Callum Kane

On 25 August 2011, Rebecca Davies from Digital Spy announced that Callum Kane would be introduced to Hollyoaks, along with five new regular characters. Channel 4 released a promotional video of the new characters spraying each other with paints and dancing around a studio. Duncan received the role of Callum a few months after he appeared in an episode of Law & Order: UK. He said he was enjoying working on set and had made some good friends. ==Development==

Characterisation A writer for the official Hollyoaks website said Callum was both loyal and compassionate. He would always help out someone in need and tries to do the right thing. The writer observed that Callum was moody, clever and "a little bit gloomy." Callum does not care what anyone else thinks. He does not enjoy socialising or being perceived as a cool guy. Callum often prefers to spend his time reading and watching European cinema. When asked if Callum was similar to him, Duncan replied that he talks all the time, whilst Callum prefers to be quiet. Family Callum was the first member of the Kane family to arrive on-screen. His older sister, Ash (Holly Weston), was introduced a couple of weeks later. Duncan stated that Callum loved his sister and although he would not admit it, she was probably his best friend. He added that Ash had helped him out a lot over the years. Smithwick explained that this involved expanding the family, by bringing in some "satellite family members" and characters to facilitate it. The storyline also revealed that Martha suffered with an alcohol problem. Without Ash around, Callum had to deal with Martha, which proved to be difficult. Callum became so fed up with his mother's drinking that he locked her in a cupboard, which led to his arrest. After attending a support group for teenager's with alcoholic parents, Callum became frustrated that Ash did not believe their mother had a drinking problem. Duncan explained that Ash was in denial because she had not been at home to see bad things were and how much Callum was struggling. When Martha covers Ash's shift at the local nightclub, she supplies Lacey and her friend with alcohol, while drinking herself. After Callum saw the CCTV footage, he fought with Ash, got drunk and locked Martha in a cupboard. When Ally threw Martha out of her house, Callum asked George to help him find some "dirt" on Ally and they find two letters addressed to a "Dave Burns" - who turned out to be Ally. Callum later discovered that George was squatting due to being homeless. Callum agreed to keep George's secret, but he became "increasingly concerned" about George and his health. During a night out, Maddie tries to make Callum jealous by flirting with Joel Dexter (Andrew Still), but when her evening ended badly, Callum came to her rescue and they ended up sharing their first kiss. Smithwick also thought Callum and Maddie had good chemistry together, which is why they came to the forefront more than other characters. Bowman reckoned Callum was "really good" for Maddie and his personality helped ground her. The actress also thought her character could learn a lot from Callum, who she was "really into". During the beginning of Callum and Maddie's relationship, Maddie imposed a three-month sex ban, which Callum agreed to. When the three months was up, Maddie became uncomfortable and avoided being alone with Callum. Bowman told Sugar's Lauren Franklin, "She's so into him but really worried she'll disappoint." The storyline started when Callum discovered that his family were facing eviction and needed three months worth of rent. When he learned Robbie Roscoe (Charlie Wernham) and Finn O'Connor (Keith Rice) were planning to take the shop's takings, he decided to join in. The character was killed off as part of a "cast cull", which coincided with the show's 18th anniversary celebrations. A behind the scenes video featuring the filming of Callum's exit was later released by Channel 4. ==Storylines==

Callum first appears where he starts Hollyoaks sixth form college, he is seen as quiet and weird. He later meets Maddie Morrison (Scarlett Bowman), and he partners up with her to work on a project. Maddie soon develops feelings for Callum and they show their affections for each other by insulting one another. During a night out Callum spots Maddie with Joel Dexter (Andrew Still) and is jealous, after Maddie has a row with Joel, Callum walked her home where they later kissed each other, but Maddie ignored him the next day. Maddie tells Tilly Evans (Lucy Dixon) and George Smith (Steven Roberts) about the night and they later attempt to set them up by locking them together in the stock room they begin talking to each other and become good friends. The next day, Callum and Maddie get into a taxi and skip college and go on a date to the park and go cloud watching, they get on well until Callum talks nasty about Maddie's friends Tilly and George. They have another argument, but later make up once they arrive back. Callum later decides to end his relationship with Maddie. Callum struggles to cope when his mother, Martha (Carli Norris) drinking causes her to behave erratically. He tells her that she has to stop drinking or she may lose her the support of her family. She carries on drinking and Callum decides to get drunk too. He smashes his living room up, pushes Ash over and is arrested. He blames Martha and she promises to stop drinking. He manages to convince Martha to seek help but she soon begins drinking again. Callum takes a dislike to Ash's new boyfriend Ally Gorman (Daniel O'Connor) and tries to find more information about him. He discovers that he had been in a relationship with numerous women under a different identity. When Callum sets Ally up so Ash knows the truth, Ally talks his way out of the predicament. Callum becomes reluctant to let Martha back into his life after they evicted her from her own home. He attends a support group for children of alcoholics and listens to Martha's story. When Maddie is killed in a mini bus crash, Callum attends her funeral and tells his mum he will lay some flowers down by her grave. A week later, Callum finds out about his sister, Lacey's secret romance with Ally. This angers Callum making him hit Ally and get angry with Lacey. Following Ally's arrest for fraud, Callum and his sisters agree that their mum can come back and live with them. In March 2013, headmaster Patrick Blake (Jeremy Sheffield) assign new student Robbie Roscoe (Charlie Wernham) to Callum's guidance, but they both discover he is trouble. Callum, in need for money to pay their rent, agrees to rob Price Slice with Robbie and Finn O'Connor (Keith Rice) but changes his mind. The robbery goes ahead but as Callum tries to stop it he is shot in the leg. In hospital he flatlines but is revived. Callum begins a relationship with Holly Cunningham (Wallis Day), to the anger of her mum - Cindy and upset of Jason Roscoe, Holly's friend. In October 2013, Callum goes with Jade Hedy (Lucy Gape), Holly, Tilly and Esther Bloom (Jazmine Franks) to Jade's uncle's countryside house for Esther's 18th birthday. While there, Jade is shown to have a killer streak and later attempts to kill Esther. Callum tries saving her but Jade kills him when she stabs him in the back with a samaurai sword. Jade later accidentally stabs herself while in a fight with Esther and Tilly and dies. A few days later, Callum's sister Ash is killed in an explosion in Hollyoaks village. ==Reception==

A writer for the show's official website stated "He's tall, he's dark, he's arrogant, he's maddeningly enigmatic. All in all, Callum's a dreamboat. But what exactly is he keeping under that proverbial hat?" Morgan did not think "Caddie" should work because "she's the blonde queen bee worshipped by her adoring posse, and he's the dark brooding intellect sat in the corner with head stuck in a poetry book. But it does work, and what's more, it's hot!" He continued "Callum and George's scenes are very sweet, and I like that Callum has done so much to boost George's self confidence and looks out for him." After Martha lost her job, Morgan thought Callum could "kiss goodbye" to his dreams of studying abroad. Rebecca Bowden from Yahoo! commented that during his final episodes Callum acted "like an absolute idiot" and it made her start to hate him, citing Callum's reaction to Holly's ordeal and his lack of care for others as her reason for this, although she added that Callum had never been a favourite character of hers. Bowden felt that Callum's death was a shock, noting that the graphic nature would not have suited the pre-watershed main show. She added that she was glad to see Callum die a hero, although she thought that during the series he "lost his personality for a little while". ==References==