Drink driving crash for the Channel 4 saga.
This week on Hollyoaks, a school trip ends in disaster when teacher John Paul (James Sutton) crashes the minibus due to his dependency on alcohol, and the crash has life-changing consequences for Lexi (Natalie Anderson)’s daughter, Freya…
Producers of the show, Lime Pictures, have announced that the new character of Freya, played by Ellie Henry, will have life-changing injuries due to the mini-bus crash caused by her teacher, John Paul. The injuries will see her using a wheelchair for the foreseeable future.
Immediately after the crash, one of the students, Mason realises that Freya is still in the van and tries to help her, she’s stuck between the luggage as she tells him that she can’t feel her legs. Later, the paramedics arrive and Freya is rushed to hospital, whilst the police breathalyse John Paul. The hospital later reveals that Freya will not make a full recovery from her injuries.
Ellie Henry:
“To join the cast of Hollyoaks and be thrown straight into filming a stunt has been incredible, and unlike anything I could’ve imagined. Freya has so much to come to terms with after the crash and, as a disabled actor, I feel privileged to be able to tell her story. I’ve had a wonderful time filming so far and have already learnt a great deal from other actors who I’ve been fortunate enough to work closely with. I am beyond excited for you all to see what we’ve been working on.”
The first permanent wheelchair user in UK soap opera was the character of Sandy Richardson (Roger Tonge) in ITV’s Crossroads. Following a car crash in 1972 the character spent months recovering in hospital, followed by an equally long spell of medical treatment when he returned home.
Researched with Stoke Mandeville Hospital the programme also showed the concerns and struggles of carers of disabled relatives. This led to a fictional service in the show, Caring for Carers, which two years later – ITV having discovered there was no such organisation for carers – created Crossroads Care, which provides services to carers across the UK. Crossroads Care still operates to this day.
