Mel Burton is a fictional character from the British television soap opera Hollyoaks, played by actress Cassie Powney.

Mel was introduced along with Joe Spencer (Matt Milburn) and Robbie Flynn (Andy Newton), as new students attending Hollyoaks College.

[4] Mel was introduced along with fellow new characters Joe Spencer (Matt Milburn) and Robbie Flynn (Andy Newton) during Freshers' Week at Hollyoaks College.

[5] In an attempt to step out of her sister's shadow and attract the attention of Kristian Hargreaves (Max Brown), Mel undergoes a drastic makeover.

[6] During the date, it becomes obvious that Kristian is more interested in Sophie, which makes Mel more determined to get his attention, but she ends up embarrassing herself by dancing on the bar in The Loft.

"[6] Mel enlists Robbie to help her change her image by conducting a survey asking men about their perfect woman.

After they gather the results, Robbie designs the ideal woman on his laptop and Mel unveils her new look at the student union bar that night.

[7] Following the wedding, Mel overhears her stepbrother Ali Taylor (Luti Fagbenle) telling Richard that her father's death was suicide rather than a heart attack.

[11] In an issue-led storyline for the character, Mel develops a dependence on alcohol and regularly goes on "disastrous drinking binges", which end up badly affecting her employment chances and relationships.

[12] Speaking to Helen Crossley of Inside Soap, Powney explained that Mel makes it her mission to get with one of the university "bad boys" and does not let anything get in her way, even though her friends realise that she is showing herself up and try to "talk sense into her".

[13] Mel eventually agrees to attend an alcohol abuse awareness group where she meets Kate, who is only there to make her mother happy.

Powney said Mel "homes in" on the man's wallet as she is so concerned about her next drink, but when he touches her shoulder, she "freaks out" as it brings back memories of her rape.

But I have no idea whether it'll actually do the trick this time..."[15] Towards the end of 2005, producer David Hanson confirmed that "life won't get any easier" for the Burton/Taylor family while discussing upcoming storylines.

[16] During the late night special Hollyoaks: No Going Back, Mel and Sophie are targeted by serial rapist Andy Holt (Warren Brown).

Powney told an Inside Soap columnist: "Mel has spiralled further out of control since her horrific rape ordeal at the hands of Andy Holt.

He kidnaps Sam and Russ's sister Nicole Owen (Ciara Janson) and holds her hostage in a warehouse, but Mel helps rescue her before Andy can rape her too.

Manning told Sarah Ellis of Inside Soap, "Ultimately, Mel wasn't responsible for Andy's death, but blames herself because she was the one who drugged him.

"[20] Sophie asks Russ to help her convince her sister that it was not her fault and to persuade her to move on with her life, but Manning reckoned that Mel is not sure she will be able to.

[20] Both Powney sisters departed the show in early September 2006, as their characters were killed off during a large fire at the Dog In The Pond pub.

After learning of her whereabouts from Nicole, Sam then "totally flips" when he discovers Sophie is dating Russ, so he goes to the pub with a can of petrol and a lighter.

[21] Tamone explained that it is a while before viewers find out who has died, as the episode opens with a number of body bags being brought out the building, before flashbacks show who is in them.

[21] Discussing the reason for the twins' exits in Inside Soap, producer Bryan Kirkwood explained "Sometimes, though, you have to make hard decisions about popular characters for the good of the show, as was the case with Mel and Sophie.

At the 2005 Student Union bar summer party, Mel gets extremely drunk and, believing that she still lives in her old house, smashes a window with a statue of a tiger.

One night when she is drunk, Mel has unprotected sex with a stranger and fears that she has caught a sexually transmitted disease, but the tests come back negative.

While attending a funfair with OB, Mel spots Andy and manages to track him down just in time after he takes Nicole, Russ and Sam Owen hostage.

Mel realises that he has escaped and chases after him, which leads to Andy facing his own woeful death as he is impaled on a sharpened spike after running into the unlit warehouse cellar.

Eventually, it is discovered that Sam was Andy's date-rape partner in crime and Sophie manages to trick him into surrendering at the police station.

As Mel tries to grab the vodka she accidentally pushes Sophie down the stairs, leaving her sister unconscious and fighting for her life in hospital.

After successfully recording the footage, Mel turns to OB with the evidence, and the pair confront a worried Clare in the pub, The Dog in The Pond, in September 2006.

While writing about their disappointment with the show's new characters, an Inside Soap columnist called Mel and Sophie "just plain irritating".