Sonny Flood (Hollyoaks' Josh) Interview

Hollyoaks: The Morning After The Night Before is an online drama that runs for twelve 3-4 minute episodes on e4.com/hollyoaks and through the Bebo profiles of Sasha, Josh and Dave. Throughout the four-week event, episodes will also be published on YouTube with a weekly omnibus available from iTunes.

> Find out the latest Hollyoaks spoilers.

LastBroadcast caught up with actor Sonny Flood, who plays Josh Ashworth in the show, to find out more...


Can you sum up the idea behind The Morning After The Night Before?

Basically we’re working with the Home Office to promote awareness of binge drinking.

What does Josh get upto in these episodes?

He meets a lad called Dave, who’s just been introduced on the main show, who invites him to Manchester. It’s all mostly orientated around the effects of drinking, so they’re in clubs, going to gigs, hungover, that sort of thing. There’s lots of live gigs, Josh has a bit of a run in with a roadie. There's actual bands - Go Faster are very good, they’re a local Liverpool band, I think they have an EP, they’re definitely worth checking out. There’s also a love triangle with Josh, Gilly and one of the girls - I won’t say which though!

Did you do any research into the issue of binge drinking?

Not really, as Josh only really experiences the short-term effects, not the long-term effects like liver damage or anything like that. The Home Office have a great website which has loads of information. The moral for Josh is that drinking isn’t the way for him to deal with his problems.

What was it like filming on location in Manchester and how does it compare to working in the studio?

We had three days on location in Manchester, it was great, very different. There was a bit more freedom, although not more time, but yeah, it gets you really teed up.

How intertwined with the main show are these episodes?

I’m not sure, there's bits as the current Hollyoaks cast leave and return. Obviously a main reason for Sasha being there is Warren's death, so she speaks about that quite a lot. There’s also some references, like Josh ringing home, that sort of thing.

Apart from Dave, who’s joined the main show and will be a fresher at HCC in September, do you think any of the other characters might end up in the main show at some point?

I’d hope so, as they were all good to work with. They’re mainly girls - called Gabby, Pippa and Ruby - and I think some of them would fit in, yeah, but there’s no plans at the moment.

You were in the famous Hollyoaks Hunks calendar for the first time this year, were you nervous?

You just kinda strip and get on with it really. They told me a couple of months before, but it’s strange, yeah. Standing around posing half naked isn't something I do every day!

What’s been your favourite storyline that Josh has been involved in during your time on Hollyoaks?

I’ve only had one main storyline really, the Josh and Amy storyline. Once we knew where it was headed it was good, yeah.

Do you think Josh and Amy as a couple is something that could be revisted in the future?

I don’t think so, no, they’ve tried twice now, so I think that’s all over.

Where did Fletch disappear to?!

I’ve no idea where he went actually! Fletch had the drugs storyline and left after that I think, but I’m not sure where to. I’d like to think he could come back one day. He [Sam Darbyshire] is a good mate - he’s a funny lad and a good actor.

Will we ever see Grampa Bill again?

I honestly don’t know, you’d have to ask the producer these things really. But that’d be nice, yeah, I like doing all the family stuff.

How long do you imagine you’ll stay on the show for?

As long as they’ll have me I think!


e4.com/hollyoaks

Interviewed by Will Martin on 25th June 2009.