Esther Bloom
Esther Bloom | |||||||||||||||||
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Hollyoaks character | |||||||||||||||||
Former; regular | |||||||||||||||||
Introduced by | Paul Marquess | ||||||||||||||||
Spin-off appearances | Hollyoaks Later (2013) | ||||||||||||||||
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Esther Bloom is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by actor Jazmine Franks. The character made her first on-screen appearance on 18 January 2011. Franks had previously auditioned for roles in the show. She did not think that she had secured the part of Esther and concentrated on her studies until she was informed. As an open lesbian, Esther is comfortable with her sexuality. Since her inception she has shared a friendship with the character Ruby Button (Anna Shaffer) but has long been subjected to her "bitchy" comments. She is characterised as having a "selfless consideration for others" despite being a "proverbial punchbag" for many characters. Esther found confidence when she decided to pursue a fashion career. Franks has said that upon doing so Esther's style also changed.
Esther's first romance is with Tilly Evans (Lucy Dixon) and through them the serial depicted a same sex kiss. Their involvement ceased when Tilly chose to remain single. In 2012, a series of storylines focused around the character were devised. Esther wins an internship with Company magazine. Off-screen the magazine's staff noticed Esther's liking of fashion and contacted Hollyoaks with the storyline idea. The character was later given a storyline focusing on effects of bullying, in which Maddie Morrison (Scarlett Bowman), Sinead O'Connor (Stephanie Davis) and Ruby tease Esther. The bullying of Esther began to worsen and the production team set up a cross-over website titled DocYou to engage the audience with Esther's story. On 11 April 2018, it was announced that Franks would be leaving the show after 7 years and Esther departed on 30 April 2018.
Casting
In January 2011, it was announced that Jazmine Franks would be joining the cast of Hollyoaks in a regular role.[1] Franks found her audition for the role "nerve-wracking" despite having previously auditioned for roles in the show. Franks and other applicants were held in a small room behind a "big black door" and she said that everyone was "petrified".[2] Franks told Daniel Kilkelly of Digital Spy that she did not hear anything for weeks after her audition. She was recalled for the part and waited another five weeks. She presumed that she was unsuccessful and decided to concentrate on her studies. But Franks was then contacted requesting that she attend hair and make-up fittings for Esther within three days.[3]
Development
Characterisation
"Forever in the shadows, Esther is loyal, self-effacing and kind. She’s endured years of being pushed around by Ruby and yet she remains tolerant and patient of all her best friend’s flightly fancies, offering sage advice and guidance along the way."
E4.comreporter on Esther's personality. (2012)
Esther is a lesbian and according to a writer from
Franks told a columnist from Inside Soap that she was not into fashion like Esther is.[2] Originally Esther's attire consisted of "many pairs of jeans and oversized jumpers". Franks did not like her character's "awful" wardrobe because the jumpers made her feel as though she was wearing a "tent" and she had a particuluar dislike of Esther's recurring pink ugg boots. She noted that once Esther took an interest in a fashion career the opportunity to wear "lots of nice clothes" arose.[2] In July 2012, Franks told Kilkelly that she did not want Esther to change because she loved how the writers had written her. She called her character "sure of herself" and noted that "she's not bothered that she stands out, she doesn't want to fit in with the sixth-formers". She was also pleased with the audience reaction to Esther, who had praised the character. Franks explained that "I think she is so real and she is like a normal teenager. She's average - she's not a cow, she's not overly nice, she's just normal and I think that's why people can relate to her a lot more."[3]
Romance with Tilly Evans
In one storyline Esther shares a holiday romance with
Internship
In June 2012, it was announced that Hollyoaks had entered a partnership with the fashion magazine
Franks explained that a "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity" that has been offered to Esther. She is both "pretty nervous" and "a little bit excited" about her internship, though happy that George accompanies her.[3] Esther always struggles to fit in no matter what she does. True to form when Esther arrives at work over-dressed and wearing jewellery, big hair and make-up "she sticks out like a sore thumb". Franks revealed that Esther and George do not start any rivalry while at work. But jealousy builds as Esther attends a fashion shoot and George is sent to a style shoot. Even with themes of jealousy prevailing in the story, the actress opined that Esther and George formed a "great team".[3] Roberts has said that George is just as grateful to have Esther on the internship because she gave him the courage. He added that the storyline was "the beginning of consolidating their friendship". Esther and George realise they share commanlities and "could be really good friends".[13]
Esther manages to ruin her experience by wearing and tearing an item of clothing needed for a fashion shoot while on a night out. Esther is forced to tell the truth about her mistake. Franks stated that her character is unable to lie and even if she did she would be caught out. "She confesses everything and it doesn't go very well" and George is not impressed. He thinks "Oh, Esther, not again! You've messed something up again!'"[3] Roberts added "Esther is still his friend, so while he's disappointed, he's not nasty about it."[13] She highlighted that things going wrong for Esther had become an established trait. A trait that was portrayed once again as she attempts to offer relationship advice for George and fellow intern Ryan (George Evans) - "it usually backfires".[3] White said that at the end of the week's episodes both Esther and George have "been on a positive journey".[12]
Bullying
In August 2012, show producer Emma Smithwick announced a "very big storyline" for Esther featuring "long-running bullying".[14] She elaborated that Esther is "the voice of reason" and she wanted to explore "what happens when the popular kid at school, slowly but surely undermines Esther's sense of self". It features themes of "social manipulation and psychological bullying" and results in Esther feeling inadequate. She added that by October 2012 Esther would "hit a pretty big low", she would be lonely and in need of friends.[14] When researching the storyline Franks met a victim of bullying which she said she found "so helpful - it has helped me a lot - but it was an awful story".[15] Esther had previously been teased by Ruby and Sinead O'Connor (Stephanie Davis). They send Amy Barnes (Ashley Slanina-Davies) love letters addressed from Esther and fool her into thinking that transgender Jason Costello (Victoria Atkin) would date her.[16][17][18] Franks later announced that the character Maddie Morrison (Scarlett Bowman) would orchestrate the bullying campaign.[19]
When Jack learns that Esther has been truanting college they have an argument. A spokesperson for the show told Susan Hill from the Daily Star that "Jack is angry when he discovers Esther has been skiving from college. Esther is in no mood to be lectured and storms out, unaware of the critical situation she’s left behind." They added that the aftermath of the scenes make a "very emotional and tense time" for the Osborne family.[20] Franks told a reporter from Inside Soap that Maddie starts rumours that Esther has a moustache because "Esther's not Maddie's favourite person since she tried to kiss her in Abersoch". Everyone believes Maddie because she is the "queen bee".[21] But after she argues with Jack who then has a heart attack, Jack's son Darren Osborne (Ashley Taylor Dawson) blames Esther, believing the stress of their argument contributed to Jack's condition. Franks explained that "the guilt hits Esther like a train". But Maddie tries to convince Esther that she is not to blame. Everyone believes Maddie to be genuine, though Esther knows that she is faking. She is pushed to "breaking point" and punches Maddie in the face. Franks noted that "it's so out of character for Esther, but she ends up punching Maddie, it's her way of saying to everyone at sixth-form college" that she is not to be messed with.[21]
But the bullying continued. As Carena Crawford from Reveal noted that Esther was having a "tough" time at college and "evil Maddie twists the knife in even further and ups her bullying antics". Esther accuses Phoebe Jackson (Mandip Gill) and the writer suggested that direction of the plot could see Esther could "end up friendless".[22] Crawford later added that after another "horrendous week [and] suffering more humiliation at the hands of nasty Maddie" - she did not think that Esther's life would become "easier".[23] Digital Spy announced that the bullying would intensify when Esther crashes a bike and reveals her underwear resulting in video footage being posted online.[24]
While Maddie and Sinead bully Esther, her friend Ruby joins in and fails to protect Esther. Shaffer told Kilkelly that the story was a great one to be involved with because bullying is "an important issue".[25] She felt that Ruby was not defending Esther because she wanted to be with "the cool kids". Ruby ultimately fears that her friendship with Esther will ruin her bond with Maddie and Sinead. Shaffer opined that Ruby acts "quite badly" and does not stand up to her friends. While Maddie and Sinead are being "bitchy and mean" to Esther, she felt that Ruby was worse because she is not preventing the bullying. The actress found it difficult to be mean to Franks character because they are good friends off-screen. But she noted that they had to remain professional and "get the job done".[25] Kilkelly later revealed that Maddie would fool Esther into thinking she has made a new friend online. They make her think she has found a dead body and grab her from behind. Esther wets herself and the sixth formers record the event.[26] In this part of the storyline Ruby feels guilty but as before she does not support Esther. Shaffer explained that Ruby goes along with their plan but is reluctant. But Ruby fails to prevent the prank and "Esther is really upset" and the bullying continues.[25]
In October 2012, producers announced a "special online project" to run alongside Esther's storyline. When
Departure
On 11 April 2018, it was announced that Franks had decided to leave the show and had already filmed her final scenes in March. The actress stated that she had enjoyed her time in the role and cited the departure of on-screen grandmother Frankie as a reason for Esther being written out.[28] Franks stated that the show's producer Bryan Kirkwood brought her departure about. He told her "look, we just think we've come to an end with Esther." She was in agreement with him because of her character's lengthy tenure and storylines.[29] Anna Shaffer reprised her role as Esther's foster sister Ruby Button for the character's exit. Esther decides to move to Spain with Ruby after Darcy Wilde (Aisling Jarrett-Gavin) poisons her and she argues with Jack.[29] Esther final scenes aired on 30 April 2018.[30]
Storylines
Esther breaks into
Esther goes to Abersoch with Ruby, Sinead and Bart McQueen and meets Tilly, who reveals that she is also a lesbian. The pair have a holiday romance and fall for each other quickly and fall for each other quickly, but break up when the holiday is over. When Sinead is hospitalized after almost drowning, Ruby forms a plan to sneak back on the bus so Jack and Frankie wouldn't find out they were there, as they lied about where they were during the week. The plan is a success and Sinead promises to keep quiet about them being there. While on their own Ruby and Esther have a heart to heart about their places in the Osborne family and comfort each other by saying even if the family doesn't fully accept them, they have each other and that's what matters. When Tilly begins attending Hollyoaks Sixth Form College, Esther goes to see Tilly. She tells a heartbroken Esther that she does not want a relationship. Esther attends a night out at a local gay bar. Tilly tries to kiss Esther, which makes her angry and she tells Tilly that she will not be used. Esther agrees to be friends with her again. Esther accidentally exposes Tilly's relationship with her teacher Jen and lies to get her out of trouble. Esther and George go to work for "Company" magazine for work experience. Esther makes a few mistakes but ends the week with a successful project. She goes to Abersoch where Maddie is annoyed by her presence. When Esther helps Maddie escape from being attacked by a man, she tells Esther that she misjudged her. Esther tries to kiss Maddie who is not interested. When Esther tells confidential information about Maddie to Tilly, Maddie starts bullying Esther. She truants college but when Jack confronts her she walks off, unaware that he has collapsed from a heart attack. She punches Maddie in the face when she goads her about Jack. Phoebe realises that Esther is being bullied and she attacks Maddie to defend Esther. Sinead and Ruby begin to join in on the bullying and Jen tries to help her resulting in Esther holding a fashion show but her dress slips off when she trip leaving her standing there naked Maddie then posts this on YouTube the next day Esther becomes lonely as the three girls play tricks on her. They post a video of Esther wetting herself online and more students mock Esther. After learning that Ruby plans to elope to Gretna Green to get married, she forces a drugged-up Bart to chase them. However, Bart begins speeding forcing Maddie who is driving the minibus to also speed up. The brakes in the stolen minivan do not work and Maddie drives the van into the wedding venue of
Esther and Tilly break up after Ruby has a heart attack at New Year because Tilly is in love with Chloe and Tilly leaves Hollyoaks with her, devastating Esther. Esther supported the Osbornes when it was revealed Sienna has kidnapped Tom and Esther seemed to be the only one to believe Nancy. During her exams in the spring/summer of 2014, she takes photos of the exam papers, but Nancy believes
Since Grace became infertile when Mercedes and Freddie Roscoe shot her with her gun; Esther agrees to be a
After a few weeks, Esther wakes up from her coma and is transferred back to Dee Valley Hospital where Jack, Frankie, Grace, Trevor and Kim all tell her different versions of what happened. Esther then tricks Grace and Trevor that she's going to hand Curtis over to them but in exchange she wants one night with him. When they go back to check later they learn that Esther has discharged herself and fled with Kim and the baby. Embarking on a car chase Trevor gets Curtis out of the car just before it gets turned over by a police car. Trevor and
Esther starts a feud with Trevor over Esther not leaving him see Curtis. Kim's sister Lindsay (Sophie Austin) who was recently revealed as the Gloved Hand Killer, witnesses the two fighting and wanting to frame Trevor for all the murders, injects Esther with potassium chloride when she is working late in The Bean. Kim finds her and calls an ambulance. Believing Trevor to be the culprit, Esther tells the police it was Trevor. Kim is arrested for the murders after being set up by Lindsay and is imprisoned. Esther and Mercedes McQueen (Jennifer Metcalfe) realise that Lindsay is the killer. Kim is released and Lindsay goes on the run. She takes Frankie hostage and tells Esther to help her escape or she will kill Frankie. Esther agrees and Lindsay goes on the run. Esther comforts Kim with Lindsay is murdered by serial killer Silas Blissett (Jeff Rawle).
Esther and Kim reconcile and decide to get married making Frankie and Grace angry. Kim believes that Esther still loves Grace and fakes a mental breakdown. Esther discovers the truth and breaks up with Kim but when Kim makes her see how much she loves her, they get back together. Frankie and Grace try and ruin the wedding but they get married anyway. Kim goes missing hours after they get married and returns a few weeks later with no explanation of where she went.
Esther and all the Osbornes had to flee the village as well as Kim as Jack had received a mysterious phone call telling him to run as someone was after him and not to trust the police. The family didn't know who was after them and was scared so they fled to Wales. They were running from Jack's niece, dirty copper,
On 31 December 2016, Esther was shot in the head accidentally by Eva and was left in a coma. Her memory was inconsistent and she had mood swings taking her bad moods out on wife Kim and grandmother Frankie, but not with Grace. Esther, not in her right mind state, asked Grace to kill Eva for what she has done to her and Grace shot Eva. Kim starts using Esther's head injury against her, desperate to save their marriage and tells Esther that Grace shot her to make her scared of Grace, however, Esther soon learns the truth. Esther attends Maxine (Nikki Sanderson) and Adam (Jimmy Essex) engagement party. She uses a video camera to record the night but Kim gets annoyed with all the fun she's having. Once they get home, Kim throws away the camera and tells Esther there was no party, confusing Esther. Esther finds the camera and confronts Kim. Kim tells her that she saw Grace at the party and that they had to leave. Esther wakes up and finds her leg in a cast and Kim tells her she fell off the city wall and broke her leg and that Grace murdered Frankie and Jack. Grace comes back to save Esther from Kim and Esther realises her leg is fine so she leaves Kim. Kim moves into the Osbornes' attic to be close to Esther. Kim stands on the city wall and threatens to jump. Esther pleads with Kim to get down and when Kim tries to get down, she slips and falls off the wall. She is taken to hospital and survives and is later sectioned.
Esther attends the Osbornes' foster daughter
One night while Esther and Grace are alone in The Bean, a gang of thugs come in with baseball bats. Esther and Grace get down on the floor and the thugs raid The Bean. Esther takes a disliking to Grace's boyfriend
Esther becomes annoyed when Jack gets together with
Esther survives and is angry at Jack for not believing her. Ruby returns and Esther decides to move to Spain to run a bar with Ruby. She decides not to tell anyone but Jack walks in on her packing. They argue, and Jack tells her he never wants to see her again, as he didn't want her to leave as she was the only person he has left for Frankie memories. Esther runs into Grace in the village and tells her that she's leaving. Grace apologises for not speaking to her and they say an emotional goodbye. Esther calls Grace her " Guardian Angel" and they kiss which is witnessed by Glenn. Esther meets up with Jack in The Bean and they have a heart to heart and Jack says she will always be family. They make one last stop to The Hutch where she says goodbye to Darren, Nancy, Tom, Charlie and Oscar. Esther and Ruby get into the taxi and they find a large sum of money. Ruby asks where did it come from and Esther looks behind her and sees Grace who blows a kiss and Esther replies "My Guardian Angel". They then leave for Spain and Esther finally gets her happy ending.
Reception
A writer from
References
- ^ Lintons (25 January 2011). "Jazmine Franks – Hollyoaks". Linton Manchester News. Archived from the original on 6 October 2011. Retrieved 3 April 2011.
- ^ Hearst Magazines UK: 52, 53. 13–19 October 2012.
- ^ Hearst Magazines UK). Retrieved 27 October 2012.
- ^ E4.com. (Channel Four Television Corporation). 10 May 2012. Archived from the originalon 23 June 2012. Retrieved 14 October 2012.
- E4.com. (Channel Four Television Corporation). Archived from the originalon 23 October 2012. Retrieved 13 October 2012.
- E4.com. (Channel Four Television Corporation). 1 May 2012. Archived from the originalon 21 November 2012. Retrieved 14 October 2012.
- Trinity Mirror). 19 June 2011. Retrieved 27 October 2012.
- ^ a b c "Interview: Scarlett Bowman, Lucy Dixon and Laurie Duncan". OK!. (Northern & Shell). 8 November 2011. Archived from the original on 5 May 2013. Retrieved 13 October 2012.
- Hearst Magazines UK: 26. 5–11 May 2012.
- ^ Hearst Magazines UK). Retrieved 20 June 2012.
- ^ "Health and Beauty Q&A with Hollyoaks' Jazmine Franks". Channel 4. (Channel Four Television Corporation). 27 June 2012. Retrieved 13 October 2012.
- ^ Hearst Magazines UK). Retrieved 27 October 2012.
- ^ Hearst Magazines UK). Retrieved 27 October 2012.
- ^ Hearst Magazines UK). Retrieved 27 October 2012.
- ^ "Oaks' Franks hurt by rude Tweet". Yahoo!. (Yahoo! Inc.). 20 November 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2012.
- Trinity Mirror). 7 May 2011. Retrieved 27 October 2012.
- Hachette Filipacchi UK). Retrieved 27 October 2012.
- Hachette Filipacchi UK). Retrieved 27 October 2012.[permanent dead link]
- Hearst Magazines UK). Retrieved 29 October 2012.
- ^ Hill, Susan (26 August 2012). "Hollyoaks: Esther Bloom row KOs Jack Osborne". Daily Star. (Northern & Shell). Archived from the original on 22 September 2012. Retrieved 14 October 2012.
- ^ Hearst Magazines UK: 26. 1–7 September 2012.
- Hearst Magazines UK). Retrieved 14 October 2012.
- Hearst Magazines UK). Retrieved 14 October 2012.
- Hearst Magazines UK). Retrieved 29 October 2012.
- ^ Hearst Magazines UK). Retrieved 29 October 2012.
- Hearst Magazines UK). Retrieved 29 October 2012.
- ^ Hearst Magazines UK). Retrieved 29 October 2012.
- Hearst Magazines UK). Retrieved 28 April 2018.
- ^ Hearst Magazines UK). Retrieved 28 April 2018.
- Hearst Magazines UK). Retrieved 28 April 2018.
- ^ "'Oaks' Jazmine: I'm no fashionista". MSN. (Microsoft). 13 October 2012. Archived from the original on 16 October 2012. Retrieved 13 October 2012.
- ^ "Who's the Best Best Friend Forever (BBFF)?". Polldaddy. (Automattic Inc). 10 May 2012. Retrieved 14 October 2012.
- Trinity Mirror). 7 July 2012. Retrieved 27 October 2012.
- Trinity Mirror). 1 September 2012. Retrieved 27 October 2012.
- Hearst Magazines UK). Archived from the originalon 9 December 2012. Retrieved 19 November 2012.
- ^ Alexander, Susannah (25 April 2018). "Hollyoaks fans can't get enough of Darcy's downfall". Digital Spy. Hearst Communications. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
External links
- Character profile Archived 2016-06-17 at the Wayback Machine at Channel4.com