Lynsey Nolan is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Karen Hassan. The character originally appeared in the first series of the Hollyoaks spin-off Hollyoaks Later. In 2010, Hollyoaks series producer Paul Marquess asked Hassan to join Hollyoaks as part of the soap's ongoing rejuvenation, to which she agreed and the character began appearing in the main show from 11 August 2010. Hassan left Hollyoaks in 2012 when her character was killed off during a "dramatic cliffhanger" episode. To surprise the audience, the actress's exit was not announced beforehand. Hassan's final scenes were broadcast on 21 August 2012, giving viewers the "ending they were looking for".
The character's main storyline during her time on the serial featured her feud with serial killer Silas Blissett (Jeff Rawle), in which she was initially targeted by the villain. Lynsey becomes "determined to find the evidence" she needs to expose Silas, entering into a game of cat-and-mouse with the murderer, who begins trying to send her mad so no one will listen to her claims. During the conclusion of the plot, Silas sets Lynsey a "sick game" to guess his next victim or that victim will die. Silas attempts to kill Lynsey again but mistakenly kills his daughter, Heidi Costello (Kim Tiddy) leading to his arrest. The character also had brief relationships with Malachy Fisher (Glen Wallace), Gilly Roach (Anthony Quinlan) and Riley Costello (Rob Norbury). Lynsey's exit plot saw the character murdered in a whodunit storyline, with the character clashing with several characters in the run up to her exit to give them motive to kill her. Lynsey's murderer was revealed to be Dr. Paul Browning (Joseph Thompson), who had killed her to prevent her revealing that Mercedes McQueen (Jennifer Metcalfe) had stabbed herself. The character has been described by Hassan who said she is the "typical girl next door" who sees the best in people. During Lynsey's feud with Silas the character was played to show a stronger and more determined side. Hollyoaks official website has also described the character, saying she has a "delicate exterior" but the "heart and courage of a lion".
On 9 April 2013, Hassan announced that she would return to Hollyoaks as a ghost or in a vision during a storyline involving the wedding of Doctor Browning and Mercedes McQueen which also happens to be on the first anniversary of her death.
Hassan has been nominated for various awards for her portrayal of Lynsey. Lynsey was voted Hero of the Year by fans for E4 special Hollyoaks: Best Bits of 2011 and has been both praised and criticised by the British press for the suspense built up during the Silas plot, for putting herself in danger during her feud with Silas and for the shock of her exit. Following her exit Hassan received a large number of messages on social networking site Twitter and was also praised by her Hollyoaks colleagues.
Character creation and casting Lynsey was introduced as the best friend of established character, Cheryl Brady (Bronagh Waugh), during the first series of Hollyoaks Later in 2008. Karen Hassan auditioned for the role of Lynsey, along with twenty other Irish actresses. Hassan said that she felt nervous prior to the audition, as she was a big fan of Hollyoaks. The actress won the role and was contracted for five episodes. Hassan told Dawn Collinson from the Liverpool Echo that once she had completed the five episodes, she returned home to Belfast where she appeared in various television and theatre productions.
In June 2010, Kris Green from Digital Spy reported that Hassan would join Hollyoaks in August, as part of an ongoing rejuvenation of the serial. Series producer Paul Marquess believed that Lynsey and the other new characters he was introducing would bring "more fun, drama and sexiness to the show". Hassan had not expected to be asked to join Hollyoaks and said it was an exciting, but scary prospect. The actress relocated to Liverpool for filming. Her character's introduction to Hollyoaks was low-key, which made Hassan believe that she would just be kept in the background. She felt like Lynsey was "kind of plodding along" and asked the producer if he was happy with her work. He then revealed that he had been thinking along the same lines and told her that she would be a major part in an upcoming storyline featuring Silas Blissett (Jeff Rawle).
Development
Characterisation During an interview with a reporter from the show's official website, Hassan explained that Lynsey had been best friends with Cheryl for a long time. When Lynsey joined Cheryl in the village, she quickly found herself a job at the local hospital and fell in love. Hassan described Lynsey as being "a very loyal person", who wanted to see the best in people and would do anything for her family and friends. Hassan tried to make her character's personality similar to her own, so she would be believable to the viewers. Hassan felt that on occasion Lynsey needed to stand up for herself, agreeing with the reporter who called her "a bit of a push-over." She later said that Lynsey should speak her true opinions more and stop being "a soft touch". A new side to the character started to emerge when she began to grow a backbone and Hassan opined that Lynsey could "hold her own". The actress commented to an OK! journalist that Lynsey was the typical girl next door, who could stand "on her own two feet" and speak what was on her mind. Hassan also thought that she had a very long fuse, but if it reached the end then you would see the spark in her.
During the storyline with Silas, viewers were able to see a stronger and more determined side to the character. A writer for E4's official Hollyoaks website said viewers should not let the character's "delicate exterior" fool them, as beneath it she had "the heart and courage of a lion". They explained that Lynsey was required to prove she had a backbone during several crisis situations, in which she demonstrated her "superhero antics". But that her real test of character came after she was attacked by Silas. They added that the attack marked the beginning of a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse that led to Lynsey losing her friends, job, home and nearly her sanity. Various media sources described Lynsey as flirty, determined, brave, plucky, gorgeous and a beauty. After her exit, Hassan said she would like Lynsey to be remembered as a "serial killer hunter extraordinaire", the girl next door with a big heart, Cheryl's best friend and "the girl who could never really find the man of her dreams!"
Relationship with Gilly Roach In February 2011, Lynsey became attracted to widower Gilly Roach (Anthony Quinlan) and they began a short relationship. After Gilly became a personal trainer at Look Sharpe, a local day spa, he invited Lynsey to come along for a free session. Quinlan told Inside Soap journalist, Steven Murphy, that Lynsey is "looking pretty good when she turns up" and she would eventually end up "hopping into the tub and dragging Gilly in there fully clothed!" Hassan said that she found the scene in which Lynsey pulled Gilly into the hot tub "embarrassing", despite knowing Quinlan well. She added that the scenes were not romantic to film due to the water being cold. Lynsey and Gilly later arranged a date together, which prompted Gilly to remove his wedding ring. Quinlan thought that Gilly's decision was a "bit harsh" because it was too soon for him to consider moving on from his wife, Steph (Carley Stenson). The actor stated that viewers would have to wait to see what would happen between Lynsey and Gilly, but believed that there was no comparison when it came to her and Steph.
Feud with Silas Blissett In February 2011, Susan Hill from the Daily Star reported that Lynsey would become the next target of serial killer Silas Blissett. Hassan revealed that executive producer Paul Marquess brought her into his office to tell her that she would be involved in a "really big storyline", which he outlined to her, leaving her really excited. The storyline began when Lynsey angered Silas, who then attacked her. Silas was scared off after Lynsey's screams alerted his grandson Riley Costello (Rob Norbury) to the situation. Hassan thought Lynsey's "steeliness" helped her break free from Silas. Lynsey realised Silas was the one who attacked her, after she heard his voice which "triggers a flashback" to the moment of the attack. Hassan added that when nobody believed Lynsey, it "makes her want to bring Silas down even more. She's determined to find the evidence she needs to expose him for what he is". Waugh, who plays Lynsey's best friend Cheryl, explained that everyone believes that Lynsey is crazy and has made up the allegations. Lynsey then turns to Cheryl for help and although she hates seeing her best friend in such a state, Cheryl believed Lynsey was just being paranoid.
When Silas suffers a heart attack, Lynsey is faced with a dilemma when he is placed under her care. Hassan revealed that her character is not "thinking straight" and even though it is her job to save lives, Lynsey can not decide if she should come to the aid of the person who attempted to kill her. Lynsey is not sure if Silas is genuinely ill. In March 2011, Hassan revealed that Silas would want revenge on Lynsey after her telling people that he is behind recent murders. Hassan told a reporter from All About Soap that Lynsey innocently buys diet pills for Cheryl off the internet but Silas sees this as an opportunity to seek revenge and switches them with his heart medication, leading to Cheryl collapsing in Chez Chez. Cheryl is found by Lynsey, who is terrified for Cheryl and feels guilty. Lynsey is told that Cheryl has sedatives in her system although she is "completely flummoxed" as to how this happened as she does not consider that Silas would have wanted to hurt Cheryl. Hassan explained that Silas plans to "blacken" Lynsey's name with the scheme. Rawle revealed that Silas would work on "discrediting" Lynsey and would undermine her because she is aware of his secret. He explained that Silas would do this by breaking into her flat and moving things around in the middle of the night, adding that "it's like a war of attrition" with Silas planning to "wear her down and send her mad".
Hassan explained that when Silas realises Lynsey is trying to bring him down again he "basically tells her to bring it on". She continued saying that Silas "gets off" on the idea that Lynsey is trying to prevent him from killing again as it makes his game more interesting. Texas Longford (Bianca Hendrickse-Spendlove) portrays her murdered sister, India (Beth Kingston), in a reconstruction of India's death. The actress explained that during the campaign Lynsey notices Silas is smiling and "his eyes are full of glee while Texas is clearly in turmoil" reconfirming her earlier suspicions that Silas killed India. Lynsey steals India's necklace from Texas and plants it on Silas before calling the police with an anonymous tip-off. Hassan revealed that Lynsey does this in the hope that Silas' lies will unravel, explaining that now Lynsey has "entered into this game of cat-and-mouse with Silas, she'll get deeper and deeper".