Phoebe McQueen

Phoebe McQueen
Hollyoaks character
Portrayed by Mandip Gill
Duration 2012–
First appearance 17 January 2012
Introduced by Emma Smithwick
Classification Present; regular
Profile
Occupation Mechanic
Home 26 Leigh Road

Phoebe McQueen (previously Jackson) is a fictional character from the British soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Mandip Gill. The character made her first on-screen appearance on 17 January 2012

Character creation and development

Phoebe played by Mandip Gill, debuted on 17 January 2012. Phoebe is introduced as a regular character[1] as part of a storyline involving regular character George Smith's homeless storyline. Gill told TV Times that her character is "streetwise" and unlike George she has been squatting for a long time. As Callum is George's friend she cannot trust him because "in her eyes anyone from the outside is trouble".[2] Pheobe fears that Callum will report them and so does not want to go into care or lose George. Gill said that "he and her dog Thunder are all she has". This causes tension between Phoebe and George and he decides to move out. Gill said that Phoebe feels "guilty" because George is unwell and puts her feeling aside to ask Callum for help. Gill explained that "by this point, George is very ill and she knows it'd be on her conscience if anything happened to him."[2]

“ Fiercely independent, proud and cocksure, Phoebe may only be fifteen, but she’s got an old head on her shoulders. Living away from the family home, she's had to grow up pretty quickly. It was on the streets of Chester that Phoebe came across a friendly young soul called George [...] She quickly realised that his cheery little face could be handy to have around when begging. Henceforth, she organised a place for him in the squat. ”

—E4.com on Phoebe.[3]

Roberts told Daniel Kilkelly of Digital Spy that George became dependent on Phoebe as his situation became more desperate. She is his source for advice on "what to do and where to go". However, their friendship leads them into "quite awkward situations" where they act as one another's "lifelines".[4] When George is around Phoebe he is serious and "down-to-earth", which Roberts opined, forged "brilliant" friendship. Roberts indicated". The storyline became "a lot darker" as it became more serious.[4] George and Phoebe are forced to live on the streets after other squatters steal their living space. They receive help from Deena Hardman (Sian Breckin). Roberts described her as "very manipulative character and she hasn't got their best interests at heart".[4] Deena attempts to lure them into human trafficking.[5] Jaci Stephen of the Daily Mail said that it was "no mean feat" that Phoebe knew that Deena was scheming. She also said that she did not care about Phoebe going missing.[6] Anthony D. Langford of AfterElton.com bemoaned the dearth of realism when George assumed Phoebe was safe because he found her bracelet. Langford also felt that Hollyoaks wanted the human trafficking storyline to end quickly and said that the plot was more about George and Callum moving in together.[5] Langford said that he was "totally horrified" when Phoebe lured George into Deena's trap for the sake of her dog. He added that George had good sense to be "appalled and disgusted" with her and hoped he would disown Phoebe.[7]

Storylines

When Callum Kane (Laurie Duncan) visits the squat George Smith (Steven Roberts) is living in he meets Phoebe who also lives there.[8] Phoebe wants Callum to stop interfering because his presence leaves her nervous. Phoebe tells George that he should not trust Callum because he is an outsider. She thinks that he will inform the authorities that they are squatting. Phoebe takes her dog Thunder to the local shopping center where she shoplifts items to sell on the streets. When Callum spends the night at the squat to gain an idea of how George and Phoebe live, he leaves his watch behind. New squatters force Phoebe and George out of their home and they are forced to live on the streets. Phoebe is attacked by a thug and is saved by Deena Hardman (Sian Breckin) who takes Phoebe and George back to her home for food and shelter. Phoebe thinks that Deena has an ulterior motive and searches her home for clues. She finds a photograph of boy she once knew who went missing. She realises that Deena is involved in human trafficking. When she and George try to escape, Graham Hardman (Steve Marsh) appears and stops them. Graham is revealed to be the thug that attacked her, a fight then breaks out as Phoebe and George try to escape. Deena goes in search of Phoebe, while Graham tries to find George. As they became separated, George tells Callum that he thinks Phoebe did not manage to escape Deena. George later finds Phoebe's bracelet and assumes she is safe.

She then returns to the village to persuade George to run away from her but instead she was just setting George up for Deena to get her dog back then gets locked up by Deena and her husband. Later on after scratching a customer who paid Deena to have sex with her Deena's husband kills her dog and she faints from stress and hunger and Deena takes her away. George finds her with a police man in a room she then wakes up and runs away With him to avoid to going to care. She then realises he wants to go home. She asks him to but he won't until she does. So she gets someone she owes to pretend to be her mother to let George move on. She is taken in by Martha Kane. When George tires to convince the headmaster to let him stay she starts a fire in the sixth form college where she later gets arrested.

After her mum turns up, she is taken in by Jacqui McQueen (Claire Cooper) and Rhys Ashworth (Andrew Moss). She finds it hard to adjust to normal life. She starts attending Sixth Form College in September and frequently stands up to Maddie Morrison (Scarlett Bowman) when she torments Esther Bloom (Jazmine Franks). Rhys is killed in a minibus crash and Phoebe decides to burn all of his things when she finds out he cheated on Jacqui, however Jacqui screams at Phoebe for doing this. After Esther tries to commit suicide, Phoebe is suspended after standing up to her bullies.

In April 2014, she is asked to attend a conference with the school, accompanied by Robbie Roscoe (Charlie Wernham) where Finn O'Connor (Keith Rice) spikes headmaster Patrick Blake's (Jeremy Sheffield) drink, causing him to start dancing and shouting during his speech and subsequently falling through a window. She then discovers that Finn spiked the drink and he threatens her, telling her not to tell anyone.

Phoebe starts a relationship with Robbie Roscoe (Charlie Wernham) and they begin an on-again, off-again relationship. Porsche and Lockie's wedding went down hill when a train hit a car causing a crash killing Carmel (Gemma Merna). We see Phoebe calling Robbie saying she loved him and when she returns home Robbie greets her where they kiss and she tells him she's ready and she leads him up the stairs. A week later, Mercedes was murdered by Freddie and Phoebe attended her funeral and memorial. The current storyline revealed that Mercedes is, in fact, still alive, and in an attempt to frame Porsche McQueen to get Freddie released, Lindsey accidentally planted some of Phoebe's hair on the murder weapon. As a consequence, Phoebe got arrested and charged with the murder.

References

  1. ↑ "Mandip Gill". Jane Hollowood Associates. Retrieved 11 January 2012.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Kilkelly, Daniel (11 January 2012). "'Hollyoaks' newcomer teases Phoebe role, squatting plot". Digital Spy. (Hearst Magazines UK). Retrieved 11 January 2012.
  3. ↑ "Phoebe Jackson (played by Mandip Gill)". E4. (Channel Four Television Corporation). 17 January 2012. Retrieved 19 January 2012.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Kilkelly, Daniel (27 January 2012). "'Hollyoaks' Steven Roberts interview: 'George storyline gets darker'". Digital Spy. (Hearst Magazines UK). Retrieved 30 January 2012.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Langford, Anthony D. (8 February 2012). "Langford on Soaps: Two TV Gays Get the Axe!". AfterElton.com. (Logo). Retrieved 9 February 2012.
  6. ↑ Stephen, Jaci (27 January 2012). "Soap watch: The ultimate insight into the week's soaps". Daily Mail. (Associated Newspapers). Retrieved 9 February 2012.
  7. ↑ Langford, Anthony D. (14 March 2012). "Langford on Soaps: Is "General Hospital" Getting A Gay?". AfterElton.com. (Logo). Retrieved 28 March 2012.
  8. ↑ Kilkelly, Daniel (8 January 2011). "Corrie slap, 'Enders offer, E'dale jail threat, 'Oaks George secret". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines UK. Retrieved 8 January 2011.

External links