Hollyoaks star reacts to Mandy and Luke's big twist

Daniel Kilkelly

Updated 25 July 2017 at 3:17 pm

She's back! Hollyoaks aired Mandy Richardson's return scenes in Tuesday's E4 first-look episode as she was seen in despair over her troubled partner Luke Morgan.

As the show has been teasing recently, the old-school soap favourites have reunited away from the village – but there's a rocky road ahead for them due to Luke's worrying drinking problem.

Digital Spy recently caught up with Sarah Jayne Dunn, who plays Mandy, for all the early gossip on her Hollyoaks return.

How did you first hear that Hollyoaks wanted you back?

"I received an email from my agent, who explained that the show's producer Bryan Kirkwood had been in touch and they were talking about bringing Mandy back.

"I said yes straight away. Whenever I've had the phone call from Hollyoaks, I've always said yes in a heartbeat because I've got such a long history with the show and I know the character of Mandy so well. More than any other time, it felt right this time."

Did Bryan talk to you in-depth about his plans for Mandy?

"Yeah, and for the first time we even had character workshop meetings where we came in and sat down with producers and writers. We had a chat about Mandy, where she's been, what happened last time she was on screen and what's happened to her since then.

"It was a bit of an open conversation and we were all throwing ideas about. It was nice to have a bit of input in that respect. Myself and Gary [Lucy, who plays Luke] also had a meeting together to explore where Mandy and Luke have been over the last six years and how they've ended up together."

Have there been other approaches from Hollyoaks over the years that you've had to turn down?

"There haven't – the last time I was here for a big stint was six years ago. Although in the meantime I came back for a dream sequence in one episode – and looking back now, I think I probably would have said no to that! (Laughs.)

"Seeing that episode back on screen, they put voice distortion over it and I had people messaging me asking if they'd recast Mandy! I had to say: 'No, it was me, they just did something to my voice!'"

How long have Mandy and Luke been back together?

"We're saying that it's been about five years, so quite a while. They've gone away, they've found each other, and Luke has become a bit of a father figure to Mandy's daughter Ella. They've done really well, but now it's all starting to split apart at the seams because of Luke's drinking problems."

How is Mandy coping with Luke's issues?

"She's struggling with the fact that she can't help him. She loves Luke so much and she really wants to help him, but he needs to deal with his own problems. Mandy isn't ashamed that they're together, but she is ashamed that she can't help him and that they've ended up in this situation.

"But Mandy also needs Luke and she wants so desperately to be in a secure family unit. She's grasping to keep it because if she lets Luke go, she's on her own and starting from scratch again. They do genuinely really love each other."

How do the likes of Cindy and Tony react to seeing Mandy back?

"They're shocked! Mandy is trying to keep a low profile when she first returns to the village. She's trying not to bump into anyone, because she's embarrassed and ashamed of the situation that she's ended up in. She's so proud as an individual and she's always been very independent and driven. But at the moment she's having to do a cleaning job – Mandy wearing rubber gloves and trainers is definitely a shock!

"Mandy actually visits Tom to ask for his help, but Cindy and Tony both catch her."

What was it like seeing Ellis Hollins – who plays Tom – all grown up?

"Well, I'd seen him at Darren Jeffries's [who played O.B.] wedding, which was about 18 months ago now. Then it was like: 'Oh my God, Ellis, look at you!' So it wasn't as big of a shock when I came back here to Hollyoaks.

"But Ellis is such a lovely boy. He's not got any airs and graces about him, he's still really grounded and it's been really nice to film scenes with him. It's almost like working with someone new because I'm finding out so much about his character. Tom is grown up now – he's a dad!"

How are fans reacting to news of your return?

"It's all been really positive so far and everyone seems really excited. We did the old-school nostalgia photoshoot recently and everyone has gone crazy for that.

"I've seen lots of people saying: 'Oh my God, Luke and Mandy are back!' We've not seen anything from them as a couple for a long time, but they were a good partnership back in the day and hopefully people are going to love seeing them back together."

How have things changed since you were last on set?

"Well, when I was last here, we didn't have Lisa's Loveboat outside The Dog or the Chester Walls around the village, so the sets have definitely changed. But why I always come back is that, within the crew, there are people who I've worked with since I was 14. It's a cliché, but it feels like they're family.

"There's a lot of new cast, which is nice because it's evolving the show, but we're now bringing in the old-school vibe and the nostalgic side to sit alongside that."

Have you made friends with any of the new cast?

"Definitely Alex Fletcher who plays Diane. We'd only met briefly before, because I was leaving Hollyoaks just as she arrived. I knew her from her Brookside days, but only in passing. I've had a few scenes with her and she's a right laugh, I'm looking forward to doing more stuff with her.

"All of the girls at Hollyoaks have been lovely and the guys seem sweet too, so I'm looking forward to working more with them. So far I've mainly been working with the people that Mandy knows and that feels right, but I'm sure she'll be interacting with other people too."

Are you back in the show for a while?

"Myself and Gary are both back for a while so that's quite fun. That's what is nice about it, because we've got a lot of storytelling to do. Six years is a long time and a lot has gone on. If we were just here for a short stint, it wouldn't work because we would have to tell the storyline really quickly, whereas now we can make it really meaty."

Are you hoping to hook some old-school fans back into Hollyoaks?

"I think what we really want to do is really find the old Mandy that everyone knew and loved. I've talked about this with Bryan. She's fun, loyal, loving, independent and she's got a bit of integrity about her – and I think that has been lost a little over the years.

"That's partly because of what she's been through, but this time it's nice to get her back to that. I think that will really ring true for the old-school audience. Although there might be a bit of a shock that Mandy isn't looking her finest when she comes back – I've only needed ten minutes in make-up some days!"

Hollyoaks airs weeknights at 6.30pm on Channel 4, with first look screenings at 7pm on E4.

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Digital Spy Soap Scoop video – hit play below for all the latest Hollyoaks gossip, as the show heads to Ibiza and Gary Lucy returns as Luke Morgan.

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