Jake Hendriks Interview

Friday 25 July

We caught up with Jake Hendriks (Kieron) following his announced departure from the show to chat about his time playing Father Kieron, and his plans for the future.

Have you enjoyed your time on Hollyoaks?
It's been awful but I've struggled through...no, not really I've had a very good experience. I learnt, or at least I hope I have learnt, how to act for TV and work on camera and made loads of friends. I've got a whole new family now!

You were brought in after the McDean storyline which was had a massive fan base. Were you worried about following up that storyline?
I think a lot of people expected me to be worried about it but I've always seen it as two very different stories. I didn't really feel that sort of sense of competition, except when people ask me.

Kieron has now become a greatly loved character and a lot of people now actually want John Paul to end up with Kieron rather than Craig...what do you think about that?
I think when you watch people every day you do get attached to them. I don't think it means that they like the other storyline any less and I'm sure when Craig's back in it will swing back the other way.

Did you know exactly what would happen to Kieron when you first got the job?
From the first meeting they said 'Congratulations on getting the job, bad news is you're on your way out straight away'. As an actor you spend most of your time out of work and your like 'yes, I've got a job!' To be told on the first day that you will be leaving is hard but you understand that no job lasts forever in this industry.

I’ve really enjoyed my time here. In a way, I think it made me appreciate it more because I always knew I was going and you kind of get everything you can from it.

James Sutton has become a bit of a gay icon because of John Paul, have you had a similar response from the fans?
I've been asked this question before but I never know what to say! I think I may have got away with it a bit. I think because I'm playing a priest that overshadowed the fact that I'm also playing a gay person. I have had a really good response from my gay friends saying that they feel I am portraying a real person which is nice.

James (John Paul) and Guy (Craig) have done a great job so it's a real privilege and honour to be told your doing a good job. I have been in contact with the guy who the storyline was based on, and he said he has been pleased with the job I've done, so I can't really ask for a higher accolade.

What have you enjoyed most about playing Kieron? I have enjoyed watching someone fall apart. It's been interesting playing a character that is so set in his ways and then developing his journey. Also, you get to meet lots of people in the village and work with lots of actors. I've enjoyed saying mass every day and taking other characters' confessions!

Are there any particular people or storylines that you have enjoyed the most?
I don't want to name people because I'll miss someone out...I enjoyed turning up at the pub and doing my chicken dance. I liked going on location to film the stuff in the church, it was like going on tour. It was great because I got to work with Nick (Pickard who plays Tony) and Jimmy (McKenna who plays Jack) and other people who have been here for ages. I’ve really enjoyed working with Ashley (Darren) and Kieron (Ste) and of course James (John Paul) and Barry (Niall) and all the McQueen lot.

It's been really good, I feel like I've got a new family up here. Certainly with most of my stuff being with Barry (Sloane, who plays Niall) and James (Sutton, who plays John Paul) they have become like brothers to me.

Your storyline has been quite controversial, with Kieron being a priest and embarking on a gay relationship. Were you at all concerned about this when you started?
Yeah, I didn't want it to be a cynical rating grabber. I think when you first hear that he is a priest and he's gay there's a tendency to wonder where it's going. Some of my family are Irish Catholic so I was worried but at the end of the day I think it's a legitimate question to ask if it's done in the right spirit of inquiry.

If you could change anything about the storyline what would it be?
I think there was more to find in it. I'd like to have seen more of him going about his job, doing something 'priesty' rather than so much snogging men getting in the way.

Who are you going to miss most from HOLLYOAKS?
I think when I'm at home and watching HOLLYOAKS on the TV, seeing everyone do their stuff, I'll miss them all really.

How will you feel on your last day?
I don't know. I'm looking forward to going back to London but I know that as soon as I'm there I'll miss my life up here as well. So I'll probably feel...ambivalence.

What are your plans for the future?
I'm going to eat a lot, I'm not going to get up for a couple of weeks, and then I've got a new motorbike so I'm going to go out on that a bit.

In terms of acting, I have panto and things coming up but no big jobs yet. If I had a choice of anything, I'd like to do theatre and a film...an English film, maybe some period work. I want to wear a wig and calf implants. To be honest I'll be very happy to stay in work.

You can find out more and view pictures of Jake Hendriks on his cast profile.