Jump to content

Diane Hutchinson

Edit links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Theospence (talk | contribs) at 20:50, 18 June 2011. The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Diane O'Connor
Hollyoaks character
File:Diane O'Connor.jpg
Alexandra Fletcher as Diane O'Connor (2010
Portrayed byAlexandra Fletcher
Duration2010—
First appearance1 September 2010
ClassificationPresent; regular
Introduced byPaul Marquess
In-universe information
OccupationMarketing assistant (since 2010)
HusbandRob O'Connor
StepsonsFinn O'Connor
StepdaughtersSinead O'Connor


Diane O'Connor is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Alexandra Fletcher. She made her first on-screen appearance on 1 September 2010. Diane was introduced as part of Hollyoaks first Liverpudlian family.

Character creation and casting

Paul Marquess was appointed as the executive producer for the serial in 2010. After axing a number of characters, he later announced that he would introduce lots of "fantastic" new characters to replace the old.[1] In April 2010, it was announced that Marquess would introduce a third new family, following the introductions of the Sharpe and Costello families.[2] Speaking about the development of the family, Marquess stated: "Later in the year, there'll be another family but they're still very much in development. They'll arrive with a story about how kids react when their mother is becoming more and more selfish in what she wants, and sort of screwing up the lives of her children in the process."[2]

On 16 June 2010 it was announced former Brookside actress Alexandra Fletcher had been cast in Hollyoaks as part of a "four-member Liverpudlian tribe".[3] It was revealed Fletcher would portray step-mother Diane O'Connor and would be joined by husband Rob (Gary Cargill), stepdaughter Sinead (Stephanie Davies) and stepson Finn (Connor Wilkinson).[3] Diane is described as "a step-mother of two who's desperate for a child of her own and with her biological clock counting down by the day - and her second round of IVF apparently destined for failure - her need for a baby quickly spirals out of control". Speaking of her casting, Fletcher said: "I am delighted to be back filming at Lime Pictures where I started my career on Brookside - then Mersey TV. I worked with Paul on Brookside and I'm thrilled and honoured to be working with him again, especially as this is such an exciting time for Hollyoaks." Marquess commented: "We're very excited about the arrival of the O'Connors who burst onto screens in August with a very dramatic story-line. And I'm personally very excited to work with the fantastic Alex Fletcher again."[3] She made her first on-screen appearance on 1 September 2010.[4] The O'Connor's are Hollyoaks' first Liverpudlian family.[5]

Character development

Channel Five's soap opera reporting website Holy Soap described Diane as a "loving wife".[6] Fletcher described her as "a lot more sensitive and grown-up" compared to Jacqui Farnham, a character she portrayed in Brookside.[7] Fletcher also explained that because Diane has brought up two children who are not biologically hers, she is a "good person".[7]

Before she entered Hollyoaks, it was revealed that Diane was undergoing a second round of In vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment.[8] Of the storyline, Fletcher commented: [...] "I've got an IVF storyline, which seems to be such a common thing in this day and age. It is really sad but amazing when it works for people."[9] Fletcher researched the storyline by speaking to friends who were undergoing IVF treatment.[9] She later told Digital Spy that the storyline would be ongoing: "With IVF treatment, generally you get two tries free of charge through the NHS and then after that, you're on your own and you're expected to pay. It's a costly thing and sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. It causes all kinds of pressures, and there's the hormones and a moody mum! This storyline is great because there's just loads of avenues that they could take it down." Fletcher added that Diane's need for a baby would spiral out of control."[10]

In October 2010, Diane steals a baby from the hospital after her second round of IVF treatment fails.[11] Diane goes to the hospital to see a nurse about IVF when she finds a baby boy abandoned outside. She takes him home after deciding that his mother does not deserve him back.[11]

Storylines

Diane first appears in Hollyoaks when she offers to take her stepchildren Sinead and Finn to school. Diane, husband Rob, Sinead and Finn move to Chester after Rob finds employment at Hollyoaks High School as deputy head teacher. When Rob cannot administer Diane's IVF shots, Sinead injects her leaving their relationship strained. Diane takes a pregnancy test which reveals she is not pregnant, leaving her upset. She then visits the hospital to discuss other options for conceiving. She returns home with a baby, telling Sinead she found the baby abandoned outside the hospital. Later, Diane explains that she intends on bringing the baby up as her own. When the baby becomes ill, Sinead asks for help from nurse Lynsey Nolan (Karen Hassan) and Sinead tells her that Diane took the baby from the hospital. Diane decides to registar the baby with the name George O'Connor. Lynsey arrives to take the baby back to the hospital, but Diane refuses to hand him over. Lynsey threatens to report her to the police and whilst she and Diane argue, Finn takes the baby and tries to take him back to the hospital. However, Finn is stopped by Anita Roy (Saira Choudhry) and Eva Strong (Sheree Murphy) who give the baby back to Diane. Diane realises the consequences of her actions and she hands the baby over to Lynsey.

When a fire destroys il Gnosh restaurant and the flat above it, Gabby Sharpe (Phina Oruche) and her children Amber (Lydia Lloyd Henry) and Taylor (Shaun Blackstock) move into the O'Connor's house. Diane discovers that Amber is pregnant and planning on terminating her pregnancy. Diane tells Amber that having a termination is not her only option. Gabby argues with Diane after Amber decides to have the baby, thinking that Diane prompted Amber to change her mind. Amber agrees to let Diane raise the baby as her own after she gives birth. Sinead finds Amber's diary which claims the father of her baby is Rob and tells Diane. Diane and Sinead confront Amber, discovering that Finn is the father. Diane then lies to Gabby, claiming that she cannot adopt Amber's baby as she is starting IVF treatment once again. When Amber's diary is stolen by Eva, she reads it and decides to call the police after she wrongly thinks that Rob is being inappropriate with her daughter Anita. Diane admits to Sinead that she was a student and Rob was her teacher when they began a relationship. Diane tells Sinead that her mother and Rob's ex-wife Morag is alive and not dead as they thought, which made Diane steal a baby from the hospital months earlier. Following the revelation, Diane and Rob end their relationship.

Diane is disappointed when she sees Sinead with her biological mother Morag (Lisa Coleman). Diane discovers that Sinead has been secretly meeting with Morag and questions her about it. Diane threatens to tell Finn about Morag when Sinead asks to go to New York with her, but Sinead later decides against going.

Reception

Soap opera reporting website Holy Soap describe Diane's most memorable moment as: "Getting her step-daughter Sinead to administer her IVF injection when husband Rob was tied up at work."[6] A poll ran on the official Hollyoaks website asked viewers which member of the O'Connor family was their favourite. Diane received the most votes, with 1,597 (34.13%) people voting for her.[12]

References

  1. ^ Green, Kris (11 March 2010). "'Hollyoaks' boss to introduce new family". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi UK. Retrieved 2 November 2010.
  2. ^ a b Kilkelly, Daniel (19 April 2010). "'Oaks to introduce third new family". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi UK. Retrieved 2 November 2010.
  3. ^ a b c Kilkelly, Daniel (16 June 2010). "'Hollyoaks' unveils third new family". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi UK. Retrieved 2 November 2010.
  4. ^ Kilkelly, Daniel (1 September 2010). "2898: Sinead vows to make an impact". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi UK. Retrieved 2 November 2010.
  5. ^ Kilkelly, Daniel (27 August 2010). "More from 'Hollyoaks' star Stephanie Davies". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi UK. Retrieved 24 January 2011.
  6. ^ a b "Holy Soap > Hollyoaks > Cast > Diane O'Connor". Channel Five. (RTL Group). Retrieved 2 November 2010.
  7. ^ a b Kilkelly, Daniel (23 August 2010). "Alex Fletcher on 'Brookside', 'Oaks and more". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi UK. Retrieved 14 January 2011.
  8. ^ Lee, Cara (16 June 2010). "Brookie star leads 'Oaks clan". The Sun. News Group Newspapers. Retrieved 26 March 2011.
  9. ^ a b "Alex: My confidence is back". Holy Soap. Channel Five. 19 August 2010. Retrieved 26 March 2011.
  10. ^ Kilkelly, Daniel (24 August 2010). "Alex Fletcher (Diane O'Connor, 'Hollyoaks')". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi UK. Retrieved 17 January 2011.
  11. ^ a b "Diane's babysnatch drama!". What's on TV. IPC Media. 2 September 2010. Retrieved 3 May 2011.
  12. ^ Norman, Christopher T. (2 September 2010). "Hot Topic: Favourite O'Connor?". E4. (Channel 4 Television Corporation). Retrieved 13 January 2011.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Diane_Hutchinson&oldid=434988385"