Nico Blake

Nico Blake
Hollyoaks character
Portrayed by Persephone Swales-Dawson
Duration 2014–16
First appearance 6 June 2014
Last appearance 3 November 2016
Introduced by Bryan Kirkwood
Classification Former; regular
Profile
Other names Sophie Blake
Nico Bradley
Occupation Student

Nico Blake (also Sophie Blake and Nico Bradley) is a fictional character from the British television soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Persephone Swales-Dawson. The character made her first screen appearance during the episode broadcast on 6 June 2014. The character and casting was announced on 20 May 2014. Nico is the daughter and niece of established twins characters Dodger Savage (Danny Mac) and Sienna Blake (Anna Passey) and the granddaughter of Patrick Blake (Jeremy Sheffield) and Anna Blake (Saskia Wickham) and the niece of Will Savage (James Atherton), Liberty Savage (Abi Philips) and Minnie Minniver and a half-sister and first cousin of Myra-Pocahontas Savage-McQueen.

Nico's prominent storylines include: a fraught relationship with her mother Sienna and grandfather Patrick; kidney failure from the "End of the Line" train crash; discovering that her uncle Dodger Savage (Danny Mac) is actually her biological father; a relationship with Dylan Jenkins (James Fletcher); accidentally killing her mother's boyfriend, Ben Bradley's (Ben Richards) daughter, Carly (Sophie Wise) with a paperweight; her crush on Jason Roscoe (Alfie Browne-Sykes) and stalking his girlfriend Holly Cunningham (Amanda Clapham); coldly murdering her terminally ill grandfather Patrick by smothering him; attempting to murder Theresa McQueen (Jorgie Porter) for her kidney; pushing her uncle Will Savage (James Atherton) off the hospital roof; stabbing her mother Sienna; suffering a heart attack when she requires another kidney transplant; murdering Trevor Royle (Greg Wood) by stabbing him on his wedding day to Grace Black (Tamara Wall); and bullying cancer patient Jade Albright (Kassius Nelson) with her best friend Peri Lomax (Ruby O'Donnell), whom she later develops an unhealthy obsession with and holds hostage.

The character was killed-off on 1 November 2016, as part of the show's "Halloween Spooktacular" episodes. Nico becomes trapped in a maze by a fire and fallen debris after a final showdown with Sienna, which was caused by Peri's father, Cameron Campbell (Cameron Moore), after he discovers Nico's psychotic tendencies. It was later confirmed by the actress herself that she had left the serial and that Nico had died in the blaze.

Storylines

Nico arrives in the village and steals food from Dodger.[1] He tries to help her out and she steals a bracelet belonging to Sienna. Nico is injured when Jason Roscoe (Alfie Browne-Sykes) throws bricks through Dodger's window. She later causes a fight with Jason and later Holly Cunningham (Amanda Clapham). She befriends Leela Lomax (Kirsty-Leigh Porter) to get closer to Sienna. She overhears Sienna telling Leela that she has found her daughter, but is disheartened to find out that Sienna believes it to be someone else. Unbeknownst to Nico, Patrick has manipulated Sienna into believing her daughter is elsewhere. Nico tells Sienna the truth but she slaps her and calls her a liar. Feeling rejected Nico reignites an old feud between Sienna and Nancy Osborne (Jessica Fox). Nico then attacks Nancy and plants Sienna's bracelet at the scene to frame her. Sienna eventually discovers that Nico is her true daughter and happily welcomes her into the family.

When Nico begins asking questions about her father's identity, Sienna becomes hostile towards her and asks her to stop asking questions. Nico then confides in her friend, Peri Lomax (Ruby O'Donnell) about Sienna, and makes hurtful comments about her, just as Sienna enters the room. Sienna then decides to tell Nico about her father, and explains that he went into the army and when he returned, he wanted nothing more to do with Sienna or Nico. Nico and Alfie then begin searching for her father, but Dodger realises that Sienna made his identity up after finding an author of the same name. In September, Patrick tells Sienna that Dodger is Nico's father, but Sienna keeps this from her. Nico has an argument with Sienna and they fall out, which leads to Nico boarding the McQueen's party train which also contains the McQueen's, which crashes causing Nico to become injured. She is admitted to hospital, where Dr. Charles S'avage (Andrew Greenough) tells Sienna and Dodger that Nico was born with one kidney, that is failing and will need a transplant, but that Sienna and Dodger do not match Nico's kidney. Sienna is upset by this and turns for help. Theresa McQueen (Jorgie Porter) then tells Dodger that she will be tested to help Nico.

Theresa is found to be a match to help Nico and they go through with the transplant which is successful. Peri then starts looking through Patrick's things on Nico's request so she may find something that'll reveal who her dad is. When Peri finds a Christmas card Nico falsely assumes Patrick is her dad and confronts him, but Dodger tells her he is her dad shocking everyone in the Dog. Dodger told Nico that he and Sienna were separated when they were young, and they didn't recognize that he ends up in pregnant his own twin sister. Nico then tells Sienna she wants to go back into care, so Sienna kidnaps her and holds her hostage at her late mothers house along with Dodger. Nico manages to escape but in the process bangs her head.

In February Nico's uncle Will Savage (James Atherton) kidnaps her and attempts to kill her, so he can cause Dodger grief, but Nico pushes him off of the hospital roof. Dodger takes the blame for Nico and flees the country. When Will regains conscious he tells the police she pushed him, but before he can make a formal statement he is murdered by the Gloved Hand Killer. Nico is questioned by police over what Will said but Patrick tells her to do what Dodger did and say it was him.

Nico along with most of the others in her year then took illegal painkillers that Peri stole off Nancy which causes her to be hospitalized but she recovers. Later when Nico finds Sienna's top in Dylan's things she thinks Dylan has a thing for her mum, so she angrily leaves Sienna to die when she suffers an allergic reaction. But then Dylan tells her the reason he took the top was because he was a cross-dresser, Nico runs V to hospital, but because Dr. S'avage alerted social services to what she did, she is taken into care. She eventually moves back in with Sienna but poisons her soup as revenge. However Nico ends up eating the poisoned soup. She makes a full recovery and reconciles with Sienna.

Nico kills Carly Bradley (Sophie Wise) when she sees her attacking Sienna. Sienna helps her cover up the crime. Later, Sienna and Nico find out that Carly was Sienna's boyfriend, Ben Bradley's (Ben Richards) daughter after he told them about Carly's death. The next day, Nico was arrested for Carly's murder after her phone was found at Ben's house where Carly died. Later, she was released by the police. Two weeks later Nico finally tells Maxine Minniver (Nikki Sanderson) the truth about Carly's death. Nico also tells Dylan on the day he is sentenced to six months for dealing in legal highs. Dylan promises to keep Carly's death a secret before his death. Whilst Dylan was being murdered by the Gloved Hand Killer in Dee Valley Hospital, Nico was talking to Peri about being able to wait three months to see Dylan again when he gets released on license, Nico doesn't realise that Dylan was involved in an accident or he had died in hospital. When she hears the news of his death, Nico becomes distraught and confronts Trevor about his mistreatment towards Dylan. She helps Trevor by choosing what Dylan should be buried with and asks if she could have his phone. Nico then realizes that a mystery culprit was tormenting Dylan in his final days and presumes that it is Kyle Bigsby (Mitchell Hunt) so she punches him. Nico continue to message Dylan's tormentor unaware it's actually Kim Butterfield (Daisy Wood-Davis). Kim later tells Nico that it was her tormenting Dylan, Nico tells Dylan's father, Trevor Royle (Greg Wood) about it, but when he doesn't act upon it she decides that he didn't care enough about Dylan, so she frames him for Carly's murder and has him arrested.

Nico then locks Sienna in her room and starts a fire in the flat in order to make Ben see how much she means to him. However she panics that her plan backfired when Sienna isn't breathing, but she makes a full recovery. However, when Sienna points out that she is the reason they can't move forward due to her behavior, she books herself into a physiatrist and reveals to Sienna that she has kept Carly's ring, to remind herself that she is a monster. Sienna takes the ring off her, saying Carly's death was an accident, but they are seen with the ring by Trevor, unaware that Carly had stolen it off Ashley Davidson. Ashley later targets Sienna and Nico and kidnaps them, when Ashley attempts to hurt Nico, Sienna knocks her out with a gas can. Nico then freaks out saying its Carly all over again, but Sienna manages to calm her down.

Newcomer Alfie Nightingale tries to befriend Nico by setting off a bunch of fireworks off the bridge, however the sparks set off the box and almost fall on top of her, but Jason Roscoe manages to save her. She is touched when he listens to her as she talks about Dylan's death and how it made her feel. His actions cause her to develop a crush on him, and when she sees his evidence board about the Gloved Hand Killers victims while returning his wallet, she decides to help. She then accuses Kim of being the killer, due to the way she treated Dylan just before his death, unaware the killer is her sister Lindsey. Nico's crush on Jason grows stronger and this leads to her setting up his girlfriend Holly Cunningham in order to spend time alone with him. Nico then finds a bunch of flowers in her locker identical to the ones she saw Jason buying earlier, leading her to believe that he feels the same way, unaware they're actually from Alfie. In Halloween 2016, Nico is killed in a fire at the village Halloween Maze which was cause by Peri's father Cameron Campbell (Cameron Moore) after Nico kidnapped Peri and tries to kills her.

Casting

The casting of Nico was announced on 20 May 2014. Daniel Kilkelly from Digital Spy reported that Nico arrives in Hollyoaks and meets Dodger Savage (Danny Mac). He takes pity on her and gives her food. A show spokesperson added "Is this girl just a passing tearaway teenager? Or could there perhaps be something more?"[1][2] It was soon announced that Nico is the long-lost daughter of Sienna Blake (Anna Passey). But Patrick Blake (Jeremy Sheffield) intervenes to ruin Nico and Sienna's chances of becoming acquainted. His scams include paying Nico's adoptive mother Denise (Janet Bamford) to trick Sienna into believing someone else is her daughter.[3] When Nico tells Sienna that she is her daughter she is dismissed as a liar. This prompts Nico to begin a revenge campaign.[4]

Development

Characterisation

According to Channel 4's official Hollyoaks page Nico is "intelligent, funny, but with quite a dark streak", as well as being quite mature for her age, as a result from going to care home to care home. It also mentions that although Nico has a tendency to push people away, this is down to a fear of rejection and in reality she just wants "to be loved and to be a part of a real family" and that she is "looking for a place in the world."[5]

In an interview at the British Soap Awards 2015, Anna Passey commented that Sienna had "spawned a devil child". It was also noted by Daniel Kilkelly, that Nico would begin to show a dark streak.[6] Persephone Swale-Dawson later commented that Nico was developing a "sinister streak."[7]

Parentage

Nico arrives in the village as the long-lost daughter of Sienna Blake. Although she knows that Sienna is her mother, Sienna believes otherwise due to her being told by her father, Patrick, that her daughter is someone else.[8] Although Sienna, initially disbelieves Nico, she starts investigating her claim after suspecting that she has something to do with Nancy Osborne (Jessica Fox) finding out about her new job,[4] which leads to Sienna finally recognizing that Nico is her daughter.[9]

Upon their reunion, Anna Passey noted that their reunion wasn't what Sienna was expecting, and that when she finds out that Patrick threatened Nico to stay away, Sienna would be heartbroken. Passey also commented how both characters would have an interesting time ahead of them as neither of them is what the other one was expecting, with Passey noting how Sienna isn't "necessarily mum material!"[10] Hollyoaks producer Bryan Kirkwood also refused to answer whether Sienna and Nico would be able to keep their happily ever after.[11]

On 5 August 2014, it was announced that Nico would begin searching for her true father after deciding that he would be a better carer to live with due to Sienna's latest malicious act. However, it was hinted that Nico's search could end in peril as she believes Sienna's lies about her father being called Ben Baxter and agrees to meet up with a man bearing that name.[12] On 4 September 2014, it was announced that Dodger Savage (Danny Mac), Sienna's twin brother, was Nico's father.[13] It was discover that Dodger and Sienna had met briefly years ago, and slept together, without knowing they were twins. A spokesperson told Digital Spy today: "Sienna and Dodger were estranged as children and each did not discover they had a twin until adulthood. When Nico was conceived 14 years ago, it was a chance meeting and they did not know that they were related." In an interview with Danny Mac, conducted at the Inside Soap Awards 2014, Daniel Kilkelly noted how some fans loved the twist with Dodger being Nico's father, whereas others hated it.[14] Danny Mac commented that when Dodger finds out he will feel "physically sick", as he never could have "thought this could have been possible." He also said that Dodger would strive to do the right thing, even if he didn't know what that was.[15] In an interview with Digital Spy, Bryan Kirkwood stated that Dodger being the father of Nico had been discussed "right from the start", and that they pushed Dodger being the father due to the audience thinking that it was going to be Patrick, Sienna's father.[16]

Murder of Carly Bradley

In early August 2015, Nico murdered Carly Bradley (Sophie Wise) while protecting her mother Sienna. It was announced afterwards that Nico would go on a dark streak, though Persephone Swales-Dawson admitted that she always knew that Nico would go down a dark path, she didn't think it'd be something "on the level of this!"[17] It was also announced that Sienna would become scared of Nico, with Anna Passey commenting that Sienna would start wondering "What on earth have I [Sienna] created?"[18]

Departure

On 1 November 2016, Nico was killed-off as part of the show's "autumn stunt week" set at a Halloween Spooktacular.[19] Nico was in the maze with her mother Sienna when Cameron Campbell (Cameron Moore) set it on fire, hoping to get revenge on Nico for almost killing Peri.[19] Both Nico and Sienna became trapped by debris and Sienna's partner Warren Fox (Jamie Lomas) made the decision to save Sienna instead of Nico. The maze then collapses with Nico still inside.[19] In a video released by the show following the episode's broadcast, Swales-Dawson commented "Nico might be gone, but I've had fun playing her. I think the thing I'm going to miss most about Hollyoaks is the crazy storylines."[20]

Reception

In an interview with Digital Spy, Anna Passey commented that Persephone Swales-Dawson was "fabulous", and "believable as Sienna's daughter".[10] Nico's parentage storyline was nominated by All About Soap as part of its "Best Soap Moments Of 2014 awards".[21] Swales-Dawson won the accolade of "Best Bad Girl" at The Inside Soap Awards 2016. A reporter writing for the Inside Soap Yearbook included Nico's attempt at murdering Tom by poisoned aftershave in their "A to Z" list, noting that it was "a soap first", before praising her for her "psychopathic ingenuity"[22]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Kilkelly, Daniel (20 May 2014). "Hollyoaks: Dodger Savage to meet teen newcomer Nico". Digital Spy. Retrieved 20 May 2014.
  2. ↑ Campbell, Tina (21 May 2014). "Hollyoaks casts Persephone Swales-Dawson as new teenage character Nico". Metro. Retrieved 21 May 2014.
  3. ↑ Kilkelly, Daniel (1 June 2014). "EastEnders spark, Corrie rows, Emmerdale passion, Hollyoaks arrival". Digital Spy. (Hearst Magazines UK). Retrieved 13 June 2014.
  4. 1 2 Dainty, Sophie (13 June 2014). "Hollyoaks: Nico gets revenge on Sienna Blake - new spoiler pictures". Digital Spy. (Hearst Magazines UK). Retrieved 14 June 2014.
  5. ↑ "Hollyoaks - Profiles - Nico Blake (Persephone Swales-Dawson)".
  6. ↑ Kilkelly, Daniel (18 May 2015). "Hollyoaks star Anna Passey: 'Sienna has spawned a devil child'". Digital Spy. (Hearst Magazines UK). Retrieved 15 September 2015.
  7. ↑ Kilkelly, Daniel (27 May 2015). "Hollyoaks star Persephone Swales-Dawson: 'Nico has an evil streak'". Digital Spy. (Hearst Magazines UK). Retrieved 15 September 2015.
  8. ↑ Kilkelly, Daniel (11 June 2014). "Hollyoaks: Patrick Blake's deception continues - new spoiler pictures". Digital Spy. (Hearst Magazines UK). Retrieved 15 September 2015.
  9. ↑ Kilkelly, Daniel (11 June 2014). "Hollyoaks: Sienna Blake reunited with Nico - spoiler pictures". Digital Spy. (Hearst Magazines UK). Retrieved 15 September 2015.
  10. 1 2 Kilkelly, Daniel (3 July 2014). "Hollyoaks Anna Passey interview: 'Patrick threatens Sienna over Nico'". Digital Spy. (Hearst Magazines UK). Retrieved 15 September 2015.
  11. ↑ Kilkelly, Daniel (15 July 2014). "Hollyoaks producer: 'Grace Black will show a softer side'". Digital Spy. (Hearst Magazines UK). Retrieved 15 September 2015.
  12. ↑ Kilkelly, Daniel (5 August 2014). "Hollyoaks: Sienna Blake's daughter Nico to search for her father". Digital Spy. (Hearst Magazines UK). Retrieved 15 September 2015.
  13. ↑ Kilkelly, Daniel (4 September 2014). "Hollyoaks reveals identity of Nico's father in shock storyline twist". Digital Spy. (Hearst Magazines UK). Retrieved 15 September 2015.
  14. ↑ Kilkelly, Daniel (2 October 2014). "Exclusive: Hollyoaks actor Danny Mac on Nico reveal: 'It's going to be great'". Digital Spy. (Hearst Magazines UK). Retrieved 15 September 2015.
  15. ↑ Kilkelly, Daniel (12 November 2014). "Hollyoaks' Danny Mac reacts to Nico reveal: 'Dodger feels sick'". Digital Spy. (Hearst Magazines UK). Retrieved 15 September 2015.
  16. ↑ Kilkelly, Daniel (11 January 2015). "Corrie, EastEnders, Emmerdale, Hollyoaks bag All About Soap Award nods". Digital Spy. (Hearst Magazines UK). Retrieved 15 September 2015.
  17. ↑ "Nico Blake goes to a 'much worse place' after Carly shock". Digital Spy. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
  18. ↑ "Sienna will be fightened of Nico". Digital Spy. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
  19. 1 2 3 Kilkelly, Daniel (31 October 2016). "Hollyoaks kills off a main character after Warren Fox faces a heartbreaking choice". Digital Spy. Retrieved 31 October 2016.
  20. ↑ Harp, Justin (1 November 2016). "Hollyoaks Halloween Week victims say their final goodbyes in these brand new videos". Digital Spy. Retrieved 2 November 2016.
  21. ↑ Kilkelly, Daniel (16 November 2014). "Exclusive: Hollyoaks: More gossip and teasers from show boss Bryan Kirkwood". Digital Spy. (Hearst Magazines UK). Retrieved 15 September 2015.
  22. ↑ "2016... From A to Z!". Inside Soap Yearbook 2017: 4. 2016. K is for... Killer cologne: A soap first – attempted murder by poisoned aftershave. Hollyoaks' Nico, we salute you for your psychopathic ingenuity!
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