with best friend Kris. Michaela soon joins him a few weeks later after she is sacked from her job. On September 5, 2011 Michaela returned and said that she and Zak had broke up and that she has been living in Ibiza for the last 6 months.
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 long-running 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 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...
. 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 however when producer Bryan Kirkwood
Bryan Kirkwood
Bryan Kirkwood may refer to:*Bryan Kirkwood , Scottish television producer for British soap operas Hollyoaks and EastEnders *Bryan and Denny Kirkwood, one of a pair of identical twin American actors...
brought him back in 2006. Following the arrival of 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...
in January 2010, the series is currently undergoing a major overhaul and as part of a large cast cull, it has been announced that the character has been axed from the series for a second time.
Character creation and casting
The character of Zak was created as a new student along with Bella Manning, to move in the halls of residence at the HCC. He was originally billed as "footie-mad, a Scouser with attitude and more than an eye for the ladies!" After the character's initial stint he was brought back into the series and later relatives of the character were introduced. During the character's first stint he was credited as Zak Barnes. At the time he re-entered the series in 2006 his surname had been changed to Ramsey due to the arrival of the separate Barnes family during the intervening period.Auditions were already underway for the part of Zak, when actor 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...
received a call from his agent, he auditioned for the role, later going onto to be cast as Zak. After leaving the series Riley received a call being asking him to rejoin the cast for a more permanent stint.
In early 2010 it was announced that Allan had stepped down from the position of executive producer
Executive producer
An executive producer is a producer who is not involved in any technical aspects of the film making or music process, but who is still responsible for the overall production...
, with Paul Marquess taking over the role. It was soon revealed that he planned revamp Hollyoaks, changing the productions team, then began a cast cull starting with the axing of three established characters. Stephanie Waring (who plays Cindy Hutchinson) then revealed that all remaining cast members feared their characters would be next to depart from the series. One month later the cast cull continued as Marquess announced his plans to axe a further 11 characters, including Zak at the end of Riley's contract. It was stated that the character will simply move on to pastures new at the end of his storyline-arc.
Character development
Zak is portrayed as a typical 'blokey' male character who likes football and parties, he also values his close friends and family. Channel 4 publicity describe him as a fun loving man who likes 'a good knees-up' with his good friends, they also explain how he looks after his sister's love life, as Zak is always shown on-screen being protective of his sister.Zak has always been unlucky in his love life even though he often been described has having an eye for the female characters. He lusted after his close friend Zoe Carpenter
Zoe Carpenter
Zoe Carpenter is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Zoë Lister. The character first appeared on-screen on 1 September 2006, as one of three new students at Hollyoaks Community College. It was announced in 2009 that Lister had quit her role in order to...
for over a year, he then had a brief romance with Katy Fox
Katy Fox
Katy Fox is a fictional character from the long-running Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by actress Hannah Tointon, who was in the serial for just under a year. Katy was central to storylines, including Clare Devine's revenge....
that came to an end abruptly. He later found love with an unlikely partner, 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...
. Of this Riley has spoke out about his delight that his character finally having a girlfriend after four years in the series and the fact that with Michaela, plenty of trouble comes with her for their, then budding romance.
Storylines
Zak first shared a student flat with Zara MorganZara Morgan
Zara Morgan is a fictional character from the long-running Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Kelly Greenwood between 1999-2005.-Character history:...
, Lisa Hunter
Lisa Hunter
Lisa Hunter is a fictional character from the long-running Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Gemma Atkinson. The character is noted for her storylines including bullying and self-harming...
, Steph Dean, Cameron Clark
Cameron Clark
Cameron Clark is a fictional character from the long-running Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Ben Gerrard between 2002-2006.-Storylines:...
and Bella Manning. His storylines mainly revolved around the other students and he later left the college.
After being off camera for over a year, he returned in September 2006, the student flat now occupied by Jessica Harris
Jessica Harris
Jessica Florida Harris is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Jennifer Biddall. She debuted on-screen during episodes airing in October 2005. Biddal decided to leave the serial in 2007, Jessica last appeared in 2008 and Biddall has since admitted she...
(Jennifer Biddall
Jennifer Biddall
Jennifer Biddall is an English actress who played the part of Jessica Harris in Hollyoaks from 2005 to 2008.She was born in Bath, Somerset and grew up in Corsham, Wiltshire. Before studying at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, she travelled around the Greek islands...
), Joe Spencer
Joe Spencer (Hollyoaks)
Joseph "Joe" Spencer is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Matt Milburn. He debuted on-screen during episodes airing in 2003 and left in 2006 after his character was axed by Bryan Kirkwood.-Storylines:...
, Olivia Johnson
Olivia Johnson
Olivia Johnson is a fictional character from the long-running Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Rochelle Gadd. She debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 22 December 2005...
, and new arrivals Will Hackett
Will Hackett
William "Will" Hackett is a fictional character from the long-running Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Oliver Farnworth. The character first appeared on-screen on 01 September 2006...
, Zoë Carpenter
Zoe Carpenter
Zoe Carpenter is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Zoë Lister. The character first appeared on-screen on 1 September 2006, as one of three new students at Hollyoaks Community College. It was announced in 2009 that Lister had quit her role in order to...
(Zoe Lister
Zoë Lister
Zoë Lister is an English actress from Stoke Prior, Worcestershire, best known for playing Zoe Carpenter in British soap Hollyoaks. She grew up in Callow Hill near Redditch. where she has lived for most of her life. She trained at the Starlight School of Dance in Winyates, Redditch. Previous to...
), and Kris Fisher
Kris Fisher
Francis "Kris" Fisher is a fictional character from the long-running Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Gerard McCarthy. The character first appeared on-screen in September 2006 and left in August 2010 after McCarthy quit the show...
(Gerard McCarthy
Gerard McCarthy
Gerard McCarthy is an actor, best known to television viewers for his award-winning performance as Kris Fisher on the British soap opera Hollyoaks from 2006 to 2010, to theatres-goers for his performances on the West End and at Shakespeare's Globe, and to film geeks for his role in Belonging to...
). Zak drank too much cheap vodka at the Loft and became sick. Ironically, this may have saved his life, since Kris, Zoë, Joe, and Olivia all went to the Dog in the Pond a few days later and were caught up in an explosion. Joe and Olivia were killed, and Zak moved into Olivia's room.
Zak had one night stands with both Zoë and Jess. After realising his feelings for Zoë, Zak tried his best to make things up to her, but this was soon ruined by flatmate Will who wanted Zoë to himself, and so set Zak up to look as though he had stolen from her. Zak soon began to distrust Will, and in April 2007, Zak and Zoë realised the extent of Will's madness. Zak then came to her rescue when Will took her hostage on the roof of the college. This resulted in Will being sectioned under the Mental Health Act. Zak then tried to kiss Zoë as he thought this was what she wanted, but she reacted badly because of Will and went home. When Zoë returned, Zak continued to pine for her, but soon realised she was falling for 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...
. Zak had saved Darren from muggers and a guilt-ridden Darren initially stayed away from Zoë, but Zak pushed them together.
In February 2008, Zak got close to flatmate Katy Fox
Katy Fox
Katy Fox is a fictional character from the long-running Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by actress Hannah Tointon, who was in the serial for just under a year. Katy was central to storylines, including Clare Devine's revenge....
(Hannah Tointon), although she was dating his mate Justin Burton
Justin Burton
Justin Burton is a fictional character from the long-running Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Chris Fountain. The character arrived in 2003 and departed on 3 June 2009. Justin arrived in a family of six, however by September 2006, his entire family had left the show...
. After Zak and Katy had been playing around with a shopping trolley in the corridors, they shared a kiss. Later, while Zak was helping Katy to study she confessed that she was upset that Justin was spending so much attention on, what had just be revealed, his son Charlie. Later at the Loft, Zak and Katy shared another passionate kiss. They became lovers, and Katy continued to lean on him for a few months, until finally in April 2008, Justin walked in on them kissing. Katy left town, and Zak was once again left alone. On July 14, 2008, Zak failed his degree in Sports Science and now must stay at HCC for another year to finish the course.
In the later half of 2008 Zak drunkenly slept with 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...
who had been upset though both later regretted the incident and nothing happened for months afterwards. However on New Years Eve 2008, they slept together again. Calvin Valentine
Calvin Valentine
Calvin Valentine is a fictional character from the long-running Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Ricky Whittle. He arrived in July 2006 as a police officer with his mother and younger siblings and made his final appearance on 21 May 2010 after he was murdered by Theresa McQueen. Whittle...
then arrested Zak and Ash, for supposedly beating up Gaz however this was untrue. Michaela went to protested for Zak's release the two began a relationship in when Zak was cleared. Michaela and Zak have a fight which nearly results in them splitting up until they confess they love each other.
Zak's sister Hayley Ramsey
Hayley Ramsey
Hayley Ramsey is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Kelly-Marie Stewart. She made her first on-screen appearance on 28 January 2009 as the sister of already established character Zak Ramsey . Hayley is notably the first prominent disabled character in...
(Kelly Marie-Stewart) arrives. She is in a wheel-chair due to Guillain-Barre Syndrome
Guillain-Barré syndrome
Guillain–Barré syndrome , sometimes called Landry's paralysis, is an acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy , a disorder affecting the peripheral nervous system. Ascending paralysis, weakness beginning in the feet and hands and migrating towards the trunk, is the most typical symptom...
. Hayley was in hospital for four months and Zak never went to see her. Zak told him it hurt to much for him to go and he would have done anything for him to get the virus and not her. He told her when he went home he kept hating going because she was always laughing and smiling when she was ill and he did not know what to say to her. They sort out their differences.
Michaela tries to enroll Zak in the Army. Zak and Hayley's brother Caleb arrives. Zak then pretends to be attending training, later revealing he lied. Zak graduates with first class honours and decided to carry on and do a masters degree the next day Caleb was sent to fight in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
. A year later Caleb dies in action and Zak becomes engaged to Michaela to cope with his grief. Zak has a one night stand that splits up him and Michaela. He then finds out Caleb died because his friend Tariq Mistry was saving an Afghan boy. Zak beats up Tariq but gets back with Michaela. Racist Des Townsend uses Zak's grief to brainwash him against Calvin. Zak realises that Des is a racist and tries to stop him from planning to attack Ravi Roy
Ravi Roy
Ravi Roy is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Stephen Uppal. He first appeared in an episode airing on 20 May 2008, introduced by series producer Bryan Kirkwood. Since then he has been central to a bisexuality storyline and living with an aneurysm...
. Zak saves Ravi after Des plants a smoke bomb in Ravi's burger bar, Relish. He makes an anonymous phone call to the police for an assault to save Ravi's sister Anita Roy
Anita Roy
Anita Roy is a fictional character from the long-running Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Saira Choudhry. Choudhry was cast in 2008 as part of the new Roy family and arrived in November and stayed in the serial for 2 years before she left Hollyoaks on 20 January 2011...
when he thought that Des was planning to attack her in the woods, but he actually got Gaz Bennett
Gaz Bennett
Gary "Gaz" Bennett is a fictional character from the long-running Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Joel Goonan. He debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 25 November 2008. Goonan took a break from filming during 2010, and returned on-screen on 19 January 2011. Goonan announced his...
to do it for him, which later led to Gaz's arrest.
Micheala finds out about Zak's role in Des's racist attacks and this was the final straw for the pair; causing them to split. Zak is then confronted by Tariq for his attack on him, but Zak apologises for what he has done and so Tariq agrees not to report him to the police as he could see he was grieving for Caleb at the time. Realising he has nothing in the village, Zak left for London with best friend Kris. Michaela soon joins him a few weeks later after she is sacked from her job. On September 5, 2011 Michaela returned and said that she and Zak had broke up and that she has been living in Ibiza for the last 6 months.
External links
- Zak Ramsey on the E4 website