Ricky Whittle interview
Monday 18 August
We caught up with Ricky Whittle, who plays Calvin, to find out why HOLLYOAKS favourite policeman is turning to the other side of the law...
Monday 18 August
We caught up with Ricky Whittle, who plays Calvin, to find out why HOLLYOAKS favourite policeman is turning to the other side of the law...
Calvin has always been an upstanding citizen of HOLLYOAKS village. What is it about this situation that convinces him to change his stance?
He's been forced really; he's been forced into this dark spiral of horribleness. It all started obviously with Sasha as he's tried to help her by confiscating the drugs from Nige. I think if it was anyone else with a heroin addiction that Calvin would have been able to be tough with them but because it's his little sister who he's so close to, and protective over, he hated seeing her in so much pain. It was a stupidity thing; it was just because he couldn't bare to see Sasha suffer anymore.
He's been forced really; he's been forced into this dark spiral of horribleness. It all started obviously with Sasha as he's tried to help her by confiscating the drugs from Nige. I think if it was anyone else with a heroin addiction that Calvin would have been able to be tough with them but because it's his little sister who he's so close to, and protective over, he hated seeing her in so much pain. It was a stupidity thing; it was just because he couldn't bare to see Sasha suffer anymore.
If Warren had never blackmailed Calvin with the video, would Calvin have just been good forever do you think?
Yeah, but it's Warren now that is going to turn Calvin's head. He's basically blackmailed Calvin with this video which leads to the stabbing and Nige's murder, so Calvin ends up in Warren's pocket.
All his life Calvin has been this kind or moral, honourable kind of guy and it's got him nowhere...he lost his fiancé, his baby, he's lost everything and he's been doing everything by the book. Then there's Warren with all of his dodgy dealings and cutting corners, having affairs and committing murders and he has everything. He has the club, the car, the money, he's got the girl – who is Calvin's ex-girl and all without the consequences.
Warren is going to turn Calvin's head and say 'look here's what you could have' and Calvin's going to think 'well, why not?'
Yeah, but it's Warren now that is going to turn Calvin's head. He's basically blackmailed Calvin with this video which leads to the stabbing and Nige's murder, so Calvin ends up in Warren's pocket.
All his life Calvin has been this kind or moral, honourable kind of guy and it's got him nowhere...he lost his fiancé, his baby, he's lost everything and he's been doing everything by the book. Then there's Warren with all of his dodgy dealings and cutting corners, having affairs and committing murders and he has everything. He has the club, the car, the money, he's got the girl – who is Calvin's ex-girl and all without the consequences.
Warren is going to turn Calvin's head and say 'look here's what you could have' and Calvin's going to think 'well, why not?'
Sasha's addiction and Calvin's reaction put a lot of pressure on his relationship with Carmel. Are they going to make it through this?
Well Carmel isn't going to know about it. When Calvin kills Nige he wants to confess to the police and to Carmel straight away because they have that kind of relationship and he doesn't like keeping secrets from her. That's why he doesn't want to get married, well he does want to get married but he wants to be honest with Carmel first. He loves her a lot and he wants to tell her everything.
He's still going to be a nice guy, it's just that he's had his head turned and he will get worse over time. But when it comes to Carmel he is obsessed with the woman, he loves and adores her and she's his rock. Wherever she is he'd follow her to the end of the earth, but this is going to be a dark secret that he's going to have to keep from her.
Well Carmel isn't going to know about it. When Calvin kills Nige he wants to confess to the police and to Carmel straight away because they have that kind of relationship and he doesn't like keeping secrets from her. That's why he doesn't want to get married, well he does want to get married but he wants to be honest with Carmel first. He loves her a lot and he wants to tell her everything.
He's still going to be a nice guy, it's just that he's had his head turned and he will get worse over time. But when it comes to Carmel he is obsessed with the woman, he loves and adores her and she's his rock. Wherever she is he'd follow her to the end of the earth, but this is going to be a dark secret that he's going to have to keep from her.
Calvin's lost it a bit during Sasha's addiction. Have you enjoyed playing this more vulnerable side of him?
Yeah, I've had some great storylines and this is an interesting one that he's going through. It's good to play this side because people do forget he’s only 22, he's been looking after all of his family for two years and it's aged him, people assume he's 30 or something! But it's been fun to play and I'm looking forward to all the darker stuff that's coming up.
Yeah, I've had some great storylines and this is an interesting one that he's going through. It's good to play this side because people do forget he’s only 22, he's been looking after all of his family for two years and it's aged him, people assume he's 30 or something! But it's been fun to play and I'm looking forward to all the darker stuff that's coming up.
Do you prefer playing good guy or bad guy Calvin?
Bad guy! Everyone loves playing the bad guy; in previous shows I've been in I've played the bad guy. It was just lots of fun and you get away with so much and it's just a bit more out of the ordinary. I don't think anyone is as nice as Calvin, I don’t think people like that exist anymore.
Bad guy! Everyone loves playing the bad guy; in previous shows I've been in I've played the bad guy. It was just lots of fun and you get away with so much and it's just a bit more out of the ordinary. I don't think anyone is as nice as Calvin, I don’t think people like that exist anymore.
Warren seems to be offering Calvin support during all of this, are we going to see them become friends?
Yeah. They've always been the good versus evil as they are the two alpha males in the village who just keep locking horns. I don't think anyone else has that sort of rivalry, other than some of the ladies maybe. It's going to be interesting because they both depend one each other to keep themselves from buckling, so they are going to become allies, and then eventually friends. I'm not sure what will happen but I think the two of them are going to go on a naughty little rampage.
Yeah. They've always been the good versus evil as they are the two alpha males in the village who just keep locking horns. I don't think anyone else has that sort of rivalry, other than some of the ladies maybe. It's going to be interesting because they both depend one each other to keep themselves from buckling, so they are going to become allies, and then eventually friends. I'm not sure what will happen but I think the two of them are going to go on a naughty little rampage.
Is his time in this criminal world going to change Calvin or do you think he is strong enough to get back to his old self?
No I think it's going to get worse for a while yet. He's obviously under a lot of pressure because he's just killed Nige and everything is falling apart. He's trying to get Sasha off drugs and he doesn't understand why she keeps going back to it. Before hand he neglected her and he could understand, whereas now he's giving her all the attention in the world and she still turns to drugs and he really doesn’t understand that desperation.
He's a little bit confused at the moment because he's tried treading water and every time he gets closer to the boat, the boat pulls away. It is frustrating and he is taking it out on Carmel but it's just because she is the closest one to him.
No I think it's going to get worse for a while yet. He's obviously under a lot of pressure because he's just killed Nige and everything is falling apart. He's trying to get Sasha off drugs and he doesn't understand why she keeps going back to it. Before hand he neglected her and he could understand, whereas now he's giving her all the attention in the world and she still turns to drugs and he really doesn’t understand that desperation.
He's a little bit confused at the moment because he's tried treading water and every time he gets closer to the boat, the boat pulls away. It is frustrating and he is taking it out on Carmel but it's just because she is the closest one to him.
You can find out more about Ricky on Calvin's cast profile. If you've missed any of Calvin's storyline, or want to find out what's coming up then check out our written spoilers and catch-ups in the episodes section.
