Child exploitation storyline for Hollyoaks

More trauma for Frankie having previously been abused by her brother, now she’s being exploited…

E4’s Hollyoaks will examine an increasing danger to young people who fall prey to criminal and sexual exploitation.

Hollyoaks Executive Producer Hannah Cheers:

“It is imperative that Hollyoaks is constantly talking to young people about safeguarding issues and ways in which abuse can infiltrate young lives. The audience naturally regenerates and the issues that young adults are vulnerable to are constantly evolving. Hollyoaks is in a unique position to shine a light on them, without lecturing, due to the way that the show tells stories.

“The research that we have, finds that the exploitation of young people is an insidious problem and growing concern for multi safeguarding agencies.”

The soap opera is to highlight the two most common forms of exploitation that teens in the UK are at risk of, as two young characters are groomed by a criminal gang. Best friends Frankie and Dillon will find themselves in danger when they are targeted with the offer of a lifestyle that they perceive to be glamorous.

The reality is they have been lured into world that it is difficult to escape from without intervention, where they will find themselves subject to criminal and sexual exploitation.

Lime Pictures, who produce the saga, have worked closely with Causeway – a charity that supports, empowers and creates change for survivors of modern slavery – to ensure authentic representation of the storyline. It has also been informed by the stories of real-life survivors.

Helen Ball CEO of Causeway:

“It has been a privilege for Causeway to have advised and supported Hollyoaks with the development of this storyline. It’s such a powerful way to shine a spotlight on the reality of youth exploitation in the UK, a topic that is often misunderstood.

“People can be shocked to discover how prevalent exploitation is in our communities. It’s happening in towns and cities up and down the UK, and it can take many different forms, with many different people affected. Men, women, adults and children can all find themselves trapped in exploitative situations.”

The upcoming storyline features character Frankie Osborne, a survivor of Sibling Sexual Abuse (SSA). The abuse Frankie recently suffered at the hands of her twin brother JJ has inevitably had a lasting effect on the teenager and left her vulnerable to grooming.

Last year Hollyoaks highlighted a common but under-recognised form of child sexual abuse, in a storyline focusing on twins Jack Junior (JJ) and Frankie Osborne.

Fellow resident teenager, Dillon, hasn’t had an easy time exploring his sexuality and has faced his fair share of hardships without the guidance of his parents.

In recent episodes the audience has observed underworld figure Rex take an interest in Dillon. Wanting to gain Dillon’s trust and move him away from his family, Rex gifts the teenager a home, and over time, manipulation leads them to dealing drugs on behalf of Rex. Later, for Frankie and Dillon this will lead to them being sexually exploited.

Research shows that once someone feels emotionally attached to their groomer, they will carry out the tasks asked of them, such as shoplifting or delivering drugs. Once involved, they will feel unable to leave due to fear of arrest or reprisal from the gang.

Real life survivor Emily Vaughn was forced as a teenager into sexual exploitation after being groomed by older men and encouraged to form a dependency on drugs.

“Being involved in helping to develop the exploitation storyline with Hollyoaks and using my own lived experience to help form part of their research, provided an opportunity to amplify the voices of survivors that often go unheard. Hollyoaks have been fantastic taking these personal narratives from survivors, and transforming them into a powerful, authentic and sensitive storyline. I hope this story will shed light on the harsh realities of modern grooming, whilst inspiring hope and resilience for survivors everywhere.”

Helen Ball CEO of Causeway:

“Criminal exploitation and sexual exploitation are two of the most common forms of modern slavery in the UK, and the two which this storyline will be featuring. It’s historically been rare for survivors of criminal and sexual exploitation to have their stories told and experiences reflected at a mainstream level, and so we’re grateful to Hollyoaks for their commitment and passion for telling this story sensitively and authentically.

“As well as raising much-needed awareness around exploitation, we hope it will build greater allyship, care, support and understanding for the brave survivors who have experienced, or are currently experiencing, these awful crimes.”

The latest storyline follows on from 2024’s Jack Junior (JJ) and Frankie Osborne sexual abuse plot

What are signs that child exploitation is taking place? Does a child have money or expensive items they couldn’t usually afford? Are they hanging around with a new group of older friends, and becoming isolated from old friendships or family?

Do they seem scared of someone, or a group of people? Are they hanging around with older adults, or do they have a new older partner? Is a young girl pregnant? Is a young person showing signs of oversexualised or inappropriate sexual behaviour for their age? Or always travelling to another town? Are they out late at night, or disappearing for days at a time?

If a young person has arrived in the UK to live with a family that isn’t their own, are they registered with a GP and school? Do they spend a lot of time doing chores in the home, or looking after younger children?

Child exploitation is a criminal offence that falls under The Modern Slavery Act 2015 which consolidated existing offences relating to slavery, servitude, forced labour and human trafficking, into the crime of ‘Modern Slavery.’

Modern slavery can take many forms, including forced labour, debt bondage, criminal exploitation, sexual exploitation, forced marriage and organ harvesting.  ‘Forced Labour’, ‘Criminal Exploitation’ and ‘Sexual Exploitation’ are the three most commons forms of modern slavery in the UK.

Helen Ball CEO of Causeway:

“Frankie, post-trial is on a journey of rebuilding her life and that must be filled with hope and potential, but also reality. With the trauma that Frankie’s been through, there’s a lot to navigate in life… She has this incredibly strong bond with Darren and Nancy now, however, her understanding and experience of trust is still one that needs to be worked out.

“We test the relationship between Frankie and Darren and the way that Frankie copes with that is we will see her try to make a go of it on her own and end up potentially in danger. Her best friend Dillon has also experienced a difficult upbringing, from being ostracised from his family home at 15 for being expelled, leaving him estranged from his parents, to becoming a teenage dad last year. Challenging upbringings make young people more susceptible to grooming.

“We want this story to shed a light on a very real problem that manifests in different ways for different individuals as we will see through the eyes of best friends.”