Diane Hutchinson (also O'Connor) is a fictional character from the
British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Alex Fletcher. In
2010, Hollyoaks series producer, Paul Marquess, embarked on the show's
rejuvenation and axed a number of cast members. To compensate for the
departures, the character of Diane and her family were created and
introduced. Fletcher's casting was announced in June 2010 and she
began filming her scenes in the same month. The actress said working
on the show is practical as she does not have to relocate. She made
her first on-screen appearance on 1 September 2010. Diane was
introduced with her husband, Rob (Gary Cargill) and stepchildren,
Sinead (Stephanie Davis) and Finn (Connor Wilkinson). The O'Connors
were one of three families introduced throughout the year.Diane is
described as a "loving wife" and a "devoted stepmum". Diane is a
little bit over the top, but Fletcher hoped that she would be quite
likeable. Diane is a marketing worker. Fletcher explained that Diane
has a great relationship with Sinead and Finn and that she did not
want Diane to be "the wicked stepmother". Diane's storylines have
mainly focused on her desperation to have her own child. She undergoes
a second round of In vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment. Fletcher
said that she really wanted to get the storyline right because it
affects so many people. She added that she feels she has a "huge
responsibility" to do the storyline justice. Diane's second round of
IVF fails and she breaks down, subsequently stealing a baby boy from
the hospital. Her other storylines have involved splitting from Rob,
coping with Sinead's erratic behaviour, protecting and defending
rapist stepson Finn, marrying Tony Hutchinson (Nick Pickard), for whom
she knew him since they were kids, giving birth to twins, the
discovery that her and Tegan Lomax's (Jessica Ellis) babies were
swapped at birth and her feud with Tegan, being secretly poisoned by
her nephew Scott Drinkwell (Ross Adams), the discovery that she had an
affair with Scott's father and caused the breakdown of his family, a
friendship with schemer Marnie Nightingale (Lysette Anthony),
inadvertently selling The Hutch to Marnie and leaving for her dream
job in France.The character went on a brief hiatus in autumn 2015.
Diane's last appearance was on 28 October 2015, however, the character
returned to screens on 2 February 2016. In March 2016, Fletcher
announced her pregnancy and that she would be taking maternity leave,
not confirming whether or not she would return to Hollyoaks after.
Fletcher filmed her exit scenes in May 2016 and Diane's exit storyline
saw her and Tony offered jobs in France in a restaurant, however when
the day arrived, Tony stayed behind to help relapsed drug addict, Ste
whilst Diane left for France. Diane's exit scenes aired on 13 July
2016. In December 2016, it was announced that Diane was to return in
the New Year with her niece Lily Drinkwell, played by Lauren McQueen.
Diane's return scenes aired on 4 January 2017. In 2018, Fletcher and
Pickard were nominated for Best Partnership at the Inside Soap
Awards.In October 2019, Hollyoaks announced that Diane would be named
as a suspect for the whodunit storyline, "Who Shot Mercedes?", where
Mercedes McQueen (Jennifer Metcalfe) is shot and left for dead by a
mystery assistant. The storyline began on 4 November 2019. It was
later found out to be Grace and James Nightingale
British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Alex Fletcher. In
2010, Hollyoaks series producer, Paul Marquess, embarked on the show's
rejuvenation and axed a number of cast members. To compensate for the
departures, the character of Diane and her family were created and
introduced. Fletcher's casting was announced in June 2010 and she
began filming her scenes in the same month. The actress said working
on the show is practical as she does not have to relocate. She made
her first on-screen appearance on 1 September 2010. Diane was
introduced with her husband, Rob (Gary Cargill) and stepchildren,
Sinead (Stephanie Davis) and Finn (Connor Wilkinson). The O'Connors
were one of three families introduced throughout the year.Diane is
described as a "loving wife" and a "devoted stepmum". Diane is a
little bit over the top, but Fletcher hoped that she would be quite
likeable. Diane is a marketing worker. Fletcher explained that Diane
has a great relationship with Sinead and Finn and that she did not
want Diane to be "the wicked stepmother". Diane's storylines have
mainly focused on her desperation to have her own child. She undergoes
a second round of In vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment. Fletcher
said that she really wanted to get the storyline right because it
affects so many people. She added that she feels she has a "huge
responsibility" to do the storyline justice. Diane's second round of
IVF fails and she breaks down, subsequently stealing a baby boy from
the hospital. Her other storylines have involved splitting from Rob,
coping with Sinead's erratic behaviour, protecting and defending
rapist stepson Finn, marrying Tony Hutchinson (Nick Pickard), for whom
she knew him since they were kids, giving birth to twins, the
discovery that her and Tegan Lomax's (Jessica Ellis) babies were
swapped at birth and her feud with Tegan, being secretly poisoned by
her nephew Scott Drinkwell (Ross Adams), the discovery that she had an
affair with Scott's father and caused the breakdown of his family, a
friendship with schemer Marnie Nightingale (Lysette Anthony),
inadvertently selling The Hutch to Marnie and leaving for her dream
job in France.The character went on a brief hiatus in autumn 2015.
Diane's last appearance was on 28 October 2015, however, the character
returned to screens on 2 February 2016. In March 2016, Fletcher
announced her pregnancy and that she would be taking maternity leave,
not confirming whether or not she would return to Hollyoaks after.
Fletcher filmed her exit scenes in May 2016 and Diane's exit storyline
saw her and Tony offered jobs in France in a restaurant, however when
the day arrived, Tony stayed behind to help relapsed drug addict, Ste
whilst Diane left for France. Diane's exit scenes aired on 13 July
2016. In December 2016, it was announced that Diane was to return in
the New Year with her niece Lily Drinkwell, played by Lauren McQueen.
Diane's return scenes aired on 4 January 2017. In 2018, Fletcher and
Pickard were nominated for Best Partnership at the Inside Soap
Awards.In October 2019, Hollyoaks announced that Diane would be named
as a suspect for the whodunit storyline, "Who Shot Mercedes?", where
Mercedes McQueen (Jennifer Metcalfe) is shot and left for dead by a
mystery assistant. The storyline began on 4 November 2019. It was
later found out to be Grace and James Nightingale
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