http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/whats-on ... t-101410391The first episode aired on 23 October 1995.
2It had a strong opening in terms of ratings - that first episode was watched by three million people in the UK.
3Although the critics were far from kind to Hollyoaks at first - that first episode was panned in the reviews - it proved incredibly popular among the teenage audience at which it was aimed.
4The cast for that debut episode included a certain Alvin Stardust - he played Greg Andersen, the village’s first pub landlord.
5The first episode also included a couple of stars who would establish themselves as household names during their time on the soap - Will Mellor and Jeremy Edwards.
6What’s more, the first episode featured one Tony Hutchinson - a stalwart of Hollyoaks, he has been on the show from the very start, and is the only original character in the 2015 cast.
7The original premise of Hollyoaks was to focus on the lives of seven particular teenagers living in the village.
8The first ever Hollyoaks scene was a montage of Kurt Benson (Jeremy Edwards’ character) on a motorbike.
9That first 30-minute episode was intended to be the start of a once-a-week run for Hollyoaks. This soon turned into twice a week, then three times, before eventually launching with its current weeknightly format in 2003.
10The cast were interviewed on ITV show This Morning ahead of the first episode being aired. A viewers’ poll named Tony as most likely to be popular with viewers - and they were bang on, since he’s still in the show 20 years later.
