Meet Hollyoaks' new family, the Roscoes

Here's the first look at Hollyoaks' new family the Roscoes, who are destined to cause trouble in the village.

The new family features five boys and will be headed up by matriarch Sandy Roscoe, played by Gillian Taylforth. The Roscoe clan will debut on Hollyoaks on Channel 4 on Thursday, May 23.

Viewers have already seen young twin, trouble-maker Robbie Roscoe make his mark on the village, causing trouble at his college, while older brother Freddie has also made an appearance in Hollyoaks, flirting with Maxine. But it’s not until later in May when all five brothers will be reunited.

Single mum Sandy has a tough task, holding down her own job as a district nurse, while trying to keep control of her five sons and ensuring they keep the family business, Roscoe’s Motor Maintenance, running.

Gillian, who played Kathy Beale in EastEnders for 15 years, said: “Everyone at Hollyoaks has made all the Roscoe family members feel very welcome and I am really looking forward to the viewers seeing us all on screen for the first time, there is never a dull moment when the Roscoes are around!”

Patrick McLennan is a London-based journalist and documentary maker who has worked as a writer, sub-editor, digital editor and TV producer in the UK and New Zealand. His CV includes spells as a news producer at the BBC and TVNZ, as well as web editor for Time Inc UK. He has produced TV news and entertainment features on personalities as diverse as Nick Cave, Tom Hardy, Clive James, Jodie Marsh and Kevin Bacon and he co-produced and directed The Ponds, which has screened in UK cinemas, BBC Four and is currently available on Netflix.

An entertainment writer with a diverse taste in TV and film, he lists Seinfeld, The Sopranos, The Chase, The Thick of It and Detectorists among his favourite shows, but steers well clear of most sci-fi.