Hollyoaks will begin a new transgender storyline next month as show regular Blessing Chambers reveals her secret past.

Scenes due to air in May will see Blessing confide in Tony Hutchinson (Nick Pickard) by revealing that she is a transgender woman.



Blessing was born as Tyson Delaney and has a troubled background, having spent time in a young offenders' institution before moving to Hollyoaks to start a new life.

As the new storyline begins, viewers will discover that Blessing's family are keen to track her down and have hired a private investigator to find their missing 'son'.

Modupe Adeyeye, who plays Blessing, commented: "I found researching the character of Blessing really inspiring and I hope that her story of a young trans woman who is loud and feisty and unapologetic proves to be a good role model. I hope that the people who need to be touched by her story will be."

Hollyoaks have worked with The Gender Trust and All About Trans in order to ensure a sensitive and realistic portrayal of the storyline.

Show writers have also been influenced by journalist and transgender rights activist Paris Lees, who is editor-at-large for Attitude magazine. Another inspiration has been trans actress Laverne Cox, who plays Sophia Burset in prison-based series Orange Is The New Black.



Fans will see the plot begin next week when Blessing becomes worried as the private investigator tracks her down.

Hollyoaks have previously explored a transgender storyline with the character of Jason Costello, who was played by Victoria Atkin for a year from 2010.

Paris Lees has written about her work with Hollyoaks on the storyline in the latest edition of Attitude, which is out next week and available online now.

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