Pete Buchanan
Pete Buchanan is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Kai Owen.[1] Since Pete's arrival he has been involved in the sex abuse plot within the McQueen family. He made his first appearance on 2 June 2015 and he left the series on 29 June 2016. On 21 September 2018, it was announced that Pete would return for a guest stint. [2]
| Pete Buchanan | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Hollyoaks character | |||||||
| Portrayed by | Kai Owen | ||||||
| Duration | 2015–2016, 2018 | ||||||
| First appearance | 2 June 2015 | ||||||
| Last appearance | 12 October 2018 | ||||||
| Introduced by | Bryan Kirkwood (2015, 2018) | ||||||
| Classification | Former; regular | ||||||
| Profile | |||||||
| Occupation | Builder | ||||||
| Home | Prison | ||||||
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Creation and development
The concept and name of the character was announced on 8 April 2015,[3] while additional details such as casting was announced on 10 April 2015. Pete is Reenie McQueen's (Zöe Lucker) ex-boyfriend, it is revealed that he sexually assaulted Porsche McQueen (Twinnie Lee Moore) when she was 15 years old and subjected her younger sisters, Celine (Sarah George) and Cleo (Nadine Rose Mulkerrin), to varying levels of abuse. Pete is portrayed as "charming and deceptive" as well as "a nice guy" and as such he was able to convince Reenie that Porsche propositioned him at the time of the event.
Sexual abuse storyline
It was announced in April 2015 that the McQueen family were going to be centre to a sexual abuse storyline. Hollyoaks were working with the NSPCC with the storyline. The NSPCC said "We've teamed-up with Hollyoaks to highlight the most common form of child sexual abuse with the aim of assisting young victims to find help and support"[4]
In early October 2015, it was announced that Pete would face a trial for sexually abusing the McQueen girls.[5]
On 27 November 2015, it was announced that Pete would have Cleo go and hide a key to a lock-up that has photos of him and her but she will find out there is also photos of Jade Albright (Kassius Nelson).[6]
Storylines
Porsche tells Phoebe about how her mother, Reenie (Zöe Lucker), was always better when Pete was around, but one night after Reenie came home drunk, Pete sexually assaulted her. It can also be noted that Reenie didn't believe Porsche when she was told about Pete's inappropriate behavior. On the day of Phoebe McQueen's (Mandip Gill) funeral, it was revealed that Pete had been molesting Cleo for years.[7]
Pete makes his first appearance on 2 June. Porsche emotionally reveals to her family that when she was 15, Pete sexually abused her. Pete claims that Porsche kissed him, but that he rebuffed her advances. Subsequently, nobody believes that Porsche was abused. Pete begins to sexually abuse and groom Porsche's younger sister Cleo after his arrival; although it is implied that he has been doing so for some time before this. When Cleo refuses to continue her "relationship" with him, Pete leaves Reenie, knowing that this will cause Reenie's drinking to spiral out of control. Subsequently, Cleo begs for him to return and he does so on the understanding that she will go along with what he wants. Upon his return he proposes to Reenie, but privately tells Cleo that this is so he can be closer to Cleo. Pete grows extremely jealous of Cleo's relationship with her boyfriend, Harry, even persuading Jack Osborne (Jimmy McKenna) to rethink his decision of letting Cleo work for him during the summer. To prevent Cleo from going to see Harry, Pete has sex with Cleo.[8] At some point Pete doesn't use a condom when having sex with Cleo and she has to go to the sexual health clinic, which infuriates Porsche, Cleo lies and says she slept with Harry. Later that evening, Reenie and Pete buy Cleo birth control pills.
Weeks later, Pete meets Jade Albright (Kassius Nelson), who is being fostered by the Osborne family, Pete helps Jade with her schoolwork and gives her a phone so he can start grooming her. Cleo later notices how Pete is acting with Jade and threatens to expose their relationship to Reenie. On the week of Pete and Reenie's wedding, Cleo is ready to expose her and Pete's relationship with Reenie when Pete makes Cleo believe that Reenie has terminal breast cancer. After Cleo learns this is a lie she confronts Cleo again and he calls her a "lying bitch". Soon after Harry learns of the secret relationship and exposes it to the McQueen family at the wedding. Porsche then lets her anger out at Pete and Cleo storms off while John Paul McQueen (James Sutton) threatens to kill Pete. The next day, Jade asks Pete to give her a lift to an old foster home when she believes the Osbornes' do not want her anymore. Sonia manages to get a message to Jade about Pete being a pervert and Jade bashes a car door on him. Later, Pete is knocked down by Darren Osborne's (Ashley Taylor Dawson) taxi. The next day, it is revealed that Reenie ran Pete over and he threatens to tell the truth if she doesn't stop pushing Cleo to make a statement to the police.
At Christmas, Pete is spying on the McQueen's where he knows Reenie is on the run, he phones the police as she is planning to leave with Porsche. A few weeks later, Pete sends Cleo a text asking to meet up and she goes not realising it is him. Cleo tells Pete that she doesn't want anything to do with him anymore. Pete then tries to get a job from Nathan Nightingale (Jared Garfield). Harry confronts Pete for being at the pub working and Pete pretends that Harry attacked him and Jason Roscoe arrests Harry. During the trial, Pete feigned innocence, and it begins to look as if he will go free. However, Cleo takes the stand for a second time and describes what he did to her. Pete is found guilty by the jury; as he is led away to jail, he yells abuse at the McQueen family.
In October 2018, Pete returns when he is visited in prison by Joel Dexter (Rory Douglas-Speed). He informs Pete about Cleo's heart attack. Joel warns Pete to stay away from Cleo and blames Pete for Cleo's purging, but Pete tells him that it is Joel's fault. Joel beats up Pete and leaves.
Reception
When announcing that Pete would stand trial for his crimes, Metro described Pete as "sinister". It was said that "fans watched in horror" when Cleo kissed Pete for the first time on-screen. Metro noted that Pete had "weaved a tangled, sinister and destructive web over many months", and has called Pete "sinister and sly" in an article.[9]
Kai Owen has been nominated for his portrayal of Pete in the long list for Best Actor in the Inside Soap Awards.[10]
References
- Kilkelly, Daniel (24 May 2015). "EastEnders newbie, Corrie reveal, Emmerdale horror, Hollyoaks turmoil". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines UK. Retrieved 24 May 2015.
- http://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/hollyoaks/news/a866734/hollyoaks-spoilers-pete-buchanan-return-cleo-mcqueen-bulimia-story/
- Kilkelly, Daniel (8 April 2015). "Hollyoaks announces child sex abuse storyline for McQueen family". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines UK. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
- "Child sexual abuse within the family features in latest Hollyoaks storyline". NSPCC. 8 April 2015. Retrieved 29 November 2015.
- Lindsay, Duncan (2 October 2015). "Hollyoaks spoilers: Paedophile Pete Buchanan for child sex abuse trial". Metro. Retrieved 29 November 2015.
- Dainty, Sophie (27 November 2015). "Hollyoaks spoilers: Cleo McQueen will realise the truth about Pete after Reenie is arrested". Digital Spy. Retrieved 29 November 2015.
- Lindsay, Duncan (13 August 2015). "Hollyoaks spoilers: Paedophile storyline involving Pete Buchanan to 'end in the right way'". Metro. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
- Kilkelly, Daniel (10 April 2015). "Hollyoaks casts Torchwood star Kai Owen as abuser Pete". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines UK. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
- Lindsay, Duncan (11 January 2016). "Hollyoaks spoilers: paedophile Pete buchanan closes in on Cleo again". Metro. Retrieved 27 January 2016.
- Sandwell, Ian (21 June 2016). "Inside Soap Awards 2016 longlist revealed: Which of your soap favourites are up for prizes?". Digital Spy. Retrieved 28 June 2016.