Texas Longford

Texas Longford
Hollyoaks character
Portrayed by Bianca Hendrickse-Spendlove
Introduced by Lucy Allan and Paul Marquess
Duration 2010—
First appearance 17 May 2010
Classification Present; regular
Spin-off appearances Hollyoaks: Freshers (2010)
Profile
Date of birth 1989[1]
Home 3 Oakdale Drive
Occupation Student (2010—)
Spa worker (2011)

Texas "Tex" Longford is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Bianca Hendrickse-Spendlove. She debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 17 May 2010. Texas was introduced by producer Paul Marquess as the on-screen sister of established character India Longford. Texas was initially portrayed as a "quite light and quite daft" character. Her first main storyline began in the aftermath of her sister, India's murder and her subsequent grief storyline and later being targeted by her killer. The character has also featured in the online spin-off series, Hollyoaks: Freshers.

Contents

Character creation and casting

In January 2010, it was announced that Lucy Allan had stepped down from the position of series producer and that Paul Marquess had taken over the role.[2] It was soon revealed that Marquess planned to give Hollyoaks a "shake up", changing the productions team[3] and beginning a cast cull by axing three established characters.[4] Marquess later announced that he would introduce lots of "fantastic" new characters to replace those who were departing.[5]

On 3 May 2010, it was announced that established character India Longford’s (Beth Kingston) older sister would arrive for her birthday.[1] Texas initially appeared in Hollyoaks as a guest character between 17 and 21 May. In the same month during an interview with entertainment website Digital Spy, Marquess talked about the new group of students, commenting that some of them would be recognisable to the audience. He stated: […] "The thing about our new students is the audience will recognise some of them. I can't remember how many there are but we're doing a proper Freshers' Week. Some of them will be eerily familiar but I'll [leave you thinking about] that."[6] It was announced on 7 July 2010 that Hendrickse-Spendlove would be reprising the role of Texas full-time.[7] A Hollyoaks spokeswoman said: "Texas is always causing trouble. She's very beautiful and always gets her own way with men, which drives India insane."[8] The character made her on-screen return on 24 August 2010.[9]

Character development

In late 2010 it was revealed Texas' onscreen sister would be murdered and viewers would see a new side to Texas' character.[10] Speaking of this Paul Marquess stated that it was interesting to see her cope with tragedy because Texas was "quite a new character in the show" at the time and since her inception she had been "quite light and quite daft".[10] He also commented: "She feels responsible - she's not, but she feels responsible for what's happened to India. And it is about dealing with really, really strong emotions when you're relatively young."[10]

Storylines

Texas first appears at the birthday party of India, who is unhappy to see her. Texas flirts with Charlotte Lau (Amy Yamazaki) and Dave Colburn (Elliot James Langridge), much to India’s annoyance. Later, she comes to the village when the students return. After witnessing Calvin Valentine (Ricky Whittle) being shot, Texas leaves. Texas is not seen again until August 2010, when she returns to the village to see India. She admits that she has returned because she has no money left. Texas then goes to a music festival and sleeps with India’s ex-boyfriend Trent Harvard (Olivier Blanc). Trent blackmails Texas for money after filming them together. Texas gives him an envelope filled with paper instead of money. Trent sends the video to India and she argues with Texas. India forgives Texas after they realise Trent is trying to come between them.

Texas’ grandfather Alistair Longford (Terence Harvey) stops her allowance due to her overspending. She then promises Alistair and India to cut down on her spending. Later, Texas receives her allowance and gives the money to Steph Cunningham’s (Carley Stenson) cancer charity. Texas moves in with Nancy Hayton (Jessica Fox) after India leaves halls. When Alistair gets engaged to Cindy Hutchinson (Stephanie Waring), Texas becomes annoyed and thinks that Cindy only wants his money. Texas calls her great-grandmother Blanche (Georgina Hale) to make Alistair realise the truth. However, Texas becomes a bridesmaid for Cindy after Alistair bribes her with money.

Texas enrols at Hollyoaks Community College as a film studies student, and becomes attracted to Jamil Fadel (Sikander Malik). She argues with India, who also likes him. Texas later agrees to date Bart McQueen (Jonny Clarke) until she finds out his actual age. Texas starts internet dating. She is left devastated when a body is found and it is identified as India's. Although she and Nancy knows that India was meeting a man named Cameron (Cameron Moore) who she met on an online dating website; they were both unaware that India has met a complete stranger, a old man Silas Blissett (Jeff Rawle) who murders her, who she later shares a drink with.Texas blames herself for India's murder as she encouraged India to be so reckless.

In January 2011 Texas struggles to deal with Indias upcoming funeral and so she begs Doug to get her some drugs. At first, he refuses; however, he soon gets the drugs off Brendan and gives Tex the drugs. She then takes the drugs and sleeps with Doug, but she soon regrets sleeping with him, so she takes more drugs. On the day off India's funeral, Texas takes more drugs and was consequently unable to attend India's funeral. She then walks off into Chez Chez but soon gets kicked out of there by Warren for being drugged. Texas then sets off into the darkness. While she is walking off, Silas sees her and tells her he's going to take her to the woods, the place where he killed India. While there Texas is in too much off a confused state to realise what is going on, so she trusts Silas. He pulls out a bit of rope from his pocket which he is going to use to kill her; however, Texas then starts talking about how India was the opposite to her and how she should not have been dead. Silas then realises he should not have killed India as she was nothing like Tex so, feeling guilty, he drops off Texas at the hospital where she reveals she actually took her mother Melody's drugs, not Doug's. Texas, Melody, Blanche and Silas then go the river by the dog to bid India a farewell. Texas struggles to do this as she feels she is the reason India is dead.

In March 2011, Texas is shocked to discover that Lynsey Nolan (Karen Hassan) was attacked in her flat, and is accusing Silas Blissett (Jeff Rawle). Texas later visits Lynsey and demands to know why she thinks Silas is her attacker. Lynsey explains that the recognised Silas's voice when she heard him telling granddaughter Jasmine Costello (Victoria Atkin) to shut up while she was staying with Riley. Texas tells Lynsey that her mind could be playing tricks on her, but Lynsey demands that Silas is the intruder. During the conversation, Texas is stunned to discover that during the burglary, Silas took the ring from Lynsey's finger, and Texas tells Lynsey that when India was murdered, the killer took her ring. Lynsey suggests that maybe Silas killed India too (un-beknown to them, Lynsey was right), but Texas denies that he would do that. Later, Riley Costello (Rob Norbury) visits to see if Lynsey is okay and coping, and Lynsey tells him that in India's murder, the killer took her ring, and when Texas describes India's ring, it is revealed that Silas had India's ring in the house, when Riley thinks back to Silas with a ring Identical to India's, but Silas tells Riley he bought the ring for his granddaughter Jasmine Costello (Victoria Atkin). Lynsey asks Riley if he knows where India's ring is, to which he denies it, but secretly, he starts to suspect Silas of killing India and attacking Lynsey. When he later Confronts Silas about the burglary and India's murder, Silas tries to fake a heart attack.

Texas has a casual relationship with Dodger Savage (Danny Mac). She becomes friends with Mandy Richardson (Sarah Jayne Dunn), they plan to scam Cindy out of her money. She manipulates Jamil into painting for her. She sells them to Cindy pretending they are exspensive. She sells her an exotic snake for more than it is worth. Cindy later discovers that Mandy and Texas are scamming her, but she does not contact the police. Texas attempts to make her relationship with Dodger official, but he tells her it is less complicated for them to remain casual. Texas finally mourns India when Lynsey exposes Silas as her murderer. She attempts to apologize to Lynsey for not listening to her claims. She later introduces her friends to Jodie Wilde (Montana Manning), who then sleeps with Dodger.

Reception

Soap opera reporting website Holy Soap stated that up until India's murder Texas had been "a good-time girl and, some might say, something of an airhead."[11]

References

  1. ^ a b "SPOILER: India's sister to arrive in Hollyoaks!". E4. (Channel 4 Television Corporation). 3 May 2010. http://www.e4.com/blog/hollyoaks/post/afm27ab6urzvnggf90qbzu/view.e4. Retrieved 2010-10-09. 
  2. ^ Green, Kris (15 January 2010). "'Hollyoaks' producer Allan quits soap". Digital Spy (Hachette Filipacchi UK). http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s13/hollyoaks/news/a196734/hollyoaks-producer-allan-quits-soap.html. Retrieved 2010-08-16. 
  3. ^ Green, Kris (11 February 2010). "New 'Hollyoaks' boss shakes up production". Digital Spy (Hachette Filipacchi UK). http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s13/hollyoaks/news/a202385/new-hollyoaks-boss-shakes-up-production.html. Retrieved 2010-08-16. 
  4. ^ Green, Kris (8 March 2010). "'Hollyoaks' producer axes 11 more". Digital Spy (Hachette Filipacchi UK). http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s13/hollyoaks/news/a207495/hollyoaks-producer-axes-11-more.html. Retrieved 2010-08-16. 
  5. ^ Green, Kris (11 March 2010). "'Hollyoaks' boss to introduce new family". Digital Spy (Hachette Filipacchi UK). http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s13/hollyoaks/news/a208202/hollyoaks-boss-to-introduce-new-family.html. Retrieved 2010-08-16. 
  6. ^ Green, Kris (18 May 2010). "Loads of 'Hollyoaks' gossip from Paul Marquess". Digital Spy (Hachette Filipacchi UK). http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s13/hollyoaks/scoop/a220233/loads-of-hollyoaks-gossip-from-paul-marquess.html. Retrieved 2010-06-25. 
  7. ^ Duncan, Amy (7 July 2010). "Hollyoaks unveils nine new cast members as part of soap shake up". Metro (Associated Newspapers Ltd). http://www.metro.co.uk/tv/834401-hollyoaks-unveils-nine-new-cast-members-as-part-of-soap-shake-up. Retrieved 2010-10-11. 
  8. ^ "'Oaks star talks hot cast". Holy Soap (Channel Five). 10 July 2010. http://holysoap.five.tv/hollyoaks/news/oaks-star-talks-hot-cast-8383. Retrieved 2010-10-11. 
  9. ^ Kilkelly, Daniel (24 August 2010). "2892: A dramatic mix-up benefits Cindy". Digital Spy (Hachette Filipacchi UK). http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s13/hollyoaks/spoilers/a259692/2892-a-dramatic-mix-up-benefits-cindy.html. Retrieved 2010-10-14. 
  10. ^ a b c Kilkelly, Daniel (20 December 2010). "'Oaks boss teases murder plot aftermath". Digital Spy. (Hachette Filipacchi UK). http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s13/hollyoaks/news/a294104/oaks-boss-teases-murder-plot-aftermath.html. Retrieved 2010-12-27. 
  11. ^ "Murder plot 'about grief'". Holy Soap. (Channel Five). 20 December 2010. http://holysoap.five.tv/hollyoaks/news/murder-plot-about-grief-11411. Retrieved 2010-12-27. 

External links