Leo Valentine is a fictional character from the

British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. * British national identity, the characteristics of British people and culture ...

Channel 4 Channel 4 is a British free-to-air public broadcast television channel owned and operated by Channel Four Television Corporation. It is state-owned enterprise, publicly owned but, unlike the BBC, it receives no public funding and is funded en ...

soap opera A soap opera (also called a daytime drama or soap) is a genre of a long-running radio or television Serial (radio and television), serial, frequently characterized by melodrama, ensemble casts, and sentimentality. The term ''soap opera'' originat ...

Hollyoaks ''Hollyoaks'' is a British soap opera which originally began airing on Channel 4 on 23 October 1995. It was created by Phil Redmond, who had previously conceived the soap opera ''Brookside (TV series), Brookside''. From 2005 to 2023, episodes h ...

'', played by Brian Bovell. He made his first appearance in July 2006. The character was axed in 2010 and made his last appearance that August.

Development

In March 2010, it was announced that Leo was one of 16 characters to be axed from the show; he left in August 2010.

Storylines

Leo arrives in Hollyoaks to look after his children after their mother, Diane Valentine's (Pauline Black) death. Leo begins a casual sexual relationship with

Myra McQueen Myra McQueen is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera ''Hollyoaks'', played by Nicole Barber-Lane. She made her first screen appearance during episode 1796, originally broadcast on 12 June 2006 and was introduced by produc ...

(

Nicole Barber-Lane Nicole Barber-Lane is an English actress. She is best known for portraying the role of Myra McQueen in the Channel 4 soap opera ''Hollyoaks'' (2006–2019, 2024–2025). Career Before working in ''Hollyoaks'', Barber-Lane appeared in ''Emmerda ...

). Leo is disappointed when his son

Sonny Valentine Sonny Valentine is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera ''Hollyoaks'', played by Aaron Fontaine. The role was initially played by Devon Anderson until 2007 when producer Bryan Kirkwood fired Anderson. In 2014, the role wa ...

(

Devon Anderson Devon Carlo Anderson (born 25 August 1987) is an English actor. Anderson's roles include Billie Jackson in ''EastEnders'' and Sonny Valentine in ''Hollyoaks''. Early life Anderson was born on 25 August 1987 in London. Acting career Anderso ...

) leaves home to live with his aunt. On 6 September 2007, Leo's former girlfriend, Valerie Holden (

Samantha Giles Samantha Elizabeth Giles (born 2 July 1971) is an English actress and author. She is best known for portraying the role of Bernice Blackstock in the ITV (TV channel), ITV soap opera ''Emmerdale''. She had also portrayed Sally Boothe in the ITV ...

), turns up with his illegitimate children

Danny Danny is a masculine given name. It is related to and short for the male name Daniel.🖾🖾 People *Danny Altmann, British immunologist * Danny Antonucci, Canadian animator, director, producer, and writer * Danny Baker (born 1957), English j ...

(

David Judge David Judge may refer to: * David Judge (actor) (born 1983), English actor * David Judge (field hockey) (1936–2015), Irish field hockey international * David Judge (political scientist) Professor David Judge (born 22 May 1950), is a British ...

) and

Lauren Valentine Lauren Valentine is a fictional character from the Television in the United Kingdom, British Channel 4 soap opera ''Hollyoaks'', played by Dominique Jackson (British actress), Dominique Jackson. First appearing in 2007, Lauren was written out of ...

( Dominique Jackson). Valerie leaves her children with Leo and leaves for abroad. Leo's other children

Calvin Calvin may refer to: Names * Calvin (given name) ** Particularly Calvin Coolidge, 30th President of the United States * Calvin (surname) ** Particularly John Calvin, theologian Places In the United States * Calvin, Arkansas, a hamlet * Calvin T ...

(

Ricky Whittle Richard George Whittle (born 31 December 1979) is a British actor. Whittle first came to prominence as a model for Reebok in the early 2000s. He is known in the United Kingdom for his role as Calvin Valentine in the soap opera ''Hollyoaks''. ...

) and Sasha (

Nathalie Emmanuel Nathalie Joanne Emmanuel (born 2 March 1989) is a British actress. Emmanuel began her acting career appearing in theatre in the late 1990s, acquiring roles in various West End theatre, West End productions such as the Musical theatre, musical ' ...

) are horrified to discover their father cheated on their mother and that they have two more siblings. A year later, Valerie returns and begins a short relationship with Leo until she kisses Calvin and leaves. In 2009, after

Warren Fox Warren Fox is a fictional character from the British soap opera ''Hollyoaks'', portrayed by Jamie Lomas. The character and casting were announced on 12 May 2006, and Warren made his first appearance on 26 June. He was introduced as an old acqua ...

's (

Jamie Lomas James Lomas (born 21 April 1975) is an English actor, known for his soap opera roles as Warren Fox in ''Hollyoaks'' and Jake Stone in ''EastEnders''. Early life Jamie Lomas was born on 21 April 1975 in Manchester. Career Before joining ''Ho ...

) death, his foster brother

Spencer Gray Spencer Gray is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera ''Hollyoaks'', played by Darren John Langford. The character first appeared on screen in December 2008. He initially appeared as the foster brother of Warren Fox, tur ...

(

Darren John Langford Darren John Langford (born 1 April 1984) is a British actor who is best known for playing the mentally disabled character Spencer Gray in the long-running Channel 4 soap opera ''Hollyoaks''. Langford left Hollyoaks in late 2010. Early life and e ...

) moves in with the Valentines. Leo dislikes Spencer's unruly attitude and tries to convince Calvin to put him in a care home where he can be properly looked after. Calvin eventually does so. Leo discovers that Calvin left Warren to die and is forced to kick him out due to Sasha's upset over the situation. However, things get worse when Leo then discovers that Lauren is pregnant, unaware that she had lied to Spencer in order to con him out of his inheritance. Leo threatens Lauren's boyfriend

Gaz Bennett Gaz Bennett is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera ''Hollyoaks'', played by Joel Goonan. He debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 25 November 2008. Goonan took a break from filming during 2010, and returned on-scr ...

(

Joel Goonan Joel Benjamin Goonan (born 2 September 1989) is a British actor from Manchester, England, best known for his role as the villainous Gaz Bennett in the Channel 4 soap opera ''Hollyoaks''. Goonan had guest roles in '' Waterloo Road'', '' Doctors' ...

) when it appears he is the father. Lauren then admits she made up the pregnancy. Calvin is shot dead by

Theresa McQueen Theresa McQueen is a fictional character from the Television in the United Kingdom, British Channel 4 soap opera ''Hollyoaks'', played by Jorgie Porter. She made her first appearance on 24 November 2008. The character was introduced as an extensio ...

(

Jorgie Porter Jorgina Alexandra Porter (born 25 December 1987) is an English actress and model. She is known for portraying the role of Theresa McQueen in the Channel 4 soap opera ''Hollyoaks'' from 2008 until 2016 and again from 2020. Early life Jorgina Ale ...

) on his wedding day, and Leo is devastated. To make matters worse, Lauren collapses and falls down the stairs at The Loft during an argument with Sasha about her scheme to fleece Spencer out of his inheritance. When she is admitted to hospital, it is revealed that she is suffering from a life-threatening blood clot. Valerie then returns to take her back to Spain with her. Lauren decides to move to Spain as Leo gets a job in London. Lauren then realises how much her father will miss her, so she decides to stay with him. A goodbye party is held for the Valentines, as Lauren, Valerie and Spencer all announce they are also coming to London. The Valentines then leave in August 2010. In July 2014, Sonny (now played by Aaron Fontaine) informs his current fiancée

Carmel McQueen Carmel Valentine (also McQueen) is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera ''Hollyoaks'', played by Gemma Merna. She debuted on-screen during episodes airing on 22 August 2006 and was introduced by series producer Bryan Kir ...

(

Gemma Merna Gemma Merna (born 6 February 1984) is an English actress and model. She is best known for portraying Carmel McQueen in the Channel 4 soap opera, ''Hollyoaks'' from 2006 to 2014. Career Merna joined the cast of the Channel 4 soap opera ''Hollyo ...

) that Leo has provided him with a financial deposit for the two of them to purchase a household of their own in the village.

Reception

Gareth McLean of ''

Radio Times ''Radio Times'' is a British weekly listings magazine devoted to television and radio programme schedules, with other features such as interviews, film reviews and lifestyle items. Founded in September 1923 by John Reith, then general manage ...

'' has branded Leo as useless. A writer from ''

Inside Soap ''Inside Soap'' is a weekly soap opera and television listings magazine published in the United Kingdom. The magazine is currently released every Tuesday. It covers storylines featured in British and Australian soap operas that are broadcast in t ...

'' called Leo a "disgraced dad". In 2008, ''

BBC News BBC News is an operational business division of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) responsible for the gathering and broadcasting of news and current affairs in the UK and around the world. The department is the world's largest broad ...

'' noted how healthcare firm Bupa placed Leo on their list of the ten unhealthiest soap opera characters due to him consuming "too much alcohol", with the Bupa believing that he and the other characters should "hammer home health messages" by showing the consequences of the unhealthy lifestyle.

References

External links

Leo Valentine
on th

{{DEFAULTSORT:Valentine, Leo Television characters introduced in 2006 Hollyoaks characters Fictional gamblers Fictional Black British people Fictional Caribbean people British male characters in soap operas Fictional people from London