| Lynsey Nolan | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hollyoaks character | |||||||
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| Portrayed by | Karen Hassan | ||||||
| Duration | 2010–2013 | ||||||
| First appearance | 11 August 2010 | ||||||
| Last appearance | 19 July 2013 | ||||||
| Classification | Former; regular | ||||||
| Introduced by | Paul Marquess (2010) Bryan Kirkwood (2013) | ||||||
| Spin-off appearances | Hollyoaks Later (2008, 2010) | ||||||
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Lynsey Nolan is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Karen Hassan. The character originally appeared in the first series of the Hollyoaks spin-off Hollyoaks Later. In 2010, Hollyoaks series producer Paul Marquess asked Hassan to join Hollyoaks as part of the soap's ongoing rejuvenation, to which she agreed and the character began appearing in the main show from 11 August 2010. Hassan left Hollyoaks in 2012 when her character was killed off during a "dramatic cliffhanger" episode. To surprise the audience, the actress's exit was not announced beforehand. Hassan's final scenes were broadcast on 21 August 2012, giving viewers the "ending they were looking for".
The character's main storyline during her time on the serial featured her feud with serial killer Silas Blissett (Jeff Rawle), in which she was initially targeted by the villain. Lynsey becomes "determined to find the evidence" she needs to expose Silas, entering into a game of cat-and-mouse with the murderer, who begins trying to send her mad so no one will listen to her claims. During the conclusion of the plot, Silas sets Lynsey a "sick game" to guess his next victim or that victim will die. Silas attempts to kill Lynsey again but mistakenly kills his daughter, Heidi Costello (Kim Tiddy) leading to his arrest. The character also had brief relationships with Malachy Fisher (Glen Wallace), Gilly Roach (Anthony Quinlan) and Riley Costello (Rob Norbury). Lynsey's exit plot saw the character murdered in a whodunit storyline, with the character clashing with several characters in the run up to her exit to give them motive to kill her. Lynsey's murderer was revealed to be Dr. Paul Browning (Joseph Thompson), who had killed her to prevent her revealing that Mercedes McQueen (Jennifer Metcalfe) had stabbed herself. The character has been described by Hassan who said she is the "typical girl next door" who sees the best in people. During Lynsey's feud with Silas the character was played to show a stronger and more determined side. Hollyoaks' official website has also described the character, saying she has a "delicate exterior" but the "heart and courage of a lion".
On 9 April 2013, Hassan announced that she would return to Hollyoaks as a ghost or in a vision during a storyline involving the wedding of Doctor Browning and Mercedes McQueen which also happens to be on the first anniversary of her death.
Hassan has been nominated for various awards for her portrayal of Lynsey. Lynsey was voted Hero of the Year by fans for E4 special Hollyoaks: Best Bits of 2011 and has been both praised and criticised by the British press for the suspense built up during the Silas plot, for putting herself in danger during her feud with Silas and for the shock of her exit. Following her exit Hassan received a large number of messages on social networking site Twitter and was also praised by her Hollyoaks colleagues.