Riley Costello is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Rob Norbury.

In December 2011, the serial's executive producer Emma Smithwick said that Riley would remain in Hollyoaks despite his family's departure.

[2] The family consists of Carl Costello (Paul Opacic), a former premiership footballer with a history for cheating on his wife, Heidi (Kim Tiddy), a former model, and their children, Riley, who is training to become a footballer to impress his father, Seth (Miles Higson), who is desperate to step out from his older brother's shadow, and Jasmine (Victoria Atkin), who is secretly suffering due to gender dysphoria.

[3] Speaking of the family's casting, Marquess said, "We can't wait for this huge new boost of energy exploding on screen.

[5] Norbury was questioned about his character's relationship with younger brother Seth during an interview on the official Hollyoaks website.

[9] Kilkelly stated that while the actor had filmed his final scenes as Riley, the exact details of his exit would be kept under wraps.

We decided in early summer that I was going, and then we ended up having a chat in July or August time when they said they'd had an idea of Riley being killed.

[10] Riley first appears with his family when his father Carl (Paul Opacic) buys The Dog in the Pond.

During a fashion show for Heidi, Riley strips for the cat walk, where Theresa McQueen (Jorgie Porter) is attracted to him.

Riley and Seth Costello (Miles Higson) are invited to a cage fighting party by half-sister Jem's ex-boyfriend Liam McAllister (Chris Overton), who plans to get revenge on Carl for ruining his football career with older brother Nathan McAllister (Michael Bisping).

After Nathan and Liam lock Riley and Seth in a cage, they tie Carl up with a noose around his neck.

Riley bonds with Mercedes Fisher (Jennifer Metcalfe) following her husband's death however, Carl is unhappy at their blossoming relationship.

On Halloween 2011, Heidi is murdered by Silas, who mistook her for Lynsey, while walking to Cheryl Brady's (Bronagh Waugh) party.

It is eventually revealed, however, that Silas is the unknown serial killer who killed Heidi and also murdered India Longford (Beth Kingston), Rebecca Massey (Daisy Turner), and Rae Wilson (Alice Barlow).

Riley returns, after Jacqui pleads with him to bring Bobby back to see Mercedes, telling him she has not been doing well in his absence.

Riley sees Darren Osborne (Ashley Taylor Dawson) giving away photos of the vault in which Silas held Mercedes captive.

Riley ends up in a stand-off on a tower block roof with Mercedes after he later finds out that she was behind Bobby's apparent kidnap.