Jacqueline Boatswain
“I’d like Simone to have another baby!”
One of the most shocking bombshells in Hollyoaks this year has been the revelation that Louis Loveday is the father of Leela’s baby son, Daniel. You could have knocked us down with a feather when we found out it was him! And we weren’t the only ones stunned by the news – actress Jacqueline Boatswain, who plays Louis’ oblivious missus Simone, was gobsmacked too.
“I literally wanted to string Louis up when I found out!” chuckles the star, as she chats to us at the end of a long day filming. “Why would he do that to Simone when they’d just got their lives back together? You’d think that he would have learned his lesson after the last time he was unfaithful, and the catastrophic repercussions that had. But no – that’s men for you!”
However, while Jacqui is fuming, Simone remains completely oblivious to her husband’s infidelity for now, believing that she and Louis are happier than ever. In fact, this week the mumof-two announces that she wants them to have another baby! That would be all well and good if Louis didn’t already have a secret sprog in the village…
What prompts Simone’s decision to have another child, Jacqui?
Simone has been taking care of Leah and Lucas, because Ryan’s not coping, and she’s really enjoying being around kids again. She remembers how much fun it is, and realises that she’s actually really good with small children. It’s only as they get older and have a mind of their own that she’s not so great!
How does Louis react when she says she wants a baby?
He’s not thrilled! Obviously we all know why – he feels guilty because he already has another child. Throwing a new baby into the mix would be too much to handle.
Do Zack and Lisa like the idea of having a younger sibling?
Lisa’s horrified! She’s a selfish madam, and the attention has been on her ever since she came back to the family. She’s Simone’s little girl, and she’s not prepared to share that with anyone. Anything smaller and cuter than her, she wouldn’t like!
The secret about Louis being Daniel’s dad is bubbling away. How will Simone react when she finds out?
Who knows? It’s so much for her to take in, and I just don’t know where their relationship would go from there. People go through awful things and come out the other side, but I can’t see Simone taking it remotely well.
Simone does want another baby, though – would she ever accept Daniel into the family?
Oh wow, now you’re talking! Simone’s such a proud person, and as much as she wanted a baby, I think she’d have to have some kind of lobotomy for that to happen! A constant reminder of Louis’ infidelity would be a slap in the face.
Would you personally like Simone to have another baby?
I would quite like that, as I think it would be lovely for people to see that soft and maternal side of Simone. As for working with a baby on set – I like babies in real life, but I’m never sure about it in a working situation. Children are completely unpredictable!
Do you feel quite protective of the Lovedays’ marriage?
Oh, absolutely. And I know from all the people that stop us in the street that they’re just desperate for us to be happy. So yeah, I’m devastated to be honest with you. I thought no matter what, Simone and Louis would sail off into the sunset. But this is Hollyoaks – no one escapes unscathed!
Have you had viewers approaching you in the street and telling you that Louis has been up to no good?
Oh, yeah! I had a woman stop me in the street the other day, telling me she’d kick Louis into touch – she was fuming about what he’s done! It’s nice that people are fighting Simone’s corner.
It’d be lovely to see Simone’s maternal side...