High Hopes is a soap opera created by Hannah in January 2013, Hannah was joined by Jaay who formed part of the production team briefly in early 2013, but later rejoined the series in August 2013 in time for Season Two.
On 21st November 2015, due to several personal committments, Hannah decided to leave Writers Express indefinitely. She hinted that 'High Hopes' would therefore be left in the hands of Jaay, meaning the future of the project is currently unknown. Two episodes marking the start of season four were published in mid-November, but were later scrapped when Hannah left. So currently, there have been three full seasons of the project.
High Hopes
High Hopes is a vibrant serial focusing on an Island community in the South of England. Season One began on January 7th 2013 and ended on June 16th 2013. Season Two began on Writer's Express on July 26th 2013 and concluded on 14th February 2014.
It was announced on October 21st 2013 that High Hopes would follow in the footsteps of fellow Writer's Express projects These Days, Uncertain Nights and The Avenue with a special scripted episode. The episode will focus on the relationships between Naomi and Cole Donovan and Olivia Kane and Matthew Fitzgerald as the Donovan's stalker causing chaos by exposing Naomi and Matthew's past.
High Hopes celebrated it's first anniverary with a bumper double on the first weekend of 2014 featuring the wedding of Olivia and Matthew. Season Two of High Hopes concluded with a shocking season finale on Friday 14th February 2014. It was announced on February 24th 2014, that High Hopes would be getting it's first ever spin off. High Hopes | A Step Back in Time will focus on the story of Matthew Fitzgerald and why he tormented ex Naomi Donovan to the point of madness. The spin off kicked off on Friday 21st March 2014 and concluded on Monday 24th March 2014. High Hopes' third season kicked off with a five night special tagged 'Trial Week' on Monday 21st April 2014. The season three finale set on Christmas Day aired on Thursday 5th February 2015 and featured scenes in London and saw the much anticipated return of Vicki Connor.
A fourth season is rumoured to be confirmed soon.
As of 5th February 2015, there have been 94 episodes of High Hopes posted on Writers Express.
For the latest news on High Hopes and Hannah's fellow projects, you can follow Hannah Productions on Twitter Hannah Productions Twitter
Formation
High Hopes was created at the beginning of 2013, drama writer Hannah was looking for a new challenge and the creation in the soap genre seemed like the perfect solution.
The show is set on a small island off the south coast of England near Portsmouth "My Nan lives about 11 miles from Portsmouth so I pretty much grew up on the south coast, this influenced my decision to base the ficticious island there. The title card is special because it is a photograph taken by myself on the beach at my Nan's" explains Hannah.
Settings
Canvey Crescent | Who Lives Here: |
---|---|
No 14 (House) |
The Spencers: Siobhan Spencer lives here with step son Anthony and daughter Emily. Siobhan's mother Katherine Lavery moved in after Siobhan lost her husband Robert. |
No 20 (House) |
The Donovans: Cole Donovan lives here with his wife Naomi, eighteen year old daughter Ava and sister in law Olivia Kane. |
No 32A (Flat) | Chloe Charles used to live here with her best friend Olivia Fitzgerald, she now lives with new flate mate Nicki Grant. |
No 32B (Flat) | David Fields lives here with his mother Eileen. |
No 34 (House) |
The Faradays: Duncan Faraday lives here with his daughter Lindsay, former daughter in law Sophia Phillips and granddaughter Mia. Lindsay moved in after her marriage break up with Daniel Hastings, while son Steven moved out after his affair was exposed to wife Sophia. |
No 36 (House) |
The Connors: Michael and Heather Connor live here with their two sons Josh and Jake. Daughter Vicki moved out in wake of her paternity reveal. |
No 42 (House) |
The Campbells: Chrissie Campbell lives here with her wife Jay Willis. |
Collison Avenue | Who Lives Here: |
---|---|
No 145 (Flat) | Empty |
No 169 (House) |
The Macey House:
Kayla Macey lives here with her foster children Kyle and Molly Campbell. She shared her home with her fiance Patrick Hale until his untimely death at Christmas. |
Palmers Street | Who Lives Here: |
---|---|
No 2 (Flat) | Natalie Hunt lives here. |
No 4 (Flat) | Steven Faraday lives here with son Alfie. |
No 10 (Flat) | Harry Campbell lives here. |
Canvey Lanes (The High Street) | |
---|---|
Owned by: Daniel Hastings Staff: Imogen Sandford (Bar Manager) Chloe Charles (Barmaid) Eileen Fields (Barmaid) Home of: Daniel Hastings, Imogen Sandford | |
Owned by: Olivia Kane (Beautician) Staff: Natalie Hunt (Nail Technician) | |
Owned by: Cole Donovan, Sophia Phillips and Lindsay Faraday Staff: Megan Donovan (Events Co-Ordinator) Nicki Grant (Barmaid) | |
Owned by: Duncan Faraday Staff: Siobhan Spencer (Manager) | |
Owned by: David Fields Staff: Anthony Spencer (Mechanic Apprentice) | |
Owned by: Duncan Faraday Staff: Katherine Lavery (Manager) Noah Donovan (Shop Assistant) | |
Canvey Comprehensive
|
Teachers: Charlotte Pope (Head) Steven Faraday (Science) Naomi Donovan (English) Students: Mia Faraday (Lower Sixth - Year 12) Kyle Campbell (Lower Sixth - Year 12) Molly Campbell (Lower Sixth - Year 12) Emily Spencer (Year 9) Jake Connor (Year 9) |
Connor Solicitors |
Heather Connor |
Patrick's Place |
Owners: Kayla Macey and Chrissie Campbell Staff: Kyle Campbell (Waiter) |
Season One
Season One of the island based soap began on Writer's Express on January 7th 2013 and concluded on June 16th 2013. Season One had twenty six cast regulars, many of which are still part of the main cast.
Season One consisted of twenty episodes, there were no major cast changes throughout the season.
Season Two
Season Two of the island based soap began on Writer's Express on July 26th 2013. Season Two began with twenty six regular characters and ended with thirty four.
High Hopes | A Step Back In Time
Special spin off A Step Back In Time is began on Friday 21st March 2014 and concluded on Monday 24th March 2014. The spin off featured four special episodes. The first episode featured a series of flashbacks which told the story of how Matthew Fitzgerald and Naomi Donovan met while the second episode saw Matthew confronted by the two women in his life. This episode was the second ever scripted episode of High Hopes. The final double episode featured a series of flashbacks of Matthew's dirty deeds on Canvey Island.
Season Three
The third season of High Hopes officially began on 21st April 2014 and kicked off with a five night special surrounding the armed robbery trial of Noah Donovan. The season three finale set on Christmas Day aired on Thursday 5th February 2015 and featured scenes in London and saw the much anticipated return of Vicki Connor.
High Hopes Cast
Present Cast:
Character | Actor | Duration | Episodes |
---|---|---|---|
Luke Roberts | 2013 - | 1x01 - | |
Christine Stephen Daly | 2013 - | 2x03 - | |
Kim Medcalf | 2013 - | 1x01 - | |
Danielle Harold | 2013 - | 1x01 - | |
Simon Rouse | 2013 - | 1x03 - | |
Gillian Taylforth | 2013 - | 1x02 - | |
William Ash | 2013 - | 1x02 - | |
Uncredited | 2014 - | 2x31 - | |
Nadine Lewington | 2013 - | 1x02 - | |
Eden Taylor-Draper | 2013 - | 1x02 - | |
TJ Ramini | 2013 - | 1x01 - | |
Claire Goose | 2013 - | 1x01 - | |
David Witts | 2013 - | 1x01 - | |
Madeline Duggan | 2013 - | 1x01 - | |
MyAnna Buring | 2013 - | 1x01 - | |
Jake Wood | 2013 - | 1x01 - | |
Orla Brady | 2013 - | 1x02 - | |
Neil McDermott | 2013 - | 1x01 - | |
Kaya Scodelario | 2013-2014, 2015- | 1x02 - 3x16, 3x35 - | |
Felix Dean | 2013 - | 1x03 - | |
Alexandra Fletcher | 2013 - | 1x01 - | |
Jamie Borthwick | 2013 - | 1x01 - | |
Harley Graham Ruby O Donnell |
2013 - 2014 2014 - |
1x01 - 3x21 3x22 - | |
Diane Parish | 2013 - | 1x02 - | |
Melanie Liburd | 2014 - | 3x32 - | |
Liz May Brice | 2013 - | 2x20 - | |
Ayden Callaghan | 2013 - | 2x06 - | |
Carl Au | 2013 - | 2x01 - | |
Katie Griffiths Sammy Oliver |
2013 - 2014 2014 - |
2x01 - 3x28 3x29 - | |
Susan McCann | 2013 - | 2x10 - | |
Allen Leech | 2013 - | 1x01 - | |
Linzey Cocker | 2013 - | 1x01 - | |
Ben Hardy | 2013 - | 2x15 - | |
Hannah Tointon | 2014 - | 2x28, 3x12 - | |
Naomi Ryan | 2014 - | 2x33 - | |
Jeremy Sheffield | 2014 - | 3x24 - | |
Declan Bennett | 2015 - | 3x36 - |
Recurring Cast:
Character | Actor | Duration | Episodes |
---|---|---|---|
Claire King | 2013 - | 1x12 - | |
Patsy Kensit | 2013 - | 2x18 - | |
Sarah Hadland | 2013 - | 2x20 - | |
Danny-Boy Hatchard | 2014 - | 3x03 - | |
Karen David | 2014 - | 3x12 - | |
Alfie Browne-Sykes | 2014 - | 3x12 - |
Past Cast:
Character | Actor | Duration | Episodes |
---|---|---|---|
Chucky Venn | 2013 | 1x02 - 2x22, 2x38 | |
Karen Hassan | 2013 - 2014 | 1x02 - 2x34, 2x38, 3x07 | |
Rupert Hill | 2013 - 2014, 2015 | 2x30 - 3x16, 3x35/36 | |
Tom Lister | 2013 - 2014 | 1x02 - 3x21 |
Guest Cast:
Character | Actor | Duration | Episodes |
---|---|---|---|
Lee Warburton | 2013 | 1x04-1x05, 2x37, 3x02 | |
Billy Murray | 2013 | 1x04-1x05, 2x37-2x38, 3x02 | |
Bronaugh Waugh | 2013 | 2x21 | |
Todd Carty | 2014 | 2x28 | |
Rudolph Walker | 2014 | 2x29 | |
Angela Wynter | 2014 | 2x29 | |
Micah Balfour | 2014 | 2x29 | |
Nina Wadia | 2014 | 2x30 - | |
Joanna Lumley | 2014 | 2x35 | |
Addy Miller | 2014 | 2x35 | |
Suzanne Shaw | 2014 | 2x35 - 2x36 | |
Kim Thomson | 2014 | 3x01 - 3x04 | |
Fletcher O'Leary | 2014 | 3x07 | |
Kaye Wragg | 2014 | 3x11 | |
Michele Dotrice | 2014 | 3x11 | |
Amanda Mealing | 2015 | 3x35 - 3x36 | |
Paul Usher | 2015 | 3x35 - 3x36 | |
Lorna Fitzgerald | 2015 | 3x35 - 3x36 | |
Scott Maslen | 2015 | 3x35 - 3x36 |
Cast Changes:
Character | Actor | Arrival/Return | Departure |
---|---|---|---|
Zahra Ahmadi | 2015 |
The High Hopes Character Appearance Count
As of: Thursday 5th February 2015 | Number of Episodes to Date: 94
Episodes | Character |
---|---|
71 Episodes | Lindsay Faraday |
68 Episodes | Olivia Kane, Daniel Hastings |
67 Episodes | Chloe Charles |
66 Episodes | |
65 Episodes | |
64 Episodes | Ava Donovan |
63 Episodes | Naomi Donovan |
62 Episodes | Siobhan Spencer |
61 Episodes | Anthony Spencer |
60 Episodes | Steven Faraday, Duncan Faraday |
59 Episodes | Cole Donovan, Megan Donovan |
58 Episodes | David Fields |
57 Episodes | Sophia Phillips |
56 Episodes | |
55 Episodes | |
54 Episodes | |
53 Episodes | Katherine Faraday |
52 Episodes | Kayla Macey, Mia Faraday |
51 Episodes | Matthew Fitzgerald (Past) |
50 Episodes | Noah Donovan |
49 Episodes | Heather Connor |
48 Episodes | Imogen Sandford |
47 Episodes | Kyle Campbell |
46 Episodes | Michael Connor |
45 Episodes | Eileen Fields |
44 Episodes | Harry Campbell |
43 Episodes | |
42 Episodes | Vicki Connor |
41 Episodes | Molly Campbell |
40 Episodes | |
39 Episodes | Tate Yorke |
38 Episodes | Michelle Fox (Past) |
37 Episodes | |
36 Episodes | |
35 Episodes | |
34 Episodes | |
33 Episodes | |
32 Episodes | |
31 Episodes | |
30 Episodes | Chrissie Campbell |
29 Episodes | |
28 Episodes | |
27 Episodes | Emily Spencer |
26 Episodes | |
25 Episodes | |
24 Episodes | Jake Connor |
23 Episodes | |
22 Episodes | |
21 Episodes | Jay Willis (Past) |
20 Episodes | |
19 Episodes | Patrick Hale (Past), Nicki Grant |
18 Episodes | |
17 Episodes | |
16 Episodes | Natalie Hunt, Luke Campbell (Past) |
15 Episodes | |
14 Episodes | Alfie Faraday (Uncredited) |
13 Episodes | |
12 Episodes | |
11 Episodes | |
10 Episodes | |
9 Episodes | Sahira Jakra (Recurring) |
8 Episodes | Alex Ellison (Recurring), James Chandler |
7 Episodes | Drew Lomax (Recurring) |
6 Episodes | |
5 Episodes | Tommy Thompson (Guest), Andrea Yorke (Recurring), Charlotte Pope (Recurring) |
4 Episodes | Adam Thompson (Guest), Carrie White (Guest) |
3 Episodes | Lauren Macey |
2 Episodes | Amina Chowdry (Guest), Grace Fitzgerald (Guest), Sophie Fitzgerald (Guest - Uncredited), Amy Fitzgerald (Guest - Uncredited), Marilyn Costello (Guest), Rick Osbourne (Guest), Alison Monroe (Guest) |
1 Episode | Rachel Fields (Guest), Derek Williams (Guest), Gareth Hale (Guest), Paulina Hale (Guest), Nathan Hale (Guest), Jennifer Kane (Guest), Gabby Yates (Guest), Val Fitzgerald (Guest), Andrew Manson (Guest), Tom McAllister |
Yet to Appear |
Awards
High Hopes is beginning to achieve recognition through the Writer's Express Awards. High Hopes has picked up an impressive 5 awards so far.
Spring WriXAs 2013
- Best Soap Male (Josh Connor)
- Best New Soap
Winter WriXAs 14
- Best Christmas Episode (2x24 'You two have murdered enough Christmas classics as it is sweetheart')
- Best Soap Plot (Patrick Hale's Death and Aftermath)
- Best Soap Scene (Noah Donovan's role in the siege is revealed to wife Megan)
Summer WriXas 2014
- Best Newcomer (Nicki Grant)
- Best Soap Male (Matthew Fitzgerald)