Hollyoaks actor David Ames has paid tribute to his fellow cast and crew after bowing out of his Carter Shepherd role – and reflected on the worrying times ahead for the TV industry.
David, who previously starred in Holby City, joined the cast of the Channel 4 soap last year as sinister Carter Shepherd, the new headmaster at the high school.
The character finally got his comeuppance this week after kidnapping John Paul McQueen (James Sutton) and attempting to baptise him in a murky lake.
JP was previously in a secret relationship with Carter, who was repressing his sexuality and practising conversion therapy on students Lucas Hay (Oscar Curtis), who is coming to terms with the fact he is gay, and Ro Hutchinson (Ava Webster), who recently told his parents he is trans.
After subjecting poor Lucas to months of wicked ideologies, his actions were exposed during Pride week when he attempted to abduct the teen.
Despite being arrested, he was hellbent on revenge, and employed one of his cronies to bundle John Paul into the back of a van.
Nearby, Kitty Draper (Iz Hesketh) had been tied up in her childhood bedroom by father Declan Hawthorne (Alan Turkington), and upon hearing the commotion, she alerted the authorities.
These were David’s final scenes as one of Oaks’ greatest soap villains, and after broadcast last night, he took to Instagram to reflect on the last year.
‘Just over a year ago, I was approached to have a meeting about playing Carter Shepherd in Hollyoaks’ he began.
‘I was informed he would be a troubled character and that over the course of 12 months, he would become darker, more sinister and ultimately a big ol’ villain.
We took on the controversial subject of conversion therapy. Something our present Conservative government STILL have yet to ban
‘A heinous, damaging practice of using religion, pseudo-psychology and other questionable ‘therapies’ to attempt to reprogram someone, specifically those in the LGBTQ+ community.
‘This is quite a feat in a soap as the subject is so nuanced and heavy. But I’m incredibly proud of what we managed to achieve.’
He continued: ‘Thank you to everyone at Hollyoaks for being a welcoming environment from the start. [Executive producers] Hannah, Angelo and everyone at the helm. Costume, makeup, art dept, everyone! I had a blast and I miss working with you all.’
Speaking of his co-stars, he added: ‘Thank you Nikki Sanderson for being my beard for several months and making me laugh.
‘Thank you Oscar Curtis for tackling such an enormous subject with me head-on but also making sure we laughed between takes. You really shone and I hope you continue to climb high. I know you will.’
He also alluded to the current ongoing hurdles in the media industry. Following the axing of BBC soaps Holby City and Doctors, Channel 4 announced earlier this year that up to 130 jobs were at risk at the show’s production base in Childwall, Liverpool.
That includes 20 cast members, who will depart around the time of a UK soap first time jump in September, which will see the drama permanently sky rocket one year into the future.
‘Soaps are having a tough time at present. TV viewing is changing. Budgets change. It’s a format that is forever present on our screens. To stay fresh year after year is tough.
‘Everyone works so damn hard to keep the pace up and provide constant content. I’m grateful to have been a part of another show who continues to hold that flame aloft. Thanks for having me.’
In separate posts, he described on-screen daughter Ellie Henry, who plays Freya Calder, as ‘brilliant’ and said he is ‘thrilled for what’s to come’ for her, and told James Sutton: ‘It’s so rare you meet someone on a job and connect both personally and professionally. You made every day so much fun. Even when I was trying to drown you.’
Only in Hollyoaks. Here’s hoping we see David pop up again in soapland sometime soon!
