Channel 4’s flagship soap has introduced a new black family, the Lovedays, to the show.
Jacqueline Boatswain, Karl Collins and Duayne Boachie, have been cast as Simone, Louis and Zack Loveday who arrived in the village looking for a fresh start.
Boatswain, who has had previous roles in several other TV shows including Grange Hill, Casualty and Doctors will play ‘formidable’ mother and head of the household Simone Loveday, who is all set to take over ‘Price Slice’ the village’s local shop.
“I am looking forward to everyone meeting Simone. She’s a ‘no-messing’ mum and without doubt the head of the family who are coming to Hollyoaks for a fresh start,” Boatswain said about the role.
“The Lovedays are a very happy strong family unit and that has seen them through the challenges that life has thrown at them.
“From a personal perspective I am really excited to have the time to explore a complex character like Simone and settle her and the new family into the village.”
Karl Collins, also a veteran actor will play the father of the trio, Louis Loveday, and will become assistant principal at the local secondary school, where his son, Zack, played by newbie Duayne Boachie will be attending 6th form.
“We are honoured and thrilled to welcome actors with the wealth of experience that Jacqueline Boatswain and Karl Collins bring with them to the show,” Hollyoaks’ Executive Producer Byran Kirkwood said.
“Duayne Boachie is a brilliant new talent and strengthens the group of teens that we currently have in sixth form.”
The move comes amidst criticisms that the UK’s media severely lacks diversity. Last week, Dominic Treadwell-Collins, producer of BBC’s Eastenders, came under fire for saying he would rather quit his job than ‘box tick’ in order to include ethnic minorities.
