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Linda Gray promises heartbreaking Hollyoaks return

Photo credit: Lime Pictures
Photo credit: Lime Pictures

From Digital Spy

Soap icon Linda Gray is promising "really emotional" scenes as her Hollyoaks character Tabby Maxwell-Brown makes a welcome return tonight.

Tabby reappears in Chester to support her family in the show's latest E4 first look episode, which centres around the heartbreaking funeral of her grandson Nathan.

The return of Tabby is particularly good news for her daughter Marnie (Lysette Anthony) and grandson Alfie (Richard Linnell), as they both need a shoulder to cry on after the recent family tragedy.

Photo credit: Lime Pictures
Photo credit: Lime Pictures

Speaking about her big comeback, Linda revealed: "Obviously it's very emotional. I can only imagine what it's like for people who have gone through this. I think of people in the audience who perhaps have lost a child and grandchild - and like Tabby tells Marnie, 'a mother should never bury a child'.

"To play that scene with Marnie, where you want to be supportive as her mother, but you are also grieving yourself for the loss of your grandchild, is really emotional and I think viewers will really react to it."

Asked how this Hollyoaks stint compared to her first one last autumn, Linda replied: "The first time I was getting to know everybody and trying to work out where everything was. It was like going to school on your first day. It's like 'where's my desk?', 'where's my little locker?', 'where's the restroom?'

"At the same time I was meeting all new people and trying to learn lines. My little brain by the end of the day was just spinning around.

Photo credit: Lime Pictures
Photo credit: Lime Pictures

"Then I had met all these lovely new people and then had to be horrible to them! Dear David [Easter who plays Mac], I had to call him a 'rancid dog' and then after the scene, I just had to apologise and say: 'I didn't mean to call you a rancid dog!'

"The second time I came back, it was like coming back to my family. I loved it! It was lovely to see everybody again. David, Lysette and I had lovely conversations about our families and David's wife made me some chocolate cupcakes and we were just sharing things and catching up like old friends. So the second time was just very relaxed.

"I loved the friendships. I am a people person and I love the way I was treated - and everyone was so lovely to be around. It shows it is not just one person, everything you do is made up by a team and the final product could only be the way it is because of the group that puts it all together. So that's what I love the most."

Photo credit: Lime Pictures
Photo credit: Lime Pictures

Linda also gave an interesting answer when asked how Hollyoaks differs to Dallas. Much to our surprise, they're actually quite similar!

Linda explained: "Well actually it's the same thing and I mean that sincerely. We are working and portraying a character and in Hollyoaks I just play a different character.

"Some of the fans asked 'Why am I doing Hollyoaks after Dallas?' and I said, with a great compliment to [Hollyoaks' executive producer] Bryan [Kirkwood] because Bryan invited me over. Actors love to work - especially British actors. They do TV, panto, theatre, commercials, they just love to work.

"But yes it was no different to Dallas. You have to go through all the same procedures like sound, hair, make-up."

Hollyoaks airs weeknights at 6.30pm on Channel 4, with first look screenings at 7pm on E4.


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