Frankie Osborne (Hollyoaks)

This article is about the Hollyoaks character introduced in 2011. For the Hollyoaks character introduced in 2002, see Frankie Osborne.

Frankie Osborne
Hollyoaks character
Portrayed by	Lexi (2011) Isabelle Smith (2024–present)
Duration	2011, 2024–present
First appearance	Episode 3000 21 January 2011 (2011-01-21)
Classification	Present; regular
Introduced by	Paul Marquess (2011) Hannah Cheers and Angelo Abela (2024)
In-universe information Other names Francine Osborne (birth name) Occupation Student Family Osborne Father Darren Osborne Mother Suzanne Ashworth Stepmother Nancy Osborne Brothers JJ Osborne Half-brothers Rhys Ashworth Josh Ashworth Oscar Osborne Charlie Dean (adoptive) Half-sisters Hannah Ashworth Morgan Osborne Grandfathers Jack Osborne Grandmothers Sandy Roscoe Frankie Osborne (step) Uncles Joe Roscoe Freddie Roscoe Ziggy Roscoe Robbie Roscoe Jason Roscoe Aunts Ruth Osborne Bethany Cunningham Nikki Fletcher Nieces Katy O'Connor Phoebe McQueen (adoptive) First cousins Jamie Fletcher JJ Roscoe Gabriel McQueen Lexi Roscoe

Frankie Osborne is a fictional character from the British E4 soap opera Hollyoaks and is portrayed by Isabelle Smith. She was born on-screen on 21 January 2011, which coincided with the show's 3,000th episode celebrations. Frankie is the daughter of Suzanne Ashworth (Suzanne Hall) and Darren Osborne (Ashley Taylor Dawson). Frankie departed the serial in episode 3039, originally broadcast on 17 March 2011 at the end of Suzanne's return storyline. It was announced on 10 November 2023 that series producers Hannah Cheers and Angelo Abela had re-introduced Darren's twins into the serial and Frankie would return to the show in early 2024. Frankie returned permanently to Hollyoaks in episode 6291, originally broadcast on 18 January 2024. Since her return, executive producer Hannah Cheers and series producer Angelo Abela placed Frankie and twin brother JJ Osborne (Ryan Mulvey) at the forefront of a controversial issue-based storyline; with the both devised in a high-profile sibling sexual abuse storyline.

Her storylines since her 2024 return focus on her abandonment issues from Darren and Suzanne, family feuds with stepmother Nancy Osborne (Jessica Fox) and adoptive half-brother Charlie Dean (Charlie Behan), accusing her paternal grandfather Jack Osborne (Jimmy McKenna) of sexual assault, dealing with sibling sexual abuse when her twin brother JJ Osborne (Ryan Mulvey) assaults Frankie and rapes her, her friendship with Lucas Hay (Oscar Curtis) and self-harming.

Development

Creation & casting

In December 2010, it was announced that Suzanne Hall would be reprising her role of Suzanne. It was announced that Suzanne would return pregnant with Darren's twin babies and give birth in the show's 3,000th episode. Speaking of his reaction to the storyline, Dawson commented: "I was shocked in the same way, but it's just typical Darren! It's great. Suzanne's return has come at a time when things are going alright for Darren for the first time in his life – he's settled down a bit, he's realised that he's going to go for it with Nancy (Jessica Fox) and everything seems to be going well. But in true Darren style, there's been a big spanner in the works. It makes for a very funny time ahead." In March 2011, it was announced that Suzanne would be departing Hollyoaks, along with Jack and Francine. Frankie was portrayed by a child actor named Lexi during her 2011 stint. Frankie departed the serial in episode 3039, originally broadcast on 17 March 2011.

Return (2024)

On 8 November 2023, Hollyoaks announced the return of half-sister Hannah (Emma Rigby) as Rigby had reprised the role. Huge speculation surrounding Darren's off-screen twins came to light on 10 November when it was announced that Hall had reprised the role of Suzanne. Viewers would see the re-introduction of JJ and Frankie in early January 2024. It was then announced that Isabelle Smith would take over the role of Frankie for a "huge storyline". Smith was delighted of her casting, she told Digital Spy: "I'm so excited to be joining the cast of Hollyoaks, it still hasn't sunk in! You should expect a lot of ups and downs with Frankie but all I'll say is, don't judge her too soon…" She returned in episode 6291, originally broadcast on 18 January 2024. Frankie shows hostility to Darren upon her return as she has felt abandoned by Darren for a majority of her life. In a scene from episode 6358, originally broadcast on 22 April 2024 revealed Frankie and JJ were rapidly aged by two years as Darren told Freddie Roscoe (Charlie Clapham) and Ste Hay (Kieron Richardson) that Frankie is 15.

Sibling sexual abuse

In February 2024, a scene that displayed Frankie's grandfather Jack Osborne (Jimmy McKenna) and Frankie playfully dancing went horribly wrong, with Frankie accusing Jack of groping her. Suzanne later reveals that Frankie has had past trauma related to this, as it is assumed that Frankie was sexually assaulted by Suzanne's last off-screen partner, Paul. It was then announced on 8 March 2024 that Hollyoaks would "make a first" as they explore into Frankie's backstory when she suppresses memories of her childhood being sexually abused by twin brother, JJ Osborne (Ryan Mulvey). Executive producer Hannah Cheers said:

"It's one of the most infrequently disclosed forms of sexual abuse, yet the statistics are startling, Hollyoaks is shining a light on this issue for the first time in a long-term soap storyline because we need to get this conversation started amongst our multi-generational audience. Our research, story, script and writing teams have devoted themselves to telling this story truthfully and passionately. Huge thanks goes to SARSAS for their unwavering support in helping us take this on. The performances delivered by our brilliant newcomers Isabelle Smith and Ryan Mulvey are breath-taking. I believe this story will make an impact for years to come and I am proud that Hollyoaks is still breaking new ground almost four decades on. That's what we're here for."

The storyline in question will explore the dynamics of the twins within in the family, with JJ often labelled the "golden boy" while Frankie is seen as the "problem child". How the parents choose to investigate Frankie's distressing behaviour will also be explored as she continues to struggle with the abuse she has experienced. Claire Bloor of SARSAS shared praise for Hollyoaks' approach in dealing with such challenging subject matter. "Continuing dramas such as Hollyoaks have the potential to reach huge audiences and create change in the national conversation," Bloor said. "This storyline is an opportunity to shine a light on the under-researched and under-discussed topic of sibling sexual abuse. We hope that it will raise awareness of both the prevalence of this issue and the devastating impact it can have on those impacted by it."

Rape, self harm and friendship with Lucas Hay

The storyline commenced after JJ suggested they should "play school disco's" (a trauma trigger word for Frankie). Prior to this, Frankie had been drinking after Darren had let Jack move back in. The scenes confirming the sexual abuse were slammed with controversy. As Frankie struggles, Suzanne promises to take her to get her nails done, but misses it to drink and flirt with Ethan Williams (Matthew James Bailey). When Frankie watches them leaving together, she tries to cheer Frankie up by asking her to dance like she did during "school disco's", leading her to attack Suzanne and being interviewed by local police officer Zoe Anderson (Garcia Brown). Frankie also starts a friendship with Lucas Hay (Oscar Curtis) during this time as they are both self-harming. By this point in the storyline, Frankie is terrified by JJ, she writes so in a diary that JJ discovers and he immediately rips it up in a heated confrontation. JJ threatens to reveal the truth about her self-harm to obtain her silence on his abuse. When the truth emerges about the self harm, Frankie blames Darren reasoning that it was his neglect and abandonment that led her to self-harm. The story reached a climax in episode 6355, originally broadcast on 17 April 2024, where Frankie is raped by JJ. This was deemed the storylines "most upsetting turn". Scared of a future pregnancy, she asks Lucas to obtain the morning after pill. They initially fail, however Lucas later gives her the contraception after he finds her in the park. She didn't reveal anything to Lucas, but just admitted that her first time was not a positive one. Darren makes a disturbing discovery when he finds Frankie's emergency contraception; he confronts her to no avail as she just claims she can not be protected. The plot then seen Lucas accused of the rape by Darren in Frankie's issue-led based storyline.

Storylines

2011; offscreen

In January 2011, Suzanne returns from Spain heavily pregnant and tells Darren that she is expecting his twin babies. Suzanne goes into labour inside Look Sharpe and gives birth to a boy and a girl. Suzanne and Darren name the twins Jack and Francine, after Darren's father Jack Osborne (Jimmy McKenna) and his wife Frankie Osborne (Helen Pearson). Darren's ex-girlfriend Cindy Longford (Stephanie Waring) learns of Jack and Francine and offers Suzanne £100,000 to leave with them. Suzanne then refuses the money. She later tells Cindy she will leave in return for £200,000, to which Cindy agrees and Suzanne returns to Spain with Jack and Francine. At Suzanne's son Rhys Ashworth's (Andy Moss) funeral, when Darren asks how the twins are, Suzanne says they have started talking, and he should come over and see them, but Darren's wife Nancy Osborne (Jessica Fox) said they have Oscar to think about. In February 2014, Darren went to visit Suzanne and the twins.

2024–present

In January 2024, the twins both returned to Hollyoaks. They have been taken from Suzanne's care by Hannah Ashworth (Emma Rigby), unbeknownst to Darren and Nancy Osborne (Jessica Fox). They move in and Darren begins to know his children, who are hostile in return for his absence in their lives. They returned during Ella Richardson (Erin Palmer)'s memorial and they both argue with residents due to their disrespect. Charlie Dean (Charlie Behan) and JJ Osborne (Ryan Mulvey) end up in a fight. Darren does not recognise the twins and defends Charlie. Hannah then reveals that Darren is their father. Jack Osborne (Jimmy McKenna) invites Frankie to playfully dance whilst listening to her deceased step-grandmother Frankie (Helen Pearson), it goes horribly wrong and she later tells Nancy that she was sexually assaulted. Due to Nancy's position in her school, she had to report Jack for the safety of her job. Jack is later released with no charge. Jack faces backlash in the village and only Charlie believes him. Darren and Nancy try their best to support Frankie's behaviour to no avail as she completely shuts Jack out. When Jack eventually moves back in, she throws Frankie Sr's CD records but is stopped by Darren. She started a friendship with Lucas Hay (Oscar Curtis).

It was later revealed that Frankie was sexually abused when she was younger, by JJ. Suzanne briefly mentioned in a past conversation with Darren that Frankie has a traumatic past as it is believed she was sexually abused by Suzanne's former boyfriend, Paul. JJ asks her to play "school discos", which is a trigger word for Frankie. Frankie has began drinking heavily and has been hospitalised due to this and then self-harming to cope with JJ starting to abuse her again. The abuse begins to worsen as JJ becomes more manipulative, coercive and verbally aggressive. Upon discovering his twin sister's scars from self-harming, Frankie begs JJ to leave her alone as she no longer wants to be put through anymore abuse. JJ reluctantly agrees, but after hearing the news that he could lose a potential career in football, prior to Frankie injuring his leg when he tried to kiss her, JJ takes his anger out on Frankie by raping her, leaving her crying hysterically in the park after the rape had happened. Realising that JJ did not use contraception when he assaulted her, Frankie reaches out to Lucas for help to get the emergency contraceptive pill. She gets the pill from Lucas after running out from the nurse's office at the hospital. However, Frankie tries to confide in Darren about her recent ordeal and Darren is led to believe that Lucas is the one who assaulted Frankie. After JJ convinces her to change her story, Frankie tells Darren that her having sex with Lucas was consensual. Her new found friendship is ruined with Lucas after he tells her to stay away from him because she threatened to tell his family that he used her to prove that he was not gay. In an attempt to "cheer" his sister up, JJ buys Frankie a dress for her dance recital, but after seeing herself in the mirror with the dress, she throws it on her bed in disgust because JJ bought it for her.

Reception

Viewers of the show were in "utter shock" and "anger" when the sibling sexual abuse storyline had commenced. A viewer commented on a social media platform:

"This is an unnecessary storyline that could've gone differently, you could've had the brother be very protective because of what they've both gone through with their mum, you could've had a depressing storyline, like the brother going through depression and the sister being able to help him. The possibility is endless of what storyline you could've done for these two twins, but you decided to do a completely unnecessary storyline. Don't get it twisted these things happen in real life but you wanna show things that people will want to watch not be sick from."

See also

• List of Hollyoaks characters (2011)