Hollyoaks spoilers follow.
Hollyoaks newcomer Tyler Conti has opened up on joining the soap as Joel Dexter's half-brother Abe.
Abe, who's in a relationship with Cleo McQueen, will make his debut in the village, introducing himself to Leela Lomax as Joel's younger brother. The new character will wreak havoc in the village, calling out Cleo for giving an ultimatum to Joel and asking him to decide between her and his new girlfriend Leela.
Speaking about the relationship between Abe and his half-brother, Conti said his character is "completely jealous" of Joel.
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"I know Joel went away to young offenders from the age of 15, so they don't have much history," Conti told Digital Spy and other media. "I think deep down, he wouldn't like to admit it, but Abe is completely jealous of him.
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"Joel got away from the abuse of his mum and his step-dad. Joel makes it out like he didn't have a family, he was left by himself, but Abe sees it like that was his escape, and Abe never got that."
The actor explained that Abe's relationship with Cleo can be read as an escape from his family as well as an attempt to emulate Joel.
"I think that ties in with Cleo, an ex-girlfriend of Joel's. Abe sees Cleo as an escape from his family - he thinks maybe this is his way out. He's made that into 'I love Cleo so much', which I do think he believes."
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Conti also touched upon working with Rory Douglas-Speed, Nadine Mulkerrin and former EastEnders star Rita Simons, who play Joel, Nadine and Joel and Abe's mother Marie, respectively.
"I feel so so lucky to be put with them," Conti said, calling Simons "an iconic soap star".
He continued: "Nadine first of all is amazing, she's helped me since being cast as Abe. She was messaging me on Instagram and feeding me all the information I needed to know and she's just amazing to work with."
"Rory's an absolute delight, what an absolute gent. I just feel so lucky to have him as a brother. I feel like I look to him as a brother as well, so it's really nice. Then to be put with Rita, she's from my hometown. It's like a bit of home has come, she reminds me of my family so much. She's mental, but we get on so well. It's just a real nice family network there. I don't come from a soap background so I feel very well held."
Hollyoaks streams first online via Channel 4 each weekday at 7.30pm. Episodes then air on E4 the following day, before getting their YouTube premiere a week after that.
Selected omnibus episodes are available via Prime Video.
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