Hollyoaks cochlear implant story line develops

Popular Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks is exploring the decision many parents of deaf children face when confronted with the news that their child is profoundly deaf. As we reported in December, main characters Darren and Nancy are dealing with the news that their son, Oscar, has been diagnosed as profoundly deaf. 

Since then, baby Oscar has been referred to a consultant with a view to giving him a cochlear implant. Nancy, believing that cochlear implants would restore natural hearing, was dismayed when the consultant revealed the limitations of cochlear implant technology.

It has to be said that, maybe in the interests of the developing conflict between Nancy and Darren in storyline, the consultant delivered what could be described as a harsh appraisal of the potential benefits of an implant over the risks. Nevertheless, the issues presented by cochlear implantation are being explored on mainstream TV. Check the latest episode here.

You can read more about cochlear implants here and in our anonymous 'One Mother's Diary' series which expolores the very same choices both at a young age and at teenage.

TV soap opera Hollyoaks runs deaf baby storyline

Channel 4's long running soap opera 'Hollyoaks' is running a story line involving the diagnosis of a baby as deaf. The show, which is available here on 4OD, is following Darren and Nancy as they learn of their baby's deafness caused by a premature birth. It's available for 28 days and has subtitles.

The show has featured deaf actors and story lines in the past and is also well know as the soap which incorporates a BSL interpreter for the Sunday morning omnibus. There are more yet deaf connections on the show as Rachel Shenton (who plays Mitzeee), is a regular volunteer for Action on Hearing Loss and revealed that her father went deaf and that she learned sign language.

Hat Tip: Nicola!

New Deaf Star in Hollyoaks Makes Debut

The new star of long-running soap Hollyoaks made his debut this week. We told readers back in January that the producers of Hollyoaks were looking for a deaf actor and the new character is called Dylan. He's deaf and uses a mixture of speech and sign language apparently (I haven't seen it because I don't watch soaps, I only watch the news).

For your convenience, here is a link to the 4od website where you can watch him - it has subtitles.

Deaf actor needed - Hollyoaks

Are you a young deaf actor?

Hollyoaks is looking for a Deaf actor over 16 years old. After a few initial episodes, the role will feature heavily in ground-breaking online material, before returning to the show and potentially becoming a regular character. 

Actors can be fully or partially deaf, must be ableto communicate in sign language, and must be either 16 or older andable to realistically play 16.

Deadline to regiter interest: 18.00 on Friday 27 Jan.

Contact Shelley on shelley@thebigtalent.co.uk

A head and shoulders portrait will be needed too.