| Toby Mills | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hollyoaks character | |||||||||
 | |||||||||
| Portrayed by | Henry Luxemburg | ||||||||
| Duration | 2001–2003 | ||||||||
| First appearance | 25 October 2001 | ||||||||
| Last appearance | 5 November 2003 | ||||||||
| Classification | Former; regular | ||||||||
| Introduced by | Jo Hallows | ||||||||
| Spin-off appearances | Hollyoaks: Leap of Faith | ||||||||
| |||||||||
Toby Mills is a fictional character from the British soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Henry Luxemburg. The character debuted on-screen during the episode broadcast on 25 October 2001. Toby is introduced into the series as a university student and a pub barman. He was originally characterised as a risk-taker and a loyal friend. Producers decided to transform Toby into the show's first serial killer. His murder spree plays largely into his characterisation as writers displayed his anger issues and relationship issues.
The show's production developed the serial killer plot as a mystery storyline. The killer's identity was originally concealed and Toby's true identity remained unknown to viewers. He was revealed as the killer in the show's 1000th episode and it formed the milestones main storyline. Writers focused largely on Toby's relationship with Ellie Mills (Sarah Baxendale). He continues to murder blonde haired women in secret until Ellie eventually discovers the truth. Toby later tries to kill Steph Dean (Carley Stenson) but she survives, creating the potential for Toby's crimes to be exposed. Ellie discovers Toby's murders but chooses to ignore this.
Luxemburg left the series and his departure was played out in a spin-off show titled Hollyoaks: Leap of Faith. It focused on Toby's comeuppance and death. It features a series of stunts which were performed by body doubles. Toby is run over by a car and later falls from a one-hundred foot building to his death. He made his final appearance as Toby during the episode broadcast on 5 November 2003. After his departure, Luxemburg revealed that he had never been worried about being typecast as a television serial killer. Luxemburg and Toby's stories have been nominated for two Inside Soap Awards and three British Soap Awards. Television critics have branded him the show's most prolific killer and praised his storylines.