Yahoo News Exclusive: Hollyoaks star Billy Price on Sid Sumner's future in the show
Hollyoaks star Billy Price has spoken for the first time about being promoted to a show regular.
Digital Spy exclusively revealed last month that Billy's character Sid Sumner is sticking around on a full-time basis.
Hollyoaks has since started to explore Sid's perspective in the far-right extremism storyline, as he's now an outcast in the village following the terrible behaviour of his father Stuart (Chris Simmons).
The teen is also living in fear of Stuart's furious temper, after the villain punched him in an angry outburst earlier this week.
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Speaking to Digital Spy about Sid's future in the show, Billy explained: "I started as a guest and got a vibe for the role and the work environment at Hollyoaks. I was really keen to stick around, so when they told me that I'd be a regular, I was over the moon. I get to do this day in, day out now, so it's brilliant.
"There's a lot of potential with Sid's character. People seem to want him to come out of the bad environment that he's in. It's great that the producers have now made him a regular, as there's so much that they can do with him.
"It gives me a chance to bring the viewers around and show them a different side of Sid."
Discussing Sid's tough upbringing, Billy continued: "If you grow up in that environment, you might not know any better. Sid has grown up around racism and radicalisation, but now he's trying to find himself.
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"It's crucial for Hollyoaks to show that just because your parents behave in a certain way, you might not necessarily be the same. Sid needs to be his own person and he doesn't need that bad influence from his dad.
"He can like what he wants to like and think what he wants to think. It's really good that Hollyoaks are exploring that.
"Sid feels guilty for the way he treated Imran earlier in the year. That came from his dad pushing the movement of the far-right group inside the school. He also feels really lonely, because he doesn't have anyone to talk to anymore. He just wants to start again with a clean slate."
Sid will have a big role to play in Hollyoaks' hour-long special tomorrow night (November 15). When he discovers that Stuart is planning to murder Ste Hay, he teams up with Leela and Peri Lomax in a desperate bid to thwart his father's evil intentions.
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Billy added: "Sid is terrified. He never thought that it would go that far – murder was never on the agenda. Sid just thinks that he can't do this anymore.
"Stuart is going to kill an innocent person and you wouldn't wish that on your worst enemy. He realises that what his dad and the organisation represent is so wrong and he needs help, so he speaks to Leela and Peri."
Viewers have also seen the early stages of a romantic connection between Sid and Juliet Quinn, who has her own family issues.
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Billy laughed: "I've been reading some things online and everyone's saying it's the two worst people, but together they're a perfect match! It's true in a way – because even though they've both been bossed around by their parents and have been forced to do some bad things, they can now help each other through it.
"It's a nice connection, because they don't want anything to do with what their parents have done in the past."
Hollyoaks airs weeknights at 6.30pm on Channel 4, with first look screenings at 7pm on E4.
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