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It’s the first day of filming for Freshers, but there’s no time to settle in, no chance to silently observe the crew and cast, and there’s hardly a break in play to have a breather. Why? Well, reader, I’ll tell you why – TV soap legend Alex Carter has returned to the warm bosom of the Hollyoaks family!

Yes, Alex Carter is back to reprise his role as loveable rogue Lee Hunter, the character he played from 2001-2005. Up until recently, Alex has been acting as a postman in Emmerdale, but just as his postie persona left the ITV soap, Alex began filming his first scenes for Freshers. You thought Lee Hunter was a livewire, well, I can tell you that Alex is just as frisky if not more so!

One person who’s not quite as energetic as Alex – and let’s face it, there’s not many people who are ever as energetic as Alex! – is Jessica Forrest who plays Lee Hunter’s girlfriend, Leanne. There are a few reasons why Jess isn’t quite that fresh today...

Jess’s list of woe!:

•    Jess has just been on holiday to Egypt and, due to delayed flights and what-nots, she tells me, with specific detail, that she’s only had “55 minutes worth of sleep”.
•    The sympathy for Jess increases – she’s got five bites on her legs too!
•    She was also subjected to food poisoning whilst on her jollies.

After some snooping I discover that Jess has never worked on TV before. In fact, she’s just finished her second year of a theatre course in Manchester. She is but a wee, young lass! In comparison, Alex Carter is a seasoned pro! It’s 9.26 in the morning, we’re on location in a hotel and he’s already downing the champers, or at least his character is downing the champers. Rock and roll!