Hollyoaks star breaks silence on Tinhead’s return after Brookside crossover

Hollyoaks spoilers follow.

Philip Olivier is best known for his iconic role as Tim ‘Tinhead’ O’Leary in Brookside, a role which he reprised for the much-anticipated crossover episode for Hollyoaks’ 30th anniversary week back in October. But now Tinhead is joining Hollyoaks, and he’s got some big secrets…

In next week’s episodes, Liberty is on top of the world after going on a first date, and her mystery man is revealed to be none other than Tinhead. Philip told us at Inside Soap in an exclusive chat what it was like taking Tinhead from one iconic soap to another.

“It was weird at first, because the building where Hollyoaks films, that’s where Brookside had the parade of shops,” he explained.

“That was nice and nostalgic, but I was really nervous at first, just because it’s so fast-paced. It’s a lot faster than what we used to do back in the day, but after about a week, I felt at home!”

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While Liberty is enjoying her new romance, Tinhead may have an ulterior motive for turning up in the village, as viewers later spot him fleeing in his van from Jez’s allotment after looking in the late villain’s shed.

Sienna is suspicious of Tinhead from the outset and as the storyline unfolds, she tries to convince Liberty that her new man is seriously bad news.

But it seems that Sienna is right to be suspicious about Tinhead, as Hollyoaks’ New Year trailer shows fellow newcomer Jenson confronting him for using Warren’s identity!

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Just what Tinhead is up to is yet to be revealed, but how does Philip think his character has changed – or stayed the same – since his Brookside days?

“He has matured – he was a criminal, he was a bad lad, but his motives were always right,” he told us.

“His heart was in the right place and it’s exactly the same at the moment. Don’t get me wrong, he shouldn’t be doing a few things, but he’s doing them for the right purpose. He’s a loveable rogue!”