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Trigger warning: This article contains discussion of suicide.
Hollyoaks spoilers follow for Monday’s (May 12) episode that is now available to view on Channel 4 streaming. The episode in question will air on E4 on at 7pm.
Ro Hutchinson (Ava Webster) sought help in an emotionally-charged Hollyoaks offering, reaching out to an LGBTQ+ helpline after contemplating taking his own life.
The teen, who came out as trans in powerful scenes last year, has endured horrific bullying at the hands of Arlo Fielding (Dan Hough), who has repeatedly misgendered him and sent disturbing text messages, encouraging him to take his own life.
The bullying was thought to have come to a halt last month after Arlo was exposed in a public showdown but it subsequently continued, with the troublemaking schoolboy persisting in tormenting Ro and his family.
Having reached breaking point and feeling responsible for mum Diane’s (Alex Fletcher) alcoholism, Ro resolved to run away with online friend Nina, who was going through a tough time too.
Nina, however, subsequently had a change of heart and attempted to talk Ro out of his plan to run, encouraging him instead to attend a local trans support group which she had found helpful.
Heartbroken Ro decided against doing so and in devastating scenes he confided in Kathleen-Angel (Kiara Mellor), telling her that he just wants the noise to stop.
Diane, meanwhile, took it upon herself to attend the aforementioned support group as a way of supporting Ro, who she assumed would be in attendance.
After heaping praise on Nina, Diane received a phone call from a worried Kathleen-Angel, who feared that Ro was going to take his own life.
Reeling, the concerned mum swooped into action, notifying Tony (Nick Pickard) of Kathleen-Angel’s concerns as the former couple desperately tried to locate their son.
At The Dog, Ro contemplated taking his own life.
In emotional scenes, he called an LGBTQ+ helpline, where helpline worker Eve offered support and a friendly ear. Ro discussed his feelings, opening up about the bullying he was subjected to as well as his family life and his mum’s drinking.
Eve, played by episode writer Emma Frankland, asked Ro to describe his parents. Ro smiled fondly as he talked about his mum and dad and, with support from the helpline worker, he came to realise that the feelings he’s experiencing will pass.
‘I want to be here’, he said to an emotional Tony and Diane, who were relieved upon finding their beloved son at The Dog.
The episode, which highlighted the importance of positive peer support and specific LGBTQ+ dedicated aid, was undoubtedly Hollyoaks at its finest, with powerhouse performances from series stars Alex Fletcher, Ava Webster and Nick Pickard.
Discussing the necessity of LGBTQ+ dedicated aid, writer Emma Frankland told Metro previously: ‘I was really keen that the call Ro puts in is to an LGBT service so that when they speak to someone on the other end of the line they’re not having to also go through any layers of misunderstanding.
‘They’ve not got this nervousness of, “How’s this person on the line going to feel about me being trans? Are they going to be for that or against it”’ I think it’s a really important service that’s out there that I think people, especially young people, don’t always know that we can access.’
Hollyoaks streams Mondays to Wednesdays from 6am on Channel 4’s streaming platform, or catch episodes on TV at 7pm on E4.
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