Ellie Mills

Ellie Mills (also Hunter) is a fictional character from the British soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Sarah Baxendale.

The scenes formed part of a late-night spin-off episode titled Hollyoaks: Leap of Faith, which featured Toby's death.

Ellie survives and later allows her brother, Dan Hunter (Andrew McNair) to take the blame for the murders.

Ellie has been reviewed as a selfish character by television critics, with others branding her as high maintenance and fiercely independent.

[6] To achieve the record the characters take part in an event on National Kissing Day, hosted at their local nightclub The Loft.

[8] Writers soon showcased Ellie's bitchy persona when she makes more drama for her ex-boyfriend Toby Mills (Henry Luxemburg).

[10] Writers made Ellie unpopular with other characters via her friendship with a known rapist, Scott Anderson (Daniel Hyde).

She added that Ellie is determined not to move back home with her family and wants to remain in work and begins to scheme to secure her future.

Baxendale added "Izzy is especially upset because they're close friends and she's worried bad things will happen to Ellie.

"[11] Toby is also upset with Ellie and Baxendale revealed their "brother and sister type relationship" plays into the story.

Baxendale told Andy Baker from Inside Soap that Ellie suspects the man has other intentions when he requests they somewhere quiet.

[13] The story provided writers with a chance to showcase a different and more vulnerable side to Ellie's usual feisty persona.

Baxendale told Kathryn Secretan from Soaplife that Linda "desperately tries to let it be seen that she has good relationship wit her son".

At this point in the story, Toby has already began his murderous crime spree and writers portrayed Ellie as oblivious to his behaviour.

[14] Luxemburg told a reporter from Inside Soap that Toby decides to side with Ellie and prevent his mother from moving in with them.

"[12] He added that Ellie makes excuses for Toby and "justifies" his behaviour claiming that his mother's death was accidental and Steph must have provoked him.

"[12] In another interview, Baxendale told Alison James from Soaplife that Ellie is "losing her mind" and "not thinking rationally".

Soon Ellie begins to realise that Toby is actually the serial killer when she notices differences between Steph's attack and other murder victims.

Toby is "upset" by her reaction and flees the scene, leaving her wondering how he will retaliate, adding "Ellie is scared he'll kill again.

McNair defended his character, stating "thinking that Ellie's being selfish as always, Dan tells Toby the truth.

[19] Baxendale told Suzanne Ostler from Soaplife that Ellie wants to preserve the memory of her marriage to Toby prior to discovering his murderous crimes.

She added that "she wants Ellie to be as scared, upset and hurt as she was after the attack, and to basically make her life a living hell.

[21] The eldest Hunter child was a runaway living in Ibiza for two years without contacting her family before returning, not out of love, but rather because she had run out of money.

When she arrived on town, she discovered that her brother Lee Hunter (Alex Carter) was always getting in trouble with the police and school, and failed exams, and Lisa self-harmed after she was bullied by Steph, while Dan was depressed because she ran away from home.

Her family turned against her, including her father, and Ellie also incurred the wrath of Johnno Dean (Colin Wells) and his wife Frankie Osborne (Helen Pearson), whose daughters Steph and Debbie had their lives ruined by Toby, Steph nearly lost her life after being attacked by Toby and was left with epilepsy as a result of the attack; and Debbie, who had been in a relationship with Dan, having lost her boyfriend due to his wrongful imprisonment.

While they were all gone, Ellie had a drink with Russ Owen (Stuart Manning) and Dannii Carbone (Christina Baily) and realised she had nothing left in Chester.

Sally later told her husband and her children that Ellie is now living in France, finishing her schooling and having found work.

[22] At the 2004 British Soap Awards, Ellie and Toby's rooftop fall was nominated for Spectacular Scene of the Year accolade.

Now Toby's dead and she's letting her own brother take the rap for a murder he didn't commit, fans who did have time for her have lost all sympathy as she refuses to get Dan off the hook.

"[26] Andy Baker from Inside Soap branded Ellie a "tough blonde" and a "feisty club barmaid".