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To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Up Next Previous Page Next Page Lucas Hay (Oscar Curtis) attempts to save his relationship with an impromptu proposal in Hollyoaks next week, unaware that beau Dillon Ray (Nathaniel Dass) has developed feelings for his dad Ste (Kieron Richardson). Dillon, as viewers know, told his boyfriend’s father earlier this year that he’s falling in love with him. Ste, like the rest of us, was taken aback by the bombshell revelation and urged Dillon to bury such feelings, claiming that he was simply confused. It’s been a turbulent year for Dillon, who was groomed by Ste’s ex partner Rex Gallagher (Jonny Labey) into a world of exploitation. He subsequently shot and killed operation leader DI Banks amid his efforts to escape and struggled with addiction in the aftermath of the ordeal. As a recovering addict himself, Ste proved incredibly supportive towards him and ultimately became his son’s boyfriend’s sponsor. Dillon was appreciative of the help and soon fell for Ste, who at first claimed he did not reciprocate such feelings. However, amid a trip to Liverpool, the chef ultimately admitted that he does ‘feel something’ for Dillon, with the two sharing a kiss. The storyline left audiences reeling when it was first teased on-screen and they weren’t alone, with stars Oscar Curtis and Nathaniel Dass telling Metro that they reacted the same. ‘We were shocked as well,’ Oscar said to me in an exclusive chat. Dillon star Nate added: ‘It was pretty shocking. And when we did find out there were no hints towards it. [Mine and Oscar’s] storyline was just focused on Dillon and Lucas and their relationship – how they fell in love, their ups and downs – so to get this thrown into the works, I was a bit gobsmacked to be honest when our boss Hannah [Cheers] told me. Dillon decides that he no longer loves Lucas next week – but little does he know what Lucas has planned (Picture: Lime Pictures) ‘But I’ve said before, and I’ve heard people say before, that it’s the storylines that you are speechless at and feel nervous about – and are like: ‘Oh my gosh, I’m not sure!’ – that tend to have an effect on people and end up being really interesting. ‘It’s only starting for the audience, so we’ll see what they have to say,’ he laughed, ‘But I remember us both being pretty shocked.’ Since falling for Ste, Dillon has attempted to break up with Lucas on two occasions, adamant that their relationship is at an end. However, for various reasons, he has refrained from following through. Lucas, meanwhile, remains in the dark about Ste but he knows full well that something is not quite right in the relationship, which Oscar reckons is down to the pair’s lack of communication. ‘I think they’re both saying different things to different people,’ he said. Next week, Dillon thinks long and hard about what he wants and he ultimately comes to the conclusion that he no longer loves Lucas, confiding such a thing in Frankie Osborne (Isabelle Smith). Oscar and Nate on filming Hollyoaks Later Nate and Oscar adored filming the return of Hollyoaks Later (Picture: Lime Pictures) Oscar and Nate delivered some of their best work to date during the historic return of Hollyoaks Later last month as part of the Channel 4 soap’s 30th anniversary. The stars couldn’t speak highly enough of the experience that was taking part in the after-dark spin-off. ‘Filming was mad!,’ exclaimed Oscar, adding that he and Nate had ‘an absolute ball’. ‘The locations were just out of this world – we were 38 floors up in the highest apartment there is in Liverpool, that was just surreal. It was crazy – a huge, huge production. It felt so different [to regular Hollyoaks].’ Nate echoed such a sentiment, branding the nightclub scenes in particular ‘amazing’. ‘That was filmed in a club in Liverpool where me and Oscar had actually been to and had some nights out there with our friends, so going back there in the day and acting like it was at night was amazing,’ he enthused. ‘When we walked in it was empty and then they put all the supporting artists in. We saw a rehearsal take with all the lights and everyone jumping and we, all the ‘teens’, looked at each other and thought: ‘Okay, this is really, really cool!’ Discussing the development, Nate said: ‘I think Dillon is very emotionally driven. He wears his heart on his sleeve and finds it hard to be fake to people. If he’s feeling something in the moment then that’s what he’s going to go with. Whether it’s right or wrong or whether it is actually how he feels – if it’s how he feels there and then, that’s what he’s going to act on.’ The actor, however, was quick to add that, despite what Dillon might say next week, he doesn’t think his on-screen counterpart has completely fallen out of love with Lucas. ‘I wouldn’t say it’s necessarily that there are no feelings for Lucas – that it’s completely over and completely cut off – because that would be ridiculous after everything they’ve been through. ‘But as for now, he feels more for Ste due to the fact he was his sponsor – someone he could relate to and someone he could have real chats with about his problems. I think he felt that Lucas never understood him in terms of what he went through with the trafficking and the drugs.’ Spurred on by Leela, Lucas makes a big gesture to show his love for Dillon (Picture: Lime Pictures) Dillon’s mind is elsewhere (Picture: Lime Pictures) And as Dillon confides in Frankie about his feelings for Ste, unsuspecting Lucas is spurred on by a comment from Leela Dexter (Kirsty-Leigh Porter) – who can’t imagine a future where the boys aren’t together – to arrange a surprise for Dillon at The Hutch. The surprise? An impromptu proposal, of course! In dramatic scenes in front of Ste and Leela, Lucas gets down on one knee and pops the question to Dillon! ‘It feels like a last-ditch resort for Lucas,’ said Oscar of the development, adding that Lucas is taking ‘control’ of the situation. ‘He’s grabbing at all straws and clutches to keep them together.’ Lucas proposes to Dillon! (Picture: Lime Pictures) The proposal leaves Dillon stunned – but what will his answer be? (Picture: Lime Pictures) ‘He’s really desperate and if he can show his love to Dillon by getting engaged, that’s his security. He’s thinking: ‘It’s fine, he’s not going to leave me now’. Oscar said that Lucas credits Dillon with helping him find the strength to come out and, given that they’ve been through so much together, the young chef simply can’t imagine a life without his one true love in it. ‘It’s all about Lucas keeping what he thinks is his comfort and safety – his safety net being Dillon. When that’s not there, he’s a bit lost so I think [in proposing] he’s trying to keep his environment and ecosystem afloat.’ Nate said that Dillon is ‘most definitely’ shocked by the popping of the question but he quite-rightly wasn’t giving any hints of what his alter-ego’s answer will be. But if there’s one thing we’ve learned from Hollyoaks over the years, it’s that secrets never stay secret for long so it’s safe to assume that when the truth of Ste and Dillon’s betrayal does come out, all hell will break loose. Oscar and Nate on recent cast changes... Oscar couldn’t help but smile when we talked about the recent return of James Nightingale (Gregory Finnegan), whose unexpected comeback took Hollyoaks fans by storm last month. The powerhouse actor has worked closely with star Greg in the past, and he made it clear that he’d very much like to do so again. ‘I’d be excited to film with Greg again, we always had a lot of banter on set. And it would be interesting to see the dynamic between Rex, Ste and James. These are characters that all have links to each other somehow.’ Nate added: ‘And Dillon and Lucas as well. ‘That’s five characters that are all linked through Ste, they’re all connected to him in some way. I think it would be brilliant to see a scene together with all five of us in one room and how that would all play out.’ Nate, meanwhile, was full of praise for Tisha Merry, who has joined the show as Donny’s (Louis Emerick) – or should we say Brookside’s Mick Johnston’s – secret daughter Gemma and the impact her arrival has had on the Maalik/Clark family. ‘Tisha [Merry], who plays Gemma, is amazing. She’s wonderful to have around on set – to add another member to the family – and I think there’s going to be some really exciting scenes.’ ‘We haven’t even got onto that stage yet in what we’re filming and reading through, but I think it’s going to be absolute madness,’ speculated Oscar. ‘Lucas is a very volatile character as is and, you know, Dillon has already had a kid with his sister! And now he’s coming for the dad. I think it’s going to be all out carnage, to be honest.’ The star reckons that Lucas will hate Dillon for what he’s done, though he was adamant that there is still ‘so much love’ between the two, which makes the situation all the more complicated. And that’s before you factor in Lucas’ abuse of Ste. The question that fans are no doubt pondering right now is if there is feasibly any way back for Dillon and Lucas after all this. Both stars aren’t sure yet. ‘I think there’s HayRay, I just don’t know which Hay!,’ responded Oscar, with Nate recalling how co-star Kieron [Richardson, who plays Ste] – upon learning of the storyline – joked that Ste now ‘puts the “Hay” in Hayray’. ‘I think it would be hard for any characters to come back from something like this,’ Oscar added after a moment of contemplation. ‘But whatever happens it will be fun and I think we’ll have fun filming it. It’ll be challenging to play all those emotions at once but it will give us something to really chew on.’ To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Up Next Previous Page Next Page Nate, meanwhile, said he would be ‘sad’ if Dillon and Lucas went their separate ways for good. He’s surely not alone on that front! Both characters have so much shared history and they were there for each other at pivotal moments in their life so we’ll just have to wait and see if a way back is possible. ‘Characters grow apart and characters grow back together,’ offered Nate, ‘You never know what’s going to happen’. In the meantime, Christmas is just around the corner and, given that the season of good will never fails to deliver in Hollyoaks-land, this year’s festive episodes are definitely worth getting excited about. ‘Christmas is a time for family and togetherness,’ teased Nate. ‘If you’ve got a lot of family with a lot of secrets and demons, when you bring them together and put them in a bit of a melting pot, it could overflow… and could explode.’ Consider our appetites whetted. Hollyoaks streams Mondays to Wednesdays from 6am on Channel 4’s streaming platform, or catch episodes on TV at 7pm on E4. If you’ve got a soap or TV story, video or pictures get in touch by emailing us soaps@metro.co.uk – we’d love to hear from you. Join the community by leaving a comment below and stay updated on all things soaps on our homepage.
