Hollyoaks fans ‘marry’ on set

Hollyoaks’ biggest fans have got married on set with cast members by their side as bridesmaids and groomsmen.

This is the first time Lime Pictures’ Childwall production base in Liverpool has played host to a non-fictional wedding, with the saga feeling obliged to help Nick Arkell (35, web designer and travel news broadcaster) give his fiancée Claire Trotter the wedding day of her dreams.

Claire (34, fragrance consultant) has watched Hollyoaks from its very first screening in 1995 and tunes into the E4 ‘first look’ episode and the same episode on Channel 4 every night religiously. When the happy couple, who met as friends at school in Chester, got engaged in September 2016 and Nick asked Claire where she wanted to get married there was only one answer – ‘Hollyoaks’.

However, little did she know that when Nick organised a surprise day out to give them a break from planning their big day, he was actually bringing her to Hollyoaks to have her very own soap wedding.

“We can’t believe how much effort the team at Lime Pictures and Hollyoaks have put into making this day so special for us. We’ll remember it forever and we can’t wait to tell everyone about it at our big day.” – Nick Arkell and Claire Trotter

With Hollyoaks cast members, Rory Douglas Speed (Joel) as the priest, Jessica Ellis (Tegan) as maid of honour, Jimmy McKenna (Jack) as ‘father of the bride’ and Luke Jerdy (Jesse) playing the best man – who also interrupted proceedings to declare his love for Claire – the ceremony took place in The Dog in the Pond pub.

Anna Passey (Sienna Blake), Malique Thompson Dwyer (Prince McQueen) and Theo Graham (Hunter McQueen) were also part of the congregation alongside Bob the Chihuahua as page boy and Stevie the English Bulldog as bridesmaid.

Lime Pictures, however, do note that the ceremony wasn’t entirely official and that the super fan pair will tie the knot for real on Saturday in Chester after having the perfect rehearsal.