Bryan
09-08-2008, 10:25
Hollyoaks's Malachy Fisher is to be diagnosed as HIV positive.
The character always thought he was invincible to STDs, but his past comes back to haunt him in episodes to be screened next month.
Malachy's (Glen Wallace) relationship with Mercedes McQueen (Jennifer Metcalf) is put at risk when he goes to give blood and the results reveal his diagnosis. However, he refuses to face up to the news and goes missing, prompting a scorned Mercedes to sleep with his brother Kris (Gerard McCarthy) for revenge.
Talking about the storyline, Wallace commented: "When you consider how many people are affected by HIV and AIDS, it makes you realise that while there have been huge medical breakthroughs in treatment, we still need to keep education and information in the spotlight.
"We have a fantastic opportunity to do this with Malachy’s storyline as it’s a relevant and very much a real-life issue."
McCarthy, whose character will undertake the PEP anti-HIV treatment after being exposed to the disease, said: "Before reading the scripts, I was unaware of the medical developments made to help people living with HIV.
"There are a lot of myths surrounding this issue and we are hoping to dispel quite a few, but at the same time tell a very heartfelt story of two brothers on a frightening journey together."
Malachy receives his diagnosis in an episode to be screened on September 8.
The character always thought he was invincible to STDs, but his past comes back to haunt him in episodes to be screened next month.
Malachy's (Glen Wallace) relationship with Mercedes McQueen (Jennifer Metcalf) is put at risk when he goes to give blood and the results reveal his diagnosis. However, he refuses to face up to the news and goes missing, prompting a scorned Mercedes to sleep with his brother Kris (Gerard McCarthy) for revenge.
Talking about the storyline, Wallace commented: "When you consider how many people are affected by HIV and AIDS, it makes you realise that while there have been huge medical breakthroughs in treatment, we still need to keep education and information in the spotlight.
"We have a fantastic opportunity to do this with Malachy’s storyline as it’s a relevant and very much a real-life issue."
McCarthy, whose character will undertake the PEP anti-HIV treatment after being exposed to the disease, said: "Before reading the scripts, I was unaware of the medical developments made to help people living with HIV.
"There are a lot of myths surrounding this issue and we are hoping to dispel quite a few, but at the same time tell a very heartfelt story of two brothers on a frightening journey together."
Malachy receives his diagnosis in an episode to be screened on September 8.