Lee Hunter is a fictional character from the English soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Alex Carter.

He is the youngest son of Les (John Graham Davies) and Sally Hunter (Katherine Dow Blyton).

Carter announced his decision to quit the serial in 2005 to have more free time, filming his departure scenes in October 2005 and departed on-screen 23 December 2005.

Alex Carter successfully auditioned for the role of Lee Hunter in 2001 and joined the cast of Hollyoaks as the youngest son of Les (John Graham Davies) and Sally Hunter (Katherine Dow Blyton) and brother to Ellie (Sarah Baxendale), Dan (Andrew McNair) and Lisa (Gemma Atkinson).

[1] Lee's early stories were centric to his inclusion in a friendship group consisting of his sister Lisa, Abby Davies (Helen Noble), Steph Dean (Carley Stenson), Zara Morgan (Kelly Greenwood) and Brian Drake (Jonathan Le Billon).

The students are set a task of creating a rumour club to assess how quickly gossip can spread around a community.

Stenson told an Inside Soap reporter that Steph's motivation is "purely evil" and Lee becomes uncomfortable with hurting other character's emotionally.

[2] Zara and Steph create a rumour about Mandy Richardson (Sarah Jayne Dunn) and Laura Burns (Lesley Johnston) being in a lesbian relationship.

[2] Writers created a relationship storyline between Lee and fellow student, Abby Davies (Helen Noble).

"[3] In a comedic story, Lee fails his exams and decides to take beautician course despite wanting to do film studies.

He wants Lee to do "something a bit more manly" but Carter enjoyed the storyline because he looked "great dressed in a beautician's outfit.

Carter told an Inside Soap reporter that "Lee is really struggling with the possibility that the Hunters may no longer be a real family.

"[4] Lee decides to intervene in his parents' marriage and convinces his father Les to make an emotional speech to his mother, Sally.

After developing feelings for friend Zara, who was leaving the village to do charity work in Thailand, Lee decided to accompany her, making his exit in the episode that aired on 22 December 2005.

[12] Carter signed an initial six-month contract with the soap[12] after announcing his decision to leave his role as Jamie Hope in Emmerdale.

[13][14] In an interview with entertainment website Digital Spy about Lee's return, Marquess explained, "He turns up with another character.

He's been working as a Gareth Gates impersonator on a cruise ship and he won't just have light stories because Alex is great.

[16] In July 2010, it was announced that Carter would make his comeback scenes as Lee in new online spin-off Hollyoaks: Freshers.

Things get more problematic for Lee when his sister, Lisa is bullied by jealous classmate, Steph Dean (Carley Stenson), which causes her to self-harm.

Subsequently, there was more bad news to face Lee when Ellie loses her memory, and accuses their brother Dan for killing her murderous husband, Toby Mills.

Lee starts a beauty therapy course at Hollyoaks Community College, after he fails to enrol in film studies due to his poor grades.

Lee is shocked when Kevin Smith (Cameron Crighton) tells him that he witnessed Leanne kiss Doug Carter (PJ Brennan).

He writes a script for a play named 'MasKara' and casts Jem Costello (Helen Russell-Clark) and Jamil Fadel (Sikander Malik) in the lead roles.

Due to Lee's absence, Steph takes over the production, making drastic changes and hiring Carmel Valentine (Gemma Merna) as the makeup artist.

He storms off, but then returns to give the production another go; however begins another argument and eventually upsets Steph after cruelly mentioning her cancer.

The production receives positive feedback from the cheering audience, however Nancy Hayton (Jessica Fox) writes a review which harshly criticises Lee's dictating directing skills.

However, the situation changes when Amy is hospitalized after being injured in a fire at Il Gnosh restaurant caused by Dominic Reilly (John Pickard).

Lee then visits Steph's family to give them her farewell CD, as she died in the fire, whilst saving Amy and her children.

When Amy applies for a teaching job, Lee sees her talking to an older man and getting the wrong impression, and angrily confronts him.

When Dodger gives her driving lessons and a false driver's licence, Lee reports him to the police but Amy is arrested and fined.