List of Hollyoaks characters introduced in 1998

The following is a list of characters that first appeared on the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks in 1998, by first appearance.

Tessie Thompson, played by Sian Gibson, debuted on-screen during 1998. She was involved in storylines such as pretending to be pregnant, extortion and hiding Tony Hutchinson's (Nick Pickard) son from him for 8 years. The Sun announced her return on 17 October 2007.

Tessie and Tony begin dating and she pretends to be pregnant before she tries to scam him and take his money. She gets found out and leaves a humiliated Tony. Several years after her last appearance, "old flame" Tessie returns for Tony's 30th birthday party.^[1] Tony is "gob-smacked" to see her there and Tessie "rocks Tony's world to its foundations" when she introduces him to his long-lost son, Harry (Daniel Seymour).^[2] When she supposedly lied about her pregnancy, she was pregnant and had chosen to lie about it. Radio Times described Tessie as "slightly unhinged".^[3]

Kevin Daniels, played by Robert Weatherby, was the friend and roommate of Rob Hawthorne (Warren Derosa). Kevin joined Rob and Ruth Osborne (Terri Dwyer) on a charity mountain climb, but the they ended up getting stuck and needed to be rescued. In October 1998, Kurt Benson (Jeremy Edwards) turned up at the flat searching for Rob, who had put his sister, Lucy (Kerrie Taylor), in a drug-induced coma. Kurt got physical with Kevin, until Kevin told him that Rob was searching for Jude Cunningham (Davinia Taylor), and Kurt left.

Kirsty Williams, played by Keeley Forsyth, is a member of the Williams family who targeted the Patrick family. Gina Patrick (Dannielle Brent) had witnessed a stabbing committed by Kirsty and was asked to testify against Kirsty in court. The Williams family targeted Gina's family, so Gina decided not to testify. Gina was arrested for failing to appear in court and ended up giving evidence.

Jasmine Bates, played by Elly Fairman, first appeared in 1998 before leaving in 1999. She has a brief relationship with the new lifeguard at the college pool, Adam Morgan (David Brown). She is also part of a "controversial lesbian affair" in which she and flatmate Ruth Osborne (Terri Dwyer) kiss before having sex.^[4] The Daily Record listed them amongst "The soap stars who boosted the ratings with their shocking clinches".^[5] The Daily Record also wrote: "Wait until the TV watchdog people see this week's Hollyoaks – lesbian kissing scenes at tea-time. Phil Redmond brought you your first lesbian kiss in Brookside a good few years ago now and there was uproar. Now he's at it again in his teen-soap as a good old heart-to-heart between Jasmine and Ruth over a bottle of wine leads to something more. The next morning, Ruth is not a happy girl at all, as she regrets her night of passion with her flatmate. Oh dear. Sparks will fly."^[6]

Detective Inspector Vicky Green, played by Francesca Ryan in 1998 and 2006 and Rosie Fellner in 2005, was a detective who investigated the disappearance of Mandy Richardson (Sarah Jayne Dunn) after she disappeared from home. Mandy's boyfriend Sol Patrick (Paul Danan) was suspected to have been involved in her disappearance, especially when Paul Millington (Zander Ward) refused to corroborate Sol's alibi that they were joyriding in a stolen car at the time. D.S. Green returned in 2005 and served as the family liaison officer when Mandy's half-brother Tom Cunningham (Ellis Hollins) went missing. He was later discovered by Mandy at her late mother and step-father's grave. The following year, D.I. Green was called Hollyoaks following the tragic cot death of Mandy's daughter Grace Hutchinson. She questioned Mandy's husband Tony Hutchinson (Nick Pickard), Mandy, and babysitters Hannah Ashworth (Emma Rigby) and Nancy Hayton (Jessica Fox) over what had happened up to when Mandy found Grace dead.

Rory "Finn" Finnigan, played by James Redmond, first appeared in 1998 before leaving in 2002, after playing the character for 4 years. He left to return to his previous life before his time in Hollyoaks village. Rory was described as a "cheeky chancer" and a "heart-throb".^[7] In 2009, the Daily Star reported that Hollyoaks producer Lucy Allan was planning to lure Redmond back into his role.^[8]

Paul Millington, played by Zander Ward, first appeared in 1998 before leaving in 2000. Paul is a friend of Sol Patrick (Paul Danan) and develops feelings for Sol's sister, Gina (Dannielle Brent). However, Gina rejects him as she is a lesbian. Paul and Sol later go into business together as car washers. However, the business fails when Darren Osborne (Ashley Taylor Dawson) gets involved and they all fell out after he fires Sol. Gina convinces Paul to attend literacy classes since he cannot read or write, and he agrees on the condition that she pretends to be illiterate so that she can join him. However, she leaves part way through the class to show Paul that he does not need her with him. Paul later enrols in an art course. When Zara Morgan (Kelly Greenwood) gains an attraction to Paul and tries to kiss him, he rejects her. Zara writes in her diary that she had had sex with Paul, which her father discovers, shoving Paul into a table with glasses. Paul temporarily loses feeling in his hand but decides against pressing charges, instead leaving the village.

Vernon Booth, played by Seamus O'Neill, was a builder who worked on Gordon Cunningham's (Bernard Latham) building on Oakdale Drive. Vernon caused problems with Mr. C's tenant Tony Hutchinson (Nick Pickard) - who owned Got It Taped - with his late arrival and behaviour that turned customers away. He was hired by Rory Finnigan (James Redmond) in August 2000 to work on building The Loft, with his girlfriend Victoria Hutchinson (Fiona Mollison) managing to talk Vernon into talking down the price. In March 2006, Vernon worked on the construction of Evissa. Tony protested against the building, believing it to be a sex shop, with Vernon embarrassing Tony before Tony was arrested.

Wayne Clark, played by James Corden, appeared between 1998 and 1999. Wayne was friends with Paul Millington (Zander Ward) and Sol Patrick (Paul Danan), befriending them as they worked community service for a car theft in May 1998. After leaving HCC, Wayne ran a car wash stall and employed Sol. After Sol was imprisoned for stealing a car and crashing it, Wayne closed the stall and left the village.

Emily Taylor, played by Lorna Pegler, first appeared in 1998, before leaving in 2001. She is the girlfriend of Gina Patrick (Dannielle Brent). Emily and Gina share an interest in animal welfare and begin a relationship together. Emily cheats on Gina so their relationship ends. Emily shares a kiss with Nikki Sullivan (Wendy Glenn), but is furious when Nikki tells her she only kissed Emily to see how kissing a woman would feel. Emily and Gina reconcile and Emily leaves with her when Gina leaves to do charity work in China.