Steph Roach (also Dean and Cunningham) is a fictional character from the
British
British may refer to:
Peoples, culture, and language
* British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies.
* British national identity, the characteristics of British people and culture ...
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British free-to-air public broadcast television channel owned and operated by Channel Four Television Corporation. It is state-owned enterprise, publicly owned but, unlike the BBC, it receives no public funding and is funded en ...
soap opera
A soap opera (also called a daytime drama or soap) is a genre of a long-running radio or television Serial (radio and television), serial, frequently characterized by melodrama, ensemble casts, and sentimentality. The term ''soap opera'' originat ...
''
Hollyoaks
''Hollyoaks'' is a British soap opera which originally began airing on Channel 4 on 23 October 1995. It was created by Phil Redmond, who had previously conceived the soap opera ''Brookside (TV series), Brookside''. From 2005 to 2023, episodes h ...
'', played by
Carley Stenson. She debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 29 March 2000. Steph was introduced into the serial by executive producer
Jo Hallows
Jo Hallows is a British people, British television producer and director, best known for her work on the Channel 4 soap opera ''Hollyoaks'' and the BBC drama television series, series Grange Hill. Hallows was also Head of Drama Production at Lime ...
. In 2009 Stenson decided to quit, but the then producer
Lucy Allan convinced her to stay to play out a dramatic storyline. The announcement of her departure was made public in June 2010. Stenson's fellow cast members have described her as a "''Hollyoaks'' legend" because of her lengthy duration.
Steph has been described as having a highly confident persona, a trait Stenson enjoyed portraying throughout. Steph is also played as "fame hungry". She is noted for a number of high-profile storylines such as the portrayal of bullying in a school environment, the portrayal of
epilepsy
Epilepsy is a group of Non-communicable disease, non-communicable Neurological disorder, neurological disorders characterized by a tendency for recurrent, unprovoked Seizure, seizures. A seizure is a sudden burst of abnormal electrical activit ...
, which Stenson felt had been a 'taboo subject' for too long. Other stories include becoming a widow and her involvement in
Niall Rafferty
Niall Rafferty (born Matthew McQueen) is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera ''Hollyoaks'', played by Barry Sloane. He first appeared during an episode broadcast on 3 December 2007. Former '' Brookside'' actor Sloane was ...
's revenge plot and her constant desire for fame. One of Steph's final storylines was the portrayal of
cervical cancer
Cervical cancer is a cancer arising from the cervix or in any layer of the wall of the cervix. It is due to the abnormal growth of cells that can invade or spread to other parts of the body. Early on, typically no symptoms are seen. Later sympt ...
, which Stenson conducted extensive research into. Steph was subsequently killed off in a special block of episodes branded by the media as "fire week". Some critics described her final storylines as "upsetting" and "surprising". Steph's relationship with
Gilly Roach
Gilly Roach is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera ''Hollyoaks'', played by Anthony Quinlan. The character first appeared on-screen during the episode broadcast on 6 October 2005. Gilly was created in 2005 by executive p ...
(
Anthony Quinlan
Anthony Quinlan (born 16 October 1984) is a British actor from Salford, England, known for his roles as Gilly Roach in the Channel 4 soap opera ''Hollyoaks'' and Pete Barton in the ITV soap opera ''Emmerdale''.
Career
Quinlan played Gilly R ...
) was viewed unfavourable by most. Stenson has been nominated for several different awards for her portrayal of Steph.
Development
Casting and characterisation

Stenson originally auditioned to play a friend of the established character
Zara Morgan (
Kelly Greenwood).
Although unsuccessful, the ''Hollyoaks'' casting team later asked her to apply for the new role of Steph Cunningham, and placed her straight into the final stage of auditions. She was delighted to subsequently be given the part, which was her first major television role.
Stenson joined the cast straight after leaving high school, aged seventeen.
She made her first appearance in March 2000,
and by 2010 had become the longest-serving female cast member remaining. Steph originally featured in the series as a recurring character for two stints.
Producers were impressed with Stenson's performance and by September 2000, they had invited her to join the show fulltime. Stenson revealed that Steph would return with "greater prominence".
[
Steph was introduced as a friend of Zara's, who was initially "quite naïve" and easily led. Within two years, her personality had altered greatly. Steph became a bully,] and "a bit of a bitch". Stenson enjoyed this transformation into a villain, as she believed it made Steph a more memorable character. She also felt she could "really go somewhere" with Steph's bitchiness in her acting, but in contrast struggled to portray her more genuine moments. She commented that Steph is the type of character only to cry over things she "really cares about". Stenson found this difficult to relate to, and struggled to "find a balance between pushing it too far and far enough". She ultimately preferred to play her as a bitch, though one "more comical rather than just out-and-out nasty."
Stenson assessed that Steph "really isn't all bad, more of a lovable rogue who just likes making mischief for attention." She deemed her character "very unpredictable", with a great deal of confidence. ''The LINC Online'' called her a "beautiful blonde wild child with a penchant for arrogance and displays of egotism". Sarah Moolla of ''The People The People may refer to:
Legal jargon
* The People, term used to refer to the people in general, in legal documents
* "We the People of the United States", from the Preamble to the U. S. Constitution
* In philosophy, economics, and political scienc ...
'' branded her "superficial", the '' Daily Record'' Merle Brown referred to her as "a true red-blooded female, and Emma Johnson of the ''Liverpool Echo
The ''Liverpool Echo'' is a newspaper published by Trinity Mirror North West & North Wales – a subsidiary company of Reach plc and is based in St. Paul's Square, Liverpool, England. It is published Monday through Sunday, and is Liverpool's da ...
'' assessed that she had a "couldn't-care-less" attitude. BBC America
BBC America is an American basic cable network that is owned by AMC Networks. The channel primarily airs sci-fi and action series and films, as well as selected programs from the BBC (such as its nature documentary series).
Unlike the BBC's ...
described Steph as a two-sided character. They observed that as well as a bitch, she could be "dishonest, vain, jealous and small-minded", and wrote "She causes trouble when she wants to and will happily lie and gossip to get her own way." Conversely, they noted that for those on her good side, "She can be your best friend, a confidante and sweet natured girl".
As Steph developed, she was revealed to have a "softer side". Beneath her tough façade was a "deeply insecure little girl who crave love and affection." An "artistic and creative" streak lead her to attend performing arts college. This inspired a rivalry with fellow actor Summer Shaw
Summer Shaw is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera ''Hollyoaks'', played by Summer Strallen. The character is most notable for being "planted" in the show as publicity for an Andrew Lloyd Webber produced stage production of ...
(Summer Strallen
Summer Peta Vaigncourt-Strallen (born 21 December 1985) is an English actress who has performed various roles on stage and screen. Her most notable theatre credits include Meg Giry in the West End production of '' Love Never Dies'' and Maria ...
), which saw Steph "determined to keep the limelight on her." Stenson downplayed her vocal ability, and opined that Steph is "hardly the world's best singer".
Family and relationships
In late 2002, more than two years after Steph's arrival, her family were introduced to the series. The dynamics of the Dean family evolved with time. They were initially a dysfunctional unit, but in a different way to other ''Hollyoaks'' families, as they tended to disrupt the lives of others whilst being happy amongst themselves. Upon their arrival, actress Helen Pearson, who plays mother Frankie Dean, assessed that they were "really supportive of each other", and "quite solid, like an old-fashioned family unit", despite their lack of finances which required them to undertake "various scams to keep body and soul together." As time went on, the Deans were affected by affairs and parental separation, more typical of the soap's other families.
Writers introduced Steph into a friendship group with the show's other teenagers who included Zara Morgan ( Kelly Greenwood), Abby Davies ( Helen Noble), Lisa Hunter (Gemma Atkinson
Gemma Louise Atkinson (born 16 November 1984) is an English influencer, radio presenter, and former actress and glamour model. She played Lisa Hunter in ''Hollyoaks'' (2001–2005, 2022) and in three spin-off series, '' Hollyoaks: After Hours ...
), Lee Hunter ( Alex Carter) and Brian Drake ( Jonathan Le Billon). Steph was portrayed differently to the rest of the group, with the example of a story involving a rumour club. The students are set a task of creating a rumour club to assess how quickly gossip can spread around a community. The assignment is supposed to be fun but the possibility of people getting emotionally hurt excites Steph. Stenson told an ''Inside Soap
''Inside Soap'' is a weekly soap opera and television listings magazine published in the United Kingdom. The magazine is currently released every Tuesday. It covers storylines featured in British and Australian soap operas that are broadcast in t ...
'' reporter that Steph's motivation is "purely evil". She enjoys "setting the cat amongst the pigeons" and watching her handiwork play out. Writers showcased Steph's "bitchy" side perfectly in the story, as she creates a rumour about Mandy Richardson (Sarah Jayne Dunn
Sarah Jayne Dunn (born 25 September 1981) is an English actress, known for portraying the role of Mandy Richardson on the Channel 4 soap opera ''Hollyoaks'' from 1996 until 2021. In November 2021, Dunn was dropped from ''Hollyoaks'' after she ...
) and Laura Burns (Lesley Johnston) being lesbians and in a relationship. Lee dislikes Steph's plans but writers showed the Steph's nasty influence over her friends when Lee is too afraid to oppose her. Stenson concluded it showed Steph disliked other "pretty girls" and "likes nothing better than being a cow" towards them.
Steph had several romances throughout her time in the series. In her early years, Stenson played her as a flirt, who acted out for the attention of boys. Her first lovers included Christian virgin Brian Drake and football playing "lothario" Scott Anderson ( Daniel Hyde). Her later relationship with Cameron Clark (Ben Gerrard) had "ups and downs" due to his obsessive-compulsive disorder. To boost his confidence she forced him to join a rock band. Her actions were successful, and Stenson said Steph was "proud" of this.[ She sacrificed their relationship so Cameron could leave and tour Europe. Sarah Ellis of '']Inside Soap
''Inside Soap'' is a weekly soap opera and television listings magazine published in the United Kingdom. The magazine is currently released every Tuesday. It covers storylines featured in British and Australian soap operas that are broadcast in t ...
'' praised Steph for being so supportive, despite Cameron's "erratic behaviour".[
Steph appeared to "finally ]ind
Ind or IND may refer to:
General
* Independent (politician), a politician not affiliated to any political party
* Independent station, used within television program listings and the television industry for a station that is not affiliated with ...
happiness" when she fell in love with Max Cunningham
Max Cunningham is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera ''Hollyoaks'', played by Ben Sheriff from 1995 to 1997, and Matt Littler from 1997 to 2008. He first appeared on 13 November 1995, and Littler took over the role in Sep ...
( Matt Littler). Although attracted to her, Max initially resisted Steph as he believed her to be a "ditzy, air-headed blonde", only interested in "bad boys." When his younger brother Tom (Ellis Hollins
Ellis Hollins (born 14 November 1999) is an English actor. He is known for portraying the role of Tom Cunningham in the Channel 4 soap opera ''Hollyoaks''. In 2006, he appeared in ''Alpha Male'', a family film released in the United Kingdom.
A ...
) developed a crush on her, the "kind, sensitive way" Steph handled it altered his impression. Littler explained, "Max begins to realise there's more to her than her looks. He begins to think she's actually really nice and they become friends."." Littler quit the series in 2008, and producers planned his exit around Max's wedding to Steph. He was killed off on their wedding day, as he pulled Tom out of the path of a car. Before she filmed the aftermath of Max's death, Stenson listened to depressing music to reach her character's bereaved mindset.[ Stenson believed it was a mistake to kill Max off, and "such an awful thing to happen to Steph", until she received "amazing feedback" about the storyline.] In the aftermath, Tom asked Steph to be his mother, in a scene that then-executive producer Bryan Kirkwood deemed his favourite of the year. The interaction between the two was intended to represent "what ''Hollyoaks'' is all about - lots of heart, relationships, friendships, love and loss." Kirkwood praised Stenson's performance throughout the storyline, particularly during that scene.
Steph has a brief fling with Niall Rafferty
Niall Rafferty (born Matthew McQueen) is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera ''Hollyoaks'', played by Barry Sloane. He first appeared during an episode broadcast on 3 December 2007. Former '' Brookside'' actor Sloane was ...
(Barry Sloane
Barry Sloane (born Barry Paul Sloan;''Births, Marriages & Deaths Index of England & Wales, 1916–2005''; at ancestry.com 10 February 1981) is an English actor. He has appeared in numerous television shows, and in the RTS Royal Television Socie ...
). The actors were required to film "steamy scenes". Stenson felt it a "hard challenge" to portray, she had to convince the audience that Steph would genuinely get together with her husband's killer.[ Some viewers, including all the staff of ''Inside Soap'' believed their chemistry to be greater. Stenson ultimately decided Steph was "better suited" to Max.][ She hoped that Steph would have even "more drama around the corner" along with "a bit of comic relief".][
]
Illnesses
Epilepsy
In a storyline which Stenson found challenging to portray, Steph was diagnosed with epilepsy
Epilepsy is a group of Non-communicable disease, non-communicable Neurological disorder, neurological disorders characterized by a tendency for recurrent, unprovoked Seizure, seizures. A seizure is a sudden burst of abnormal electrical activit ...
. Feeling a responsibility to members of the viewing public who have the disorder, the actress researched it extensively, assisted by Mersey Television. As well as reading about it, she visited several organisations, and spent a day on set with a teenage girl—close in age to Steph—who has the condition, and who shared insights on the experiences she had been through. The actress felt trepidation about acting out seizures, but for her first one was assisted by the episode's director, who had witnessed seizures first-hand, having once worked in a hospital. Stenson felt privileged to be chosen for the storyline, particularly as epilepsy is typically a taboo subject which had not featured prominently in a soap opera before.
Barbara Pinder of Epilepsy Action praised the serial for taking on the subject matter. ''Hollyoaks'' researchers contacted the charity when developing the storyline, and Pinder felt that the show succeeded in communicating the impact of Steph's diagnosis. She stated, "It is great to see a soap opera, specially one that is watched mainly by young people, look at the issue of epilepsy as it often gets ignored." Stenson was pleased the storyline was "reaching out to people", and stated that she had received many letters from fans thanking her for highlighting an under-exposed subject, as well as positive feedback on the ''Hollyoaks'' website.
Steph initially reacted angrily towards her diagnosis, which Pinder confirmed was not uncommon, explaining: "The character is going through stages that someone with epilepsy is likely to go through. Teenagers can have terrible trouble coming to terms with epilepsy at a time when they have a lot of other difficult things to deal with. It can also be quite a blow to their independence." Writing for the '' Sunday Mail'', Steve Hendry assessed that the plot would serve to "bring the arrogant and often spiteful Steph down a peg or two", humbling her. Stenson agreed that Steph's epilepsy would make her "more understanding", inspiring thoughtfulness towards others, as opposed to her former rejection of those different to her. However, she observed that the condition may also serve to worsen her behaviour towards "a chosen few." The character's epilepsy was further explored in the ''Hollyoaks'' spin-off '' In Too Deep'', in which Steph has a seizure and believes she is possessed by a spirit, almost causing her to drown.
Cervical cancer
In 2010, Steph was diagnosed with cervical cancer
Cervical cancer is a cancer arising from the cervix or in any layer of the wall of the cervix. It is due to the abnormal growth of cells that can invade or spread to other parts of the body. Early on, typically no symptoms are seen. Later sympt ...
and underwent a hysterectomy. It was devised prior to the appointment of Paul Marquess as executive producer. He chose to continue with it, deciding that it would be interesting to give Steph another serious storyline, and have a character that viewers "know and love going through a really hard time." In preparation for the storyline, Stenson studied the illness to give her a time-line of the experiences Steph would undergo. She chose not to speak with any cancer patients about coping with cancer, believing that everyone handles it in their own personal way. Additionally, she aimed to make Steph's realisation of her cancer as believable as possible, explaining that: "Steph wouldn't have any prior knowledge about what to expect, and I wanted to see it fresh through her eyes". She was flattered to be trusted with the storyline, and found it particularly important to get her portrayal right as, during the previous year, she had fronted the Arm Against Cervical Cancer campaign.
The producers aimed to send a message of early detection to the series' young audience, and had Steph initially ignore her symptoms. Stenson hoped to raise awareness of cervical cancer, and educate women about the importance of regular smear tests. She stated that Steph was confident about beating her illness, as "the alternative an't worth thinking about." The character was originally reluctant to tell her family about the cancer for fear of hurting them, and was embarrassed to tell her love interest Gilly Roach
Gilly Roach is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera ''Hollyoaks'', played by Anthony Quinlan. The character first appeared on-screen during the episode broadcast on 6 October 2005. Gilly was created in 2005 by executive p ...
(Anthony Quinlan
Anthony Quinlan (born 16 October 1984) is a British actor from Salford, England, known for his roles as Gilly Roach in the Channel 4 soap opera ''Hollyoaks'' and Pete Barton in the ITV soap opera ''Emmerdale''.
Career
Quinlan played Gilly R ...
), not wanting him to have to look after her. As the storyline developed, Steph cancelled her wedding to Gilly due to his refusal to accept that her condition was terminal. Quinlan explained that his character impeded her ability to deal with the situation, with his disbelief contrasting Steph's attempt to "take this in her stride and ..spend quality time with the people she loves before she goes."
Marquess deemed the storyline as a whole one which could only be depicted the way it was in ''Hollyoaks'', aiming to tell a "tragic story" with a "sweet and humorous tone"." A comedy element of the storyline had Steph use her cancer as a sob story to enter a talent show, recruiting orphan Tom to take to the stage with her, giving her story further emotional impact. Stenson commented, "Deep down she knows she's not a fantastic singer, but she thought the judges would feel sorry for her and put her through." According to Quinlan, viewer feedback on the storyline was "brilliant". He stated that viewers were upset by Steph's illness, and that it had even brought his own mother to tears.
Departure and death
In 2010, it was announced that Stenson had decided to quit the serial to pursue a career in musical theatre. She deemed it "one of the most difficult decisions he hadever made", stating that ''Hollyoaks'' had been her "dream job" and that she would miss her friends in the cast and crew. She made the decision to resign around June 2009, but was convinced by then-producer Lucy Allan to play out a long exit storyline, which concluded filming in September 2010. Before filming her final scenes, Stenson secured her first West End role. Though she had previously felt ready to leave the series, when the time came, she was upset because she felt the reality of it. She called her final scenes "really sad and emotional".
''Hollyoaks'' devised an arson plot to begin on Guy Fawkes Night
Guy Fawkes Night, also known as Guy Fawkes Day, Bonfire Night and Fireworks Night, is an annual commemoration list of minor secular observances#November, observed on 5 November, primarily in Great Britain, involving bonfires and firewor ...
2010, as a result of which some characters would die. The production team intended to keep details of who would die secret until transmission. Prior to broadcast, Stenson revealed that Steph would risk her own life to save Amy Barnes
Amy Barnes is a fictional character from the Channel 4 soap opera ''Hollyoaks'', played by Ashley Slanina-Davies. She debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 2 January 2006. Amy was created by executive producer David Hanson and Slanina- ...
( Ashley Slanina-Davies), Leah Barnes (Jessica Croft-Lane) and Lucas Hay. The actress explained that "She stares death in the face every day because of her cancer, so thinks she really has nothing to lose now." Stenson performed one of her own stunts during filming, with the rest undertaken by a stunt double
In filmmaking, a double is a person who substitutes for another actor such that the person's face is not shown. There are various terms associated with a double based on the specific body part or ability they serve as a double for, such as stunt ...
. A promotional trailer for the episodes aired across the Channel 4 network, featuring Steph on fire. In the event, Steph rescued Amy and her children from a burning building but refused to leave herself, saying she was ready to die. Her exit received a positive reaction from fans on the social networking website Twitter
Twitter, officially known as X since 2023, is an American microblogging and social networking service. It is one of the world's largest social media platforms and one of the most-visited websites. Users can share short text messages, image ...
, with Stenson stating that she was "honoured" by the response. Steph's legacy continued following her death, with her husband, family and friends left to come to terms with their grief. On 29 November 2011 it was confirmed Stenson was to reprise the role for a one off guest appearance as Steph in which she appears as an angel to Doug Carter who had attempted suicide and she convinces him that his life matters. Steph tells Doug something and he shows Frankie a special song that Steph had recorded for her. Frankie, overjoyed that her daughter had not forgotten her, wept whilst Angel Steph looked on happily and placed a hand on her shoulder before winking to Tom and returning to heaven, stating she was "ready for her solo."
Storylines
Steph is introduced as a new student at Hollyoaks High, with early storylines focusing on her school life and best friend Zara. She frequently bullies fellow pupil Lisa, driving her to attempt suicide. When Steph's friends react disapprovingly, she apologises and promises to change. She cultivates a promiscuous reputation, having brief relationships with Brian and footballer Scott Anderson ( Daniel Hyde). Steph eventually becomes friends with Lisa, but accidentally ruins her hair while attempting to dye it. Believing that she did so on purpose, her other friends shun her. Distracted by the quarrel, Steph does not notice that she is being stalked by serial killer Toby Mills (Henry Luxemburg). He attacks her, hitting her in the head with a spanner and leaving her to die. Steph is comatose for a week, and is diagnosed with epilepsy when she regains consciousness. Upon learning that Toby is Lisa's brother-in-law, Steph resumes her bullying. Johnno eventually catches her physically attacking Lisa, and orders her to leave her alone. The two go on to attend university together, where Steph apologises for her cruelty and they are able to reconcile.
In the aftermath of her epilepsy diagnosis, Steph is initially unable to deal with her condition. Her father, Johnno Dean ( Colin Wells) supports her, but ends up abandoning his family following the revelation that he has a secret son. Steph's mother Frankie remarries, and she comes to see her new stepfather, Jack Osborne (Jimmy McKenna
James Stephen McKenna is a Scottish actor. He is known for his roles as Jack Osborne in the Channel 4 soap opera ''Hollyoaks'' and Don Brady in ''A Touch of Frost''.
Personal life
McKenna lives in Sheffield, England with his wife and four ...
), as a father figure, despite remaining close to her father and becomes the only family member to visit him. Steph largely reforms following her epilepsy diagnosis, becoming more sensitive to the needs of others. She comes to terms with how dangerous her condition could be if uncontrolled, and in time her epileptic episodes become less frequent. Steph fails her college exams and is forced to retake them. Fuelled by jealousy of her sister's West End success, she attempts to embark on a celebrity career. She appears in the fictional television show ''Bid Crazy TV'', and auditions for a girl band, X-Pose, which transpires to be a money-making scam. She then sells a kiss and tell story on celebrity Joe Jones, who she meets after a failed audition to become one of his backing singers. When Steph's notoriety peters out, her stepbrother and agent Darren arranges for her to have sex with a footballer. After their liaison, Steph discovers that he is actually just the team's mascot. Humiliated, she abandons her pursuit of fame. In a comedy storyline, Steph's great-aunt Reenie leaves her an inheritance, said to be a "small fortune", on the condition that Steph performs a charitable act. She fulfils the requirement by saving Leo Valentine (Brian Bovell) from choking, however discovers that Small Fortune is, in fact, a donkey. Steph sends it to live at a donkey sanctuary.
Steph becomes a babysitter to Tom Cunningham (Ellis Hollins
Ellis Hollins (born 14 November 1999) is an English actor. He is known for portraying the role of Tom Cunningham in the Channel 4 soap opera ''Hollyoaks''. In 2006, he appeared in ''Alpha Male'', a family film released in the United Kingdom.
A ...
), and later begins a relationship with his older brother, Max Cunningham
Max Cunningham is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera ''Hollyoaks'', played by Ben Sheriff from 1995 to 1997, and Matt Littler from 1997 to 2008. He first appeared on 13 November 1995, and Littler took over the role in Sep ...
( Matt Littler). They get engaged, but have an on-off relationship fraught with frequent arguments. Steph's friend, Niall Rafferty
Niall Rafferty (born Matthew McQueen) is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera ''Hollyoaks'', played by Barry Sloane. He first appeared during an episode broadcast on 3 December 2007. Former '' Brookside'' actor Sloane was ...
(Barry Sloane
Barry Sloane (born Barry Paul Sloan;''Births, Marriages & Deaths Index of England & Wales, 1916–2005''; at ancestry.com 10 February 1981) is an English actor. He has appeared in numerous television shows, and in the RTS Royal Television Socie ...
) falls madly in love with her and attempts to come between them. She and Max eventually marry, but on their wedding day, Niall accidentally runs Max over, killing him. After a period of intense grief, Steph has sex with Niall. He is revealed to be a villain, holding his family hostage and killing his sister, Tina Reilly (Leah Hackett
''Hollyoaks'' is a British soap opera which originally began airing on Channel 4 on 23 October 1995. It was created by Phil Redmond, who had previously conceived the soap opera ''Brookside''. From 2005 to 2023, episodes have aired on sister ch ...
). A frightened Steph goes to stay with her brother Craig ( Guy Burnet) in Scotland. Niall follows her, and takes Steph, Tom and Craig hostage. After a stand-off in which Craig makes Niall acknowledge the hurt he has caused, Niall throws himself off a cliff to his death. After a long holiday with Tom, Steph begins to put her life back together. She falls for dance teacher Fernando Fernandez (Jeronimo Best), inspiring jealousy in Gilly Roach
Gilly Roach is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera ''Hollyoaks'', played by Anthony Quinlan. The character first appeared on-screen during the episode broadcast on 6 October 2005. Gilly was created in 2005 by executive p ...
(Anthony Quinlan
Anthony Quinlan (born 16 October 1984) is a British actor from Salford, England, known for his roles as Gilly Roach in the Channel 4 soap opera ''Hollyoaks'' and Pete Barton in the ITV soap opera ''Emmerdale''.
Career
Quinlan played Gilly R ...
), who has feelings for Steph. She and Fernando become engaged, as do Gilly and Cheryl Brady
Cheryl Brady is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera ''Hollyoaks'', played by Bronagh Waugh. The character first appeared on-screen on 24 November 2008, during the first series of the ''Hollyoaks'' spin-off ''Hollyoaks La ...
( Bronagh Waugh), Steph's employee. Realising that she loves Gilly, Steph breaks up with Fernando, but due to loyalty to Cheryl, refuses to date Gilly when he breaks up with her. Gilly briefly becomes engaged to Jem Costello ( Helen Russell-Clark), but ultimately leaves her to be with Steph.
Steph discovers she has cervical cancer
Cervical cancer is a cancer arising from the cervix or in any layer of the wall of the cervix. It is due to the abnormal growth of cells that can invade or spread to other parts of the body. Early on, typically no symptoms are seen. Later sympt ...
, and has a hysterectomy
Hysterectomy is the surgical removal of the uterus and cervix. Supracervical hysterectomy refers to removal of the uterus while the cervix is spared. These procedures may also involve removal of the ovaries (oophorectomy), fallopian tubes ( salpi ...
. In the aftermath, she decides to pursue a singing career and applies for ''The X Factor
''The X Factor'' is a television music competition franchise created by British producer Simon Cowell and his company Syco Entertainment. It originated in the United Kingdom, where it was devised as a replacement for '' Pop Idol'' (2001–200 ...
''. Despite using her cancer as a sob story, she is rejected at her audition. Her cancer spreads, and though Steph has chemotherapy
Chemotherapy (often abbreviated chemo, sometimes CTX and CTx) is the type of cancer treatment that uses one or more anti-cancer drugs (list of chemotherapeutic agents, chemotherapeutic agents or alkylating agents) in a standard chemotherapy re ...
, she is later told that her condition is terminal. Gilly struggles to cope with her diagnosis, almost causing Steph to cancel their wedding. It goes ahead, however, and after their honeymoon, Steph begins to make plans for her impending death. When Il Gnosh, a local Italian restaurant catches fire, Steph saves Amy Barnes and her children, but chooses to remain inside and die. After Steph's funeral, her family and friends watch video messages she recorded for them prior to her death. On 11 March 2011, Cindy returns and Darren tells her about Steph and plays her the goodbye message. On 26 December, Steph made a one-off appearance as a ghost to Doug Carter ( PJ Brennan).
Reception
Stenson received several award nominations for her portrayal of Steph. She was nominated in the "Best Comedy Performance" category at the 2005 and 2006 British Soap Awards
The British Soap Awards (BSAs) are an annual awards ceremony in the United Kingdom which honours the best moments in British soap operas. The ceremony is televised on ITV (TV network), ITV. The trophies given to the winners are made from metal a ...
, and for "Best Dramatic Performance" in 2009. She received a long-list nomination for the "Best Actress" accolade at the 2005 National Television Awards
The National Television Awards (often shortened to NTAs) is a British television awards ceremony, broadcast by the ITV network and begun in 1995. The National Television Awards are the most prominent ceremony for which the results are voted o ...
. In 2008, Stenson was nominated for the "Sexiest Female" Inside Soap Award, which she found flattering. A further nomination in the same category followed in 2010, accompanied by nominations for "Best Actress", and "Best Dramatic Performance" for Steph learning she had cancer. The character was selected as one of the "top 100 British soap characters" by industry experts for a poll to be run by ''What's on TV'', with readers able to vote for their favourite character to discover "Who is Soap's greatest Legend?" Steph and Max were voted as the show's "Favourite Couple" at the 2007 ''Hollyoaks'' Awards.
Following her departure, her co-stars commented favourably on the actress and character, with Jorgie Porter deeming her an "ultimate original", Gemma Merna stating that she "was ''Hollyoaks''", and Ricky Whittle
Richard George Whittle (born 31 December 1979) is a British actor. Whittle first came to prominence as a model for Reebok in the early 2000s. He is known in the United Kingdom for his role as Calvin Valentine in the soap opera ''Hollyoaks''. ...
admitting that he cried during the airing of her final scenes. Television and entertainment website ''Holy Soap
Holy Soap is a UK television and entertainment website founded in June 2009 by the British television company Channel 5. The website is the official UK home of the Australian soap operas '' Home and Away'' and '' Neighbours'', which are broadcast ...
'' did not see Steph's fire death coming, calling her actions brave and her ten-year duration "mammoth". They described her most memorable moment as telling Niall she did not love him and then watching him commit suicide. ''Inside Soap'' said if there was an award for "the unluckiest character in soap", Steph would certainly win.[ In his column for '']The Guardian
''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in Manchester in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'' and changed its name in 1959, followed by a move to London. Along with its sister paper, ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardi ...
'', television critic Jim Shelley stated that it was time for Steph to go, having "suffered enough" during her tenure. Humorously recapping her ten years in ''Hollyoaks'', Shelley wrote:
Sarah Welsh of the ''South Wales Echo
The ''South Wales Echo'' is a daily tabloid newspaper published in Cardiff, Wales and distributed throughout the surrounding area. It has a circulation of 6,026.
Background
The newspaper was founded in 1884 and was based in Thomson House, C ...
'' gave the stalking storyline a negative review. She called both plot and acting "ridiculous" and commented that while she often felt sorry for the serial being snubbed at the National Soap Awards, "This is not the way to raise the game."
Steph's relationships were a focal point of many reviews. The ''Daily Mirror
The ''Daily Mirror'' is a British national daily Tabloid journalism, tabloid newspaper. Founded in 1903, it is part of Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN), which is owned by parent company Reach plc. From 1985 to 1987, and from 1997 to 2002, the tit ...
'' Nicola Methven and Polly Hudson found a 2004 love triangle
A love triangle is a scenario or circumstance, usually depicted as a rivalry, in which two people are pursuing or involved in a romantic relationship with one person, or in which one person in a romantic relationship with someone is simultaneo ...
between Steph, her sister Debbie Dean ( Jodi Albert) and love interest Dan Hunter ( Andrew McNair) "surprising compelling". Grace Dent
Grace Georgina Dent (born 3 October 1973) is a British columnist, broadcaster and author. She is a restaurant critic for ''The Guardian'' and from 2011 to 2017 wrote a restaurant column for the ''Evening Standard''. She is a regular critic on t ...
of ''The Guardian'' observed of her failed engagement to Fernando: "With the best will in the world, I don't feel that marriage was ever going to last". Dent had previously named Steph singing the Sugababes
The Sugababes are an English girl group composed of Mutya Buena, Keisha Buchanan, and Siobhán Donaghy. The lineup changed three times before returning to the original lineup in 2011.
Formed in 1998 by Ron Tom, the manager of All Saints, ...
' "About You Now
"About You Now" is a song by British girl group Sugababes from their fifth studio album, ''Change'' (2007). Written and produced by Dr. Luke along with Cathy Dennis and Steven Wolf, it was released on 24 September 2007 by Island Records as the l ...
" at Max's funeral one of her four favourite soap moments of 2008. Roz Laws of the ''Sunday Mercury
''Sunday Mercury'' is a Sunday Tabloid (newspaper format), tabloid published in Birmingham, UK, and now owned by Reach plc.
History
The first edition was published on 29 December 1918. The first editor was John Turner Fearon (1869–1937), w ...
'' felt there was "plenty of chemistry" between Steph and Gilly.
Reviewing the Steph-centric spin-off ''In Too Deep'' for ''The Times
''The Times'' is a British Newspaper#Daily, daily Newspaper#National, national newspaper based in London. It began in 1785 under the title ''The Daily Universal Register'', adopting its modern name on 1 January 1788. ''The Times'' and its si ...
'', Tim Teeman commented that while late-night ''Hollyoaks'' episodes had previously been amusing, "sexed-up" versions of the main show, with ''In Too Deep'' it became "less shagathon, more ''What Lies Beneath
''What Lies Beneath'' is a 2000 American supernatural horror thriller film directed by Robert Zemeckis and starring Harrison Ford and Michelle Pfeiffer, with supporting performances from Diana Scarwid, Miranda Otto, James Remar, Joe Mort ...
''". The episode was selected as recommended viewing by Laws of the ''Sunday Mercury''. The launch of ''Hollyoaks Later
''Hollyoaks Later'' (originally ''Late Night Hollyoaks'') is a British television spin-off of the Channel 4 soap opera ''Hollyoaks''. The series allows for more sexual content, edgier storylines and stronger language than ''Hollyoaks''. The sho ...
'' series one, in which Niall returns to target Steph, was named a "Satellite Pick of the Day" by the '' Daily Record''. Christopher Howse, writing "Tatworld" for ''The Daily Telegraph
''The Daily Telegraph'', known online and elsewhere as ''The Telegraph'', is a British daily broadsheet conservative newspaper published in London by Telegraph Media Group and distributed in the United Kingdom and internationally. It was found ...
''—a column chronicling tabloid culture—named Steph and her family joint tenth in a list of Top Ten Deans, which included entrants such as Dean Koontz
Dean Ray Koontz (born July 9, 1945) is an American author. His novels are billed as thriller (genre), suspense thrillers, but frequently incorporate elements of horror fiction, horror, fantasy, science fiction, Mystery fiction, mystery, and sati ...
, Dean Gaffney
Dean Martin Gaffney (born 14 February 1978) is an English actor, best known for his role as Robbie Jackson on the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'' from 1993 to 2004 and 2017 to 2019; he also made guest appearances in 2004, 2010 and 2015. In 2006, ...
and Richard Dean Anderson
Richard Dean Anderson (born January 23, 1950) is an American actor. He began his television career in 1976, playing Jeff Webber in the American soap opera series ''General Hospital'', and then rose to prominence as the lead actor in the televis ...
.
References
External links
Character profile
at E4.com
Character profile
at Hollyoaks.com
Character profile
at Holy Soap
Holy Soap is a UK television and entertainment website founded in June 2009 by the British television company Channel 5. The website is the official UK home of the Australian soap operas '' Home and Away'' and '' Neighbours'', which are broadcast ...
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cunningham, Steph
Hollyoaks characters
Fictional bartenders in soap operas
Fictional models
Fictional characters with cancer
Fictional school bullies
Television characters introduced in 2000
Dean family
Cunningham family
Fictional waiting staff in soap operas
Fictional ghosts
British female characters in soap operas
English female characters in television
Fictional characters with epilepsy and seizures
Female villains