Hollyoaks teen Tom Cunningham takes centre stage in one of his most surprising storylines yet next week, as he agrees to a polyamorous relationship with Harley Frater and Peri Lomax.
Harley is already in a romance with Peri, but suggests the idea after sharing a secret kiss with Tom in The Loft's office on the night of the Inspiration Ball.
Digital Spy recently caught up with Ellis Hollins, who plays Tom, to hear his thoughts on the storyline for the first time.
What can you tell us about Peri locking Tom and Harley up together?
"Peri doesn't think that Tom and Harley are getting on very well, but really it couldn't be any further from the truth. Tom and Harley like each other but they don't know how to express it, especially because Harley is with Peri.
"Peri misinterprets that awkwardness as them not liking each other, so she locks them in the office at The Loft and tries to get them to get along. Tom and Harley end up kissing and Peri nearly catches them in the act, which is a bit of a shock! That's where this new storyline starts to develop from – it's a problem they have to address."
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How does the kiss come about?
"It's a mutual thing, because Tom and Harley have been flirting a little bit. Tom tells Harley about the events that have happened to him over the years – including how the Cunningham clan have gradually been picked off over the years and he's been left with less family.
"Harley gets to see that Tom isn't this 'up-his-own-backside guy' – he's actually quite sensitive and he's been through a lot. Harley likes that side of him. Tom's had a crush on Harley for a while, so he doesn't need much persuading."
Does Tom feel guilty about going behind Peri's back?
"Yeah, he does. Especially since Peri is the mother of his daughter, so it's a betrayal. But I think Tom also feels some excitement, because he's found someone who he really likes and who likes him back.
"It's mixed emotions but mainly euphoria that he's finally found someone other than Peri, which was an eternity ago, who's interested in him. He's very happy that he's found someone."
How does Tom react when Harley suggests a polyamorous relationship?
"Tom's reaction is quite natural – for most people, it'd be one of the most unexpected things someone could ask you. Tom is thinking like a typical lad, so he's over the moon. Instead of having one girl that likes him, he has two and he can't believe his luck."
How did you feel about exploring the storyline?
"It was interesting and a very different concept to what I'm used to. It's been so much fun to film, because I'm really good friends with Ruby [O'Donnell, who plays Peri] and Mollie [Lambert, who plays Harley].
"When we were filming, it was all a laugh. If we had kissing scenes, there was no awkwardness afterwards. We're good enough friends to know that it's all fake and you don't have to be embarrassed around each other afterwards.
"It was amazing to film and it's a very diverse topic. I don't think it's been covered in as much detail as this, so it's been pretty amazing to explore."
Is this purely a physical thing, or could real emotions begin to develop between the trio?
"Tom definitely likes Harley and I think he'll grow to have an attraction to Peri as well. At first it's very physical and Tom is over the moon, but I think it does evolve into something more emotional.
"Tom is also quite a lonely boy. He moved back in with the Cunninghams, he had a good mate in Milo and that all went to pot. It's a rule of Hollyoaks that when Tom gets close to someone, they either die or leave! So I think Tom could get really attached, because it's not often he finds someone who he really likes and who he can get along with."
Do you think fans will be shocked to see Tom in this type of storyline?
"Yeah, I think so. Tom is somewhat of a quiet character who minds his own business, and now he has this 'Hugh Hefner' type of thing going on! He thinks he's all that, because he's with two girls at the same time. Tom thinks he's top dog."
In real life, you've moved out of home and in with your co-stars Malique Thompson-Dwyer (Prince) and Owen Warner (Romeo). How's that been?
"It has been an experience! It's been different – I've come from a house where I lived with my mum and my grandma, so it's mainly been a female-dominant environment. That's what I've been used to and I don't have siblings.
"Now I've gone into a house with lads my age, so it was quite a weird shift and it took me a couple of weeks to get used to it. But Malique and Owen are two of my best mates now. We're all really close and it's done us really good.
"Every day is different – whether we go out, go to the cinema or just stay in. It's been fun and we've all learned from each other."
What was it like to watch Malique on I'm A Celebrity?
"I was so happy for him. I was over the moon when I heard that he'd be on the show. I knew whether he came last or whether he won, it'd show his true colours, which is what he needed. He wants to be known for Malique and not Prince, which I think is true for everyone, really – you want to be known for yourself rather than just your character.
"I'm really, really proud of him because whatever position he came, he knocked it out of the park and I think he made several million people laugh!"
Would you do a reality show?
"For me, I'm A Celebrity is the main one. I've watched that ever since I can remember. You always wonder how you'd cope if you went in there and had to eat a spider, or live off rice and beans for three weeks, presuming you didn't get any stars. I'd be very open-minded to it."
Was it sad to see your on-screen best friend Richard Linnell (Alfie) leave recently?
"Yeah, I don't think I've ever met anyone like him. He's a fantastic person, he's full of life and he brought something different to the show. On and off screen, it was never a dull day when Richard was around. It was a very quiet day after he left.
"It was sad really, because he was like a brother to me. He played my best mate on the show, so we had to get on really well on screen. It was easy to show that, because we did in real life too. I wish we'd had more brotherly scenes, like the next Max and OB."
After being part of the cast since the age of 3, are you keen to stick around in Hollyoaks?
"I'm eager to see what else Tom can offer. You never know what Tom could do with his millions now he has his inheritance money. I'd want to stick around because I want to know what Tom is going to do with his money in the future. There are so many possibilities and different avenues that he can go down. I think there's a lot that could be done with Tom, it's just tapping into that potential."
Hollyoaks airs weeknights at 6.30pm on Channel 4, with first look screenings at 7pm on E4.
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