High Hopes is a soap opera created by Hannah in January 2013, Hannah was joined by Jaay who formed part of the production team briefly in early 2013, but later rejoined the series in August 2013 in time for Season Two.
High Hopes[]
High Hopes is a vibrant serial focusing on an Island community in the South of England. Season One began on January 7th 2013 and ended on June 16th 2013. Season Two began on Writer's Express on July 26th 2013 and concluded on 14th February 2014.
It was announced on October 21st 2013 that High Hopes would follow in the footsteps of fellow Writer's Express projects These Days, Uncertain Nights and The Avenue with a special scripted episode. The episode will focus on the relationships between Naomi and Cole Donovan and Olivia Kane and Matthew Fitzgerald as the Donovan's stalker causing chaos by exposing Naomi and Matthew's past.
High Hopes celebrated it's first anniverary with a bumper double on the first weekend of 2014 featuring the wedding of Olivia and Matthew. Season Two of High Hopes concluded with a shocking season finale on Friday 14th February 2014. It was announced on February 24th 2014, that High Hopes would be getting it's first ever spin off. High Hopes | A Step Back in Time will focus on the story of Matthew Fitzgerald and why he tormented ex Naomi Donovan to the point of madness. The spin off kicked off on Friday 21st March 2014 and concluded on Monday 24th March 2014. High Hopes' third season kicked off with a five night special tagged 'Trial Week' on Monday 21st April 2014.
As of Saturday 12th July 2014, there have been 74 episodes of High Hopes posted on Writers Express.
For the latest news on High Hopes and Hannah's fellow projects, you can follow Hannah Productions on Twitter Hannah Productions Twitter
Formation[]
High Hopes was created at the beginning of 2013, drama writer Hannah was looking for a new challenge and the creation in the soap genre seemed like the perfect solution.
The show is set on a small island off the south coast of England near Portsmouth "My Nan lives about 11 miles from Portsmouth so I pretty much grew up on the south coast, this influenced my decision to base the ficticious island there. The title card is special because it is a photograph taken by myself on the beach at my Nan's" explains Hannah.
Settings[]
Canvey Crescent | Who Lives Here: |
---|---|
No 14 (House) |
The Spencers: Siobhan Spencer lives here with step son Anthony and daughter Emily. Siobhan's mother Katherine Lavery moved in after Siobhan lost her husband Robert. |
No 20 (House) |
The Donovans: Cole Donovan lives here with his daughter Ava. His wife Naomi is currently living in a secure mental health unit. |
No 32A (Flat) | Chloe Charles used to live here with her best friend Olivia Fitzgerald, she now lives with new flate mate Nicki Grant. |
No 32B (Flat) | David Fields lives here with his mother Eileen and step-son Alfie Fields. |
No 34 (House) |
The Faradays: Duncan Faraday lives here with his daughter Lindsay, daughter in law Sophia and granddaughter Mia. Lindsay moved in after her marriage break up with Daniel Hastings, while son Steven moved out after his affair was exposed to wife Sophia. |
No 36 (House) |
The Connors: Michael and Heather Connor live here with their two sons Josh and Jake. Daughter Vicki moved out in wake of her paternity reveal. |
No 42 (House) |
The Campbells: Chrissie Campbell lives here with her wife Jay Willis. |
Collison Avenue | Who Lives Here: |
---|---|
No 145 (Flat) | Imogen Sandford lives here after renting the flat from Michelle Fox. After Michelle's death, Imogen is now renting from Michelle's fiance David Fields. |
No 169 (House) |
The Macey House: Kayla Macey lives here with her foster children Kyle and Molly Campbell. She shared her home with her fiance Patrick Hale until his untimely death at Christmas. |
Palmers Street | Who Lives Here: |
---|---|
No 2 (Flat) | Matthew Fitzgerald lives here. |
No 4 (Flat) | Steven Faraday lives here after the break up of his marriage to Sophia. |
No 10 (Flat) | Harry Campbell lives here and has temporarily allowed his brother Luke and girlfriend Vicki Connor to stay. |
Canvey Lanes (The High Street) | |
---|---|
Owned by: Daniel Hastings and Lindsay Faraday Staff: Chloe Charles (Barmaid) Tate Yorke (Barman) Home of: Daniel Hastings, Megan and Noah Donovan | |
Owned by: Olivia Fitzgerald (Beautician) Staff: Natalie Hunt (Nail Technician) | |
Owned by: Cole Donovan and Sophia Faraday Staff: Megan Donovan (Barmaid) | |
Owned by: Duncan Faraday Staff: Sophia Faraday (Part Time Manager) Siobhan Spencer (Assistant Manager) | |
Owned by: David Fields Staff: Anthony Spencer (Mechanic Apprentice) | |
Owned by: Duncan Faraday Staff: Katherine Lavery (Manager) Noah Donovan (Shop Assistant) | |
Canvey Comprehensive |
Teachers: Steven Faraday (Science) Naomi Donovan (English) Students: Ava Donovan (Year 13 - Upper Sixth) Mia Faraday (Year 11) Vicki Connor (Year 11) Kyle Campbell (Year 11) Molly Campbell (Year 11) Emily Spencer (Year 8) Jake Connor (Year 8) |
Connor & Fitzgerald Solicitors |
Partners: Heather Connor and Matthew Fitzgerald |
TBC |
Season One[]
Season One of the island based soap began on Writer's Express on January 7th 2013 and concluded on June 16th 2013. Season One had twenty six cast regulars, many of which are still part of the main cast.
Season One consisted of twenty episodes, there were no major cast changes throughout the season.
Season Two[]
Season Two of the island based soap began on Writer's Express on July 26th 2013. Season Two began with twenty six regular characters and ended with thirty four.
High Hopes | A Step Back In Time[]
Special spin off A Step Back In Time is began on Friday 21st March 2014 and concluded on Monday 24th March 2014. The spin off featured four special episodes. The first episode featured a series of flashbacks which told the story of how Matthew Fitzgerald and Naomi Donovan met while the second episode saw Matthew confronted by the two women in his life. This episode was the second ever scripted episode of High Hopes. The final double episode featured a series of flashbacks of Matthew's dirty deeds on Canvey Island.
Season Three[]
The third season of High Hopes officially began on 21st April 2014 and kicked off with a five night special surrounding the armed robbery trial of Noah Donovan.
High Hopes Cast[]
Present Cast:
Character | Actor | Duration | Episodes |
---|---|---|---|
Luke Roberts | 2013 - | 1x01 - | |
Kim Medcalf | 2013 - | 1x01 - | |
Danielle Harold | 2013 - | 1x01 - | |
Simon Rouse | 2013 - | 1x03 - | |
William Ash | 2013 - | 1x02 - | |
Nadine Lewington | 2013 - | 1x02 - | |
Eden Taylor-Draper | 2013 - | 1x02 - | |
TJ Ramini | 2013 - | 1x01 - | |
Claire Goose | 2013 - | 1x01 - | |
David Witts | 2013 - | 1x01 - | |
Madeline Duggan | 2013 - | 1x01 - | |
Tom Lister | 2013 - | 1x02 - | |
Jake Wood | 2013 - | 1x01 - | |
Orla Brady | 2013 - | 1x02 - | |
Neil McDermott | 2013 - | 1x01 - | |
Felix Dean | 2013 - | 1x03 - | |
Alexandra Fletcher | 2013 - | 1x01 - | |
Jamie Borthwick | 2013 - | 1x01 - | |
Harley Graham | 2013 - | 1x01 - | |
Gillian Taylforth | 2013 - | 1x02 - | |
Christine Stephen-Daly | 2013 - | 2x03 - | |
Diane Parish | 2013 - | 1x02 - | |
Liz May Brice | 2013 - | 2x20 - | |
Ayden Callaghan | 2013 - | 2x06 - | |
Carl Au | 2013 - | 2x01 - | |
Katie Griffiths | 2013 - | 2x01 - | |
Susan McCann | 2013 - | 2x10 - | |
Allen Leech | 2013 - | 1x01 - | |
Uncredited | 2014 - | 2x31 - | |
Linzey Cocker | 2013 - | 1x01 - | |
Ben Hardy | 2013 - | 2x15 - | |
Hannah Tointon | 2014 - | 2x28, 3x12 - | |
Naomi Ryan | 2014 - | 2x33 - |
Recurring Cast:
Character | Actor | Duration | Episodes |
---|---|---|---|
Claire King | 2013 - | 1x12 - | |
Patsy Kensit | 2013 - | 2x18 - | |
Sarah Hadland | 2013 - | 2x20 - | |
Danny-Boy Hatchard | 2014 - | 3x03 - | |
Karen David | 2014 - | 3x12 - | |
Alfie Browne-Sykes | 2014 - | 3x12 - |
Past Cast:
Character | Actor | Duration | Episodes |
---|---|---|---|
Chucky Venn | 2013 | 1x02 - 2x22, 2x38 | |
Karen Hassan | 2013 - 2014 | 1x02 - 2x34, 2x38, 3x07 | |
MyAnna Buring | 2013 - 2014 | 1x01 - 3x12 | |
Kaya Scodelario | 2013 - 2014 | 1x02 - 3x16 | |
Rupert Hill | 2014 | 2x30 - 3x16 |
Guest Cast:
Character | Actor | Duration | Episodes |
---|---|---|---|
Lee Warburton | 2013 | 1x04-1x05, 2x37, 3x02 | |
Billy Murray | 2013 | 1x04-1x05, 2x37-2x38, 3x02 | |
Bronaugh Waugh | 2013 | 2x21 | |
Todd Carty | 2014 | 2x28 | |
Rudolph Walker | 2014 | 2x29 | |
Angela Wynter | 2014 | 2x29 | |
Micah Balfour | 2014 | 2x29 | |
Nina Wadia | 2014 | 2x30 - | |
Joanna Lumley | 2014 | 2x35 | |
Addy Miller | 2014 | 2x35 | |
Grace Fitzgerald | 2014 | 2x35 - 2x36 | |
Kim Thomson | 2014 | 3x01 - 3x04 | |
Fletcher O'Leary | 2014 | 3x07 | |
Kaye Wragg | 2014 | 3x11 | |
Michele Dotrice | 2014 | 3x11 |
Cast Changes:
Character | Actor | Arrival/Return | Departure |
---|---|---|---|
Kaya Scodelario | Return: 2015 | ||
Rupert Hill | Return: 2015 |
The High Hopes Character Appearance Count[]
As of: Saturday 12th July 2014 | Number of Episodes to Date: 74
Episodes | Character |
---|---|
57 Episodes | Lindsay Faraday |
56 Episodes | |
55 Episodes | Daniel Hastings |
54 Episodes | Olivia Fitzgerald (Past) |
53 Episodes | Naomi Donovan |
52 Episodes | Chloe Charles |
51 Episodes | Cole Donovan |
50 Episodes | Siobhan Spencer, Ava Donovan |
49 Episodes | Megan Donovan |
48 Episodes | Anthony Spencer |
47 Episodes | Steven Faraday, David Fields |
46 Episodes | Matthew Fitzgerald |
45 Episodes | Duncan Faraday |
44 Episodes | Josh Connor |
43 Episodes | Sophia Faraday |
42 Episodes | |
41 Episodes | |
40 Episodes | Noah Donovan, Heather Connor, Katherine Lavery, Vicki Connor (Past) |
39 Episodes | Kayla Macey |
38 Episodes | Michelle Fox (Past), Mia Faraday |
37 Episodes | |
36 Episodes | Michael Connor |
35 Episodes | |
34 Episodes | |
33 Episodes | Imogen Sandford |
32 Episodes | |
31 Episodes | |
30 Episodes | Kyle Campbell, Harry Campbell |
29 Episodes | Eileen Fields, Molly Campbell |
28 Episodes | |
27 Episodes | |
26 Episodes | |
25 Episodes | |
24 Episodes | Tate Yorke |
23 Episodes | |
22 Episodes | |
21 Episodes | |
20 Episodes | Emily Spencer |
19 Episodes | Patrick Hale (Past) |
18 Episodes | Chrissie Campbell |
17 Episodes | Jake Connor |
16 Episodes | |
15 Episodes | Jay Willis (Recurring) |
14 Episodes | Luke Campbell (Past) |
13 Episodes | |
12 Episodes | |
11 Episodes | |
10 Episodes | |
9 Episodes | |
8 Episodes | Alfie Fields (Uncredited), Natalie Hunt |
7 Episodes | |
6 Episodes | Nicki Grant |
5 Episodes | Tommy Thompson (Guest), Andrea Yorke (Recurring) |
4 Episodes | Charlotte Pope (Recurring), Adam Thompson (Guest), Carrie White (Guest), Drew Lomax (Recurring) |
3 Episodes | |
2 Episodes | Amina Chowdry (Guest), Grace Fitzgerald (Guest), Sophie Fitzgerald (Guest - Uncredited), Amy Fitzgerald (Guest - Uncredited), Sahira Jakra (Recurring), Alex Ellison (Recurring) |
1 Episode | Rachel Fields (Guest), Derek Williams (Guest), Gareth Hale (Guest), Paulina Hale (Guest), Nathan Hale (Guest), Jennifer Kane (Guest), Gabby Yates (Guest), Val Fitzgerald (Guest) |
Yet to Appear |
Awards[]
High Hopes is beginning to achieve recognition through the Writer's Express Awards. High Hopes has picked up an impressive 5 awards so far.
Spring WriXAs 2013
- Best Soap Male (Josh Connor)
- Best New Soap
Winter WriXAs 14
- Best Christmas Episode (2x24 'You two have murdered enough Christmas classics as it is sweetheart')
- Best Soap Plot (Patrick Hale's Death and Aftermath)
- Best Soap Scene (Noah Donovan's role in the siege is revealed to wife Megan)