Well HIV...

Kieron Richardson as Ste Hay.

Well, Ste (Hollyoaks) has got HIV. According to the spoilers he got in from a one night stand and his and John Pauls relationship will become a bit shaky. As it wasn't before? But, as far as I know, this is the first time a LGBT character in a soap opera is HIV positive. We had some examples of the gay fright,. You know and old lover is diagnosed with HIV, the character get's really worried and depressed before the negative result comes.

Jo Weil and Igor Dolgatschew.

Olli (Verbotene Liebe) did it before he finally married Christian. Deniz (Alles Was Zählt) did it after Roman cheated on him. But he actually had unprotected sex while he was drunk. Just as Ste, I assume. Deniz had a really tough period when he took PEP and was sick all the time. But neither Olli or Deniz had HIV. So, I really think this is the first time a gay character is diagnosed with HIV in a soap opera. Which is quite weird actually. Somehow people is connecting gays with HIV. They are even on the same page in biology books in school I was told. I hope that was outdated books...

Well, but we have som examples of straight chracters with HIV. First out is Eastenders Mark Fowler.

Todd Carty as Mark Fowler.

The character Mark Fowler was in the series between 1985-1987 (with another actor) and then between 1990-2003. In 1990 he was diagnosed with HIV. He actually told his family about his HIV as he followed a friends example, a friend who actuallt was gay and HIV positive, but he was only in the series for a short while so that really doesn't count. Anyhow, he is married three times and have a quite happy life before he develops AIDS in 2003, leaves Walford and then dieas a year after.

Kimberly McCullough as Robin Scorpio.

Well, and it might spring to mind that a character in General Hospital is HIV-positive. In 1995 Robin Scorpio was diagnosed, which she cought from her lover Michael "Stone" Cates, who also dies from AIDS te same year. But Robin is staying put, and no AIDS in sight. It's amazing how well the retroviral drugs work!

Glen Wallace as Malachy Fisher.

Then there was Malachy in Hollyoaks. Malachy Fisher was the older brother of the bisexual crossdresser Kris Fisher. Initially, he is a homophobe, and he learns that he is HIV-positive in 2008 when he is giving blood. And he gets over the homophobic thing. And he dates both Mercedes McQueen (who he also marries), Cheryl Brady and Lynsey Nolan. Three of my favourite characters, so he seems to have good taste. But he also dies, of course, in the explosion in Il Gnosh. To bad.

Charlie Hardwick as Val Pollard.

Our most recent character with HIV (except from Ste) is Emmerdale's Val Pollard. She got infected by a fling on vacation i Portugal and was diagnosed in january 2014. We had a big AIDS-fright story in the village there, that ended in a praised heart-felt talk in the Woolpack. The countryside, you know.

But anyway, I am very excited about Ste's HIV storyline. I think it will beat the others by long! This one has John Paul in it. Just that fact will make it amazing! Their interaction will make it amazing! McHay for the win!