In April of this year, Channel 4’s flagship soap Hollyoaks, known for its issue-led storylines and youth skewing drama, began to highlight a common but under-recognised form of child sexual abuse, surrounding twins JJ (Ryan Mulvey) and Frankie (Isabelle Smith) Osborne.
The Osborne/Ashworth blended family have desperately tried to get to the bottom of Frankie’s spiralling behaviour, as JJ continues to stay out of trouble and excel in his football career. However, behind closed doors, JJ has been sexually abusing his sister, Frankie, and the teenage girl has kept the abuse a secret in fear of exposing her brother.
In upcoming scenes, with Darren (Ashley Taylor Dawson) no longer able to see Frankie in pain and after witnessing some concerning behaviour between her and her sibling, he pleads with his daughter to tell him what’s really been going on. With Frankie concerned that the abuse won’t stop and her brother Oscar might be in danger, she tells Darren what’s been happening over years, which is met with unwavering belief.
However, not all family members are quick to offer their support as her mum, Suzanne, denies the claims and Frankie swears her dad to secrecy.
Nancy soon finds out what’s happened when JJ confides in her, hoping he can get another family member on his side. The teacher sees through his lies. Later down the road, once the truth comes out, Pearl confides in Frankie about abuse in her family, as her sister was abused by her brother.
The well-received storyline has been heavily research-led with help and guidance from the charity SARSAS, a dedicated team of campaigners who help survivors of sexual violence.
Tanith McCulloch, SARSAS Sibling Sexual Abuse Project officer, who has been advising the Hollyoaks team on the storyline, said: “It has been a privilege working with the Hollyoaks team on this ground-breaking storyline. They really did their due-diligence and were so empathetic and respectful, wanting to give this story the justice it deserves. The team had survivors at the fore throughout every step of the process.
“It’s difficult to quantify the impact this storyline has had It has given so many survivors of sibling sexual abuse a voice, allowed them to feel seen and most importantly got society talking about this hidden form of abuse.
“Being a part of the digital campaign was one of the most fulfilling experiences of my career. Standing alongside survivors on their journey to telling their story and representing the voices of those who have felt silenced for so many years was such a privilege. The gratitude we feel to Hollyoaks for shining a light on SSA and its impacts and our pride at being involved is huge. As we continue to break down the silence that allows this form of abuse to thrive, so many survivors will no longer have to suffer alone and will know where to turn to for support.”
