Exclusive: Hollyoaks star Nathaniel Dass reveals deadly showdown as Dillon story ends
"It'll have huge consequences."
Hollyoaks spoilers follow.
Hollyoaks airs a huge set of episodes next week as Dillon Ray, Frankie Osborne and Vicky Grant all fight for their lives.
As the show’s ongoing exploitation story comes to a head, corrupt copper DI Banks makes plans to cover his tracks by destroying evidence and disposing of workers.
Banks’s last-ditch attempt to evade arrest puts him and his cronies on a collision course with his prisoners, at the manor house where they’ve been held captive for weeks. Will everyone make it out alive?
Nathaniel Dass, who plays Dillon, recently caught up with us for an exclusive chat about what’s to come…
Hi Nathaniel! When did you first hear about the exploitation story?
“I was told quite far in advance – a couple of months before we started filming the storyline. I got called to the producer’s office, as you do when you’re here! You get the scary message to say: ‘Hannah [Cheers] wants a meeting!’ (Laughs.)
“When I first heard about the storyline, I remember feeling very nervous about it. It was probably the heaviest material that I’ve filmed since being here at Hollyoaks.
“But I felt very privileged that Hannah wanted me to be in the storyline. I knew it would be intense and dark, but as an actor, I was really excited about it.”
As the story has progressed, has it been a challenge?
“Yeah, it’s been a tough storyline to get involved with, but we’ve had great directors that have worked with us through it. We were given research notes and studies, so that me and Isabelle [Smith, who plays Frankie] could better understand what exploitation is.
“I didn’t have a lot of knowledge when we started. I knew about sex trafficking and that it happens so much, but I never understood the depths of it – how it really works and how young people like Dillon and Frankie can be manipulated. It’s been really educational.
“There are some scenes that were really hard to film. There are days where you go home and you feel drained after putting yourself into those shoes.
“But there are people out there that this happens to. That’s the amazing part about being here at Hollyoaks – that we get to show people in these vulnerable situations and shine a light on it.”
Last year, it was Lucas on a downward spiral and Dillon trying to save him. Has it been fun to switch it up this year?
“Yeah, 100%! Me and Oscar [Curtis, who plays Lucas] even spoke about that ourselves. We’ve both been able to play the victim in a situation and then a hero-esque role.
“That’s been brilliant, because it’s allowed us to play two completely different roles across the storylines, even though we’re still portraying the same characters. It’s always a pleasure to work with Oscar.”
Are you sad that Dillon and Lucas aren’t together at the moment?
“In a weird way, as the actors we don’t always have the same opinions as the fans! We see it from such a different perspective.
“Obviously it’s great when Dillon and Lucas are together. That’s what the fans want and it’s exciting. But as an actor, sometimes it’s more fun to play the troubled times for the two of them.
“I was told quite far in advance – a couple of months before we started filming the storyline. I got called to the producer’s office, as you do when you’re here! You get the scary message to say: ‘Hannah [Cheers] wants a meeting!’ (Laughs.)
“When I first heard about the storyline, I remember feeling very nervous about it. It was probably the heaviest material that I’ve filmed since being here at Hollyoaks.
“But I felt very privileged that Hannah wanted me to be in the storyline. I knew it would be intense and dark, but as an actor, I was really excited about it.”
As the story has progressed, has it been a challenge?
“Yeah, it’s been a tough storyline to get involved with, but we’ve had great directors that have worked with us through it. We were given research notes and studies, so that me and Isabelle [Smith, who plays Frankie] could better understand what exploitation is.
“I didn’t have a lot of knowledge when we started. I knew about sex trafficking and that it happens so much, but I never understood the depths of it – how it really works and how young people like Dillon and Frankie can be manipulated. It’s been really educational.
“There are some scenes that were really hard to film. There are days where you go home and you feel drained after putting yourself into those shoes.
“But there are people out there that this happens to. That’s the amazing part about being here at Hollyoaks – that we get to show people in these vulnerable situations and shine a light on it.”
Last year, it was Lucas on a downward spiral and Dillon trying to save him. Has it been fun to switch it up this year?
“Yeah, 100%! Me and Oscar [Curtis, who plays Lucas] even spoke about that ourselves. We’ve both been able to play the victim in a situation and then a hero-esque role.
“That’s been brilliant, because it’s allowed us to play two completely different roles across the storylines, even though we’re still portraying the same characters. It’s always a pleasure to work with Oscar.”
Are you sad that Dillon and Lucas aren’t together at the moment?
“In a weird way, as the actors we don’t always have the same opinions as the fans! We see it from such a different perspective.
“Obviously it’s great when Dillon and Lucas are together. That’s what the fans want and it’s exciting. But as an actor, sometimes it’s more fun to play the troubled times for the two of them.
How was it to work on these scenes with Drew Cain, who plays evil DI Banks?
“Drew is so nice. He’s worked here at Hollyoaks on and off for years. It’s so nice that he’s been given this complete role switch – I think it was really exciting for him.
“Drew is a pleasure to work with and he’s really professional. He knows how to have fun on set as well and he’s been brilliant throughout this entire storyline.
“I remember when we were filming the scene where Banks paid someone to beat Dillon up in the alley. He was saying: ‘People are going to hate me!’ I said: ‘Listen, Drew, they might hate Banks but they can’t hate you!’ He’s so lovely.
“We’ve had some great stuff together, especially in the climax of this story. There’s some great work in there.”
So what can we expect from the big plot climax next week?
“It’ll have huge consequences! This is very serious. A corrupt police officer is trapped in a room with the absolute intent to kill them. This group of characters have been in some scary situations, but I’d say this is the scariest. We’ll have to wait and see whether they rise to the moment…
“If they make it out alive, I think it’ll impact them a lot. How would they deal with it emotionally and psychologically, if they manage to escape at all?”
