Hollyoaks supports Stand Up To Cancer

26 January 2016

 

Hollyoaks announces the drama is teaming up with Stand Up To Cancer for a special issue-led storyline.

The Chester-based soap is set to tell the story of Jade Albright and Alfie Nightingale who are both diagnosed with Hodgkin Lymphoma at the start of the year. As the relationship between the two teens blossom, the plot will explore how Jade (Kassius Nelson) and Alfie (Richard Linnell) deal with their illness in different ways.

Richard Linnell says “I’m honoured to be part of such a fantastic and important storyline and to help raise awareness for this brilliant cause. I’ve shaved my head for the role as my character, Alfie, undergoes treatment for Non Hodgkin Lymphoma. A daunting experience for me, it served as a reminder that losing your hair is just one trial among many for those brave young people battling this cancer.”

The show is working closely with Stand Up To Cancer, a joint national fundraising campaign from Cancer Research UK and Channel 4 to accelerate new cancer treatments and tests to UK patients and ultimately save more lives. Both actors met up with teenagers who had been battling with cancer. Kassius Nelson says “After meeting up with teenagers who have been diagnosed, we want to tell the story of how young people deal with such heart-wrenching news in a real and sensitive manner.”

Stand Up To Cancer will return to Channel 4 this autumn.

This October, the storyline will culminate with special Stand Up To Cancer programming on Channel 4. Hollyoaks executive producer, Bryan Kirkwood, says “We are honoured to be working with Stand Up To Cancer. At Hollyoaks, we take pride in delivering issue-based storylines in a delicate but informative way. The love story of Jade and Alfie will be heart-breaking at times but also inspiring. Their story will also show that it isn’t just about their cancer but how they continue life as teenagers while dealing with such a huge emotional situation and highlight how dealing with cancer impacts on their family and friends.”

Lee Mason, Commissioning Editor for Hollyoaks at Channel 4, says: “Hollyoaks has a unique relationship with its mainly young audience and has covered many difficult and ground-breaking issues and stories that are relevant to young people. We are proud to partnering with SU2C to help raise awareness of cancer to them and hopefully make a difference.”

The storyline will launch on Channel 4 at 6:30pm on Tuesday 26th January when Jade gets her test results back.

Photos are available on request. For more information please contact:

Francesca Evans
0151 202 2422 / 07523849568
fevans@limepictures.com

Jemma Pike
0151 202 2449 / 07715 972 782
jpike@limepictures.com

Notes to editor

About Stand Up To Cancer (UK)

• Stand Up To Cancer is a joint national fundraising event from Channel 4 and Cancer Research UK.
• Launched in the UK in 2012, Stand Up To Cancer funds translational research, accelerating new cancer treatments and tests to UK patients to ultimately save more lives
• In 2014, the live fundraising event was hosted by Davina McCall, Alan Carr and Dr Christian Jessen and featured celebrity interviews and moving real life stories
• Last October saw a host of dedicated Stand Up To Cancer programming from Channel 4, including Celebrity Gogglebox, Celebrity First Dates, a special episode of Chatty Man and The Last Leg
• Stars such as Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell, Noel Gallagher, Nicole Scherzinger, Pharrell Williams, Tom Hardy, Benedict Cumberbatch, Gillian Anderson, Britney Spears, Idris Elba, Andy Murray, Bradley Cooper, Taylor Swift, Martin Freeman, Jamie Oliver, Kathy Burke, Miranda Hart, Paul O’Grady and Richard Ayoade are just some of the talent who supported Stand Up To Cancer
• The Stand Up To Cancer campaign will return in 2016 with a host of fundraising activities and programming on Channel 4
• Visit Standuptocancer.org.uk or channel4.co.uk/SU2C for further information