BULLYING RACISTS SHOCK IN TV SOAP
HOLLYOAKS chiefs hope their far-right extremism storyline will show how “decent white young men” can be transformed into violent racists.
Fans of the Channel 4 soap will see Ste Hay (Kieron Richardson) introduced to a far-right group by new pal Jonny Baxter (X Factor winner Ray Quinn).
Ste does not realise he is being groomed by the gang, who have an anti-Muslim agenda. In an episode to be aired next Thursday, they launch an unprovoked and violent attack on local lad Shahid Shirani (played by Alex Williams) when he asks them to move their car.
Hollyoaks scriptwriter Jayshree Patel said: “These angry young men are the product of a world that has pushed them to the fringes of society.
“To me they are the lost boys. This is a tale of how a decent white working class young man can be lured into the murky world of organised racism.”
Impact
The show’s executive producer Bryan Kirkwood added: “This is a story about how hate and fear destroys communities.
“We have a proud history of exploring issues like self-harm and sexual abuse and we hope to engage people in an issue they have not experienced without alienating them.”
Jayshree, who co-wrote the episode, said: “The devastating impact of racism on people’s lives is a welldocumented story.
“But we wanted to look at racism from a different angle altogether and Hollyoaks have chosen to look at radicalisation through a different lens.
“Many people dismiss radicalised young men as unintelligent or uneducated and therefore ignorable, but this doesn’t help us to understand where feelings of marginalisation come from. As a teacher, I’m passionate about these boys.
“We are trying to create an understanding of how and why this journey occurs and, ultimately, we hope through this story we can encourage dialogue.” GROOMED: Ste THE school head who let London Bridge terrorist Khuram Butt teach without supervision has been banned from the profession.
Butt, below, the ringleader of the attack on June 3, 2017, taught at Eton Community School in Ilford, east London,