Hollyoaks' Richard Blackwood shares real-life link to new story

Hollyoaks star Richard Blackwood has opened up about how an upcoming storyline on the soap has a real-life link for him.

The Channel 4 soap is exploring a knife crime storyline, and Richard has revealed both he and his young son have experienced being mugged at knifepoint in their lives.

Richard, who plays Felix Westwood on the soap, was a teenager when it happened to him, and his son Keaun was only 11 years old.

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"When I was 17, I got mugged at knifepoint," he said at the Television and Radio Industries Club awards last week (via The Mirror). "Unfortunately, knife crime has been going on for years. When the knife got pulled on me, it was like a sword.

"My son also got a knife pulled on him aged 11. He had an iPhone 5 and I remember him saying to me, 'I'm going to get a cheaper phone'.

"He had to adapt to what was going on in the street and go, 'I'm going to make myself less of a target'."

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Richard added that he was "very proud" of his son for coming through the experience.

The storyline will see DeMarcus (Tomi Ade) carry a knife, mistakingly believing it will offer him protection from the bullying he has endured, when it actually sets off a series of terrible events.

During a special week of episodes starting on Friday (July 15), the show will explore the impact of this decision on DeMarcus and his family, especially focusing on his relationship with dad Felix as communication between the two breaks down.

Richard added that they have been working closely with numerous organisations to ensure the storyline is "spot on".

"We are really approaching it in a serious manner," he explained. "A lot of these young kids are going through it right now, so we want to let them know we hear them and know what they are going through."

Hollyoaks now streams first on All 4, with new episodes dropping each weekday morning. The show airs Mondays to Fridays at 6.30pm on Channel 4, and at 7pm on E4.

Selected omnibus episodes are available via Amazon Prime Video.