It seems like this is part of the reason that Kate is behind Carla and Lisa – affectionately dubbed Swarla by fans – ‘sticking together through thick and thin,’ explaining that while they have to have downtime due to the actresses’ needing rest and the cast having over 60 characters, it’s ‘not beyond the imagination’ for them to be long-term, like many beloved straight couples before them.
‘Things have come a long way, but of course, there’s always more to be done when it comes to attitudes and the way people react – there’s still a long way to go.’.
‘So I think just seeing gay couples on the TV living life and being parents in whatever capacity is really key and really valuable, it normalises it for the kids in school and it doesn’t become a big taboo subject.
Kate, who got into the industry via a ‘cheeky letter’ to a studio which led to a job as a runner, entered story offices at the height of John Paul and Craig Dean – McDean – and their popularity and impact on Hollyoaks fans.
She is proud that the show carries a range of LGBTQI+ characters such as Todd, Carla, Lisa, Asha, Nina and Sean to name some, and is of the firm belief that soap is the leading force in TV land for representation.
