Emmerdale and Coronation Street stars reveal explosive and deadly crash that brings them to Hollyoaks

The Keanes are dedicated to one another (Picture: Ean Flanders)

It’s always exciting when a soap introduces a brand new family. But even more so when they make their debut in the midst of a colossal, game-changing stunt.

Hollyoaks are being very Hollyoaks once again by putting many characters in peril with a huge, show-stopping car crash – at least it will give the arriving Keane clan a sign of things to come over their imminent tenure.

The family is led by Emmerdale and theatre star Matthew Wolfenden as – known for playing village love rat David Metcalfe, and Christmas icon/irritant Elf, as well as Rebecca Ryan, known for roles in Coronation Street and Waterloo Road.

For the first time, Rebecca plays the mother of a family rather than her youthful looks bringing her teenage and young adult parts.

In an even more shocking twist, Matthew has been cast as an actually decent human being who has morals. Who’d have thought?

Father of the clan Jonah is fiercely loyal to ‘gobby’ wife Beth and kids Caleb and Maddox.

However, the actor hints to Metro that this may not always be the case.

‘Jonah’s very different to David – he’s very much in love with Beth. David did go through quite a reem of different women through his time at Emmerdale, he was a bit of a loveable dope whereas Jonah is very dependable.

The clan arrive with quite the bang (Picture: Ean Flanders)

‘He’s an accountant, he’s very reliable and very much in love with his wife and they’re still both very much in the honeymoon stages of their relationship… or it would seem.

‘In the first few weeks we’ll establish that the Keanes are a very strong family, they’re very together. The first thing people will see is they’re just a very secure, nice, loving family and when the viewers see that in Hollyoaks they’re going to know it’s not going to last…’

Before the lovey-dovey happy family scenes, though, there is carnage to get through. While it seems a given that the Keanes will survive their explosive entrance, the situation may be different for established characters, who face the every-few-months doom of Hollyoaks village.

But Matthew – who was generally kept away from Emmerdale’s exploding speedboats and killer storms – couldn’t be more thrilled to enter the fray in such a fashion.

 ‘The Keane family do come into Hollyoaks with quite literally a bang and when I say literally I mean a huge car stunt which we filmed over about three weeks.

‘We did it on location with the stunt team, we also did stuff in the studio in the van, which was really exciting, I’ve never done this before.’

Co-star Rebecca told us she is equally excited to make such a memorable entrance.

But the colossal stunt may not be as fiery as Beth herself.

‘You can expect feistiness and bullishness but underneath all that she’s really funny and loyal. I do hope we see a nice vulnerable side to her as well; she’s not just all mouth.

‘The viewers are going to see a lot of fun, the relationship with Jonah and the boys is really light, they’re always laughing and joking. Beth and Jonah are really in love. You are going to get a lot of fun and comedy moments.’

Luckily they make it to Hollyoaks in one piece – just (Picture: Lime Pictures)

It’s a very different role for the actress, who is enjoying being able to play someone so outspoken, given her own shy nature.

‘I’m a lot more reserved and quiet,’ she told us. ‘I’m a very laidback, chilled person, I don’t tend to get too stressed out about things, I just let everything go.

‘Beth doesn’t like to let anything go, she’s not scared of a fight or to stick up for herself or her family. We’re similar in that way, I do feel very protective over my family but she’s a lot more outspoken than I am!’

It sounds like the Keanes are going to fit right into Hollyoaks then! Let’s just hope they also survive the show’s next stunt, which may not be all that far away…

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