née dean previously fictional character british channel soap opera played debuted screen episode airing march introduced serial executive producer decided quit producer convinced stay play dramatic storyline announcement departure public june fellow cast members described legend lengthy duration described having highly confident persona trait enjoyed portraying played fame hungry noted number high profile storylines portrayal bullying school environment portrayal felt taboo subject long stories include widow involvement revenge plot constant desire fame final storylines portrayal cancer conducted extensive research character subsequently killed special block episodes branded media fire week critics described final storylines surprising relationship viewed unfavourable nominated different awards portrayal storylines backstory daughter brothers jake sister albert close siblings strained relationship mother prefers involve jake lives professional singing prowess contrast close relationship father introduced new student early storylines school life best friend frequently fellow pupil driving attempt suicide friends react promises change reputation having brief relationships brian scott eventually friends lisa accidentally ruins hair attempting believing purpose friends distracted quarrel notice serial killer attacks hitting head leaving die week diagnosed regains consciousness learning toby lisa brother law resumes bullying father eventually catches physically attacking lisa orders leave attend university cruelty able reconcile aftermath diagnosis initially unable deal condition father supports ends abandoning family following revelation secret son mother comes new stepfather father figure largely reforms following diagnosis sensitive needs comes terms dangerous condition time episodes frequent fails college exams forced retake jealousy sister west end success attempts embark celebrity career appears fictional television auditions girl band money making sells kiss tell story celebrity meets failed audition backing singers notoriety agent arranges sex liaison discovers actually team mascot pursuit fame comedy storyline great aunt leaves inheritance said small fortune condition performs charitable act requirement saving discovers fact sends live sanctuary tom later begins relationship older brother max engaged relationship frequent arguments friend falls love attempts come max eventually marry wedding day accidentally runs max killing period intense grief sex revealed villain holding family hostage killing sister frightened goes stay brother scotland follows takes tom hostage stand makes acknowledge hurt caused throws cliff death long holiday tom returns begins life falls dance teacher inspiring jealousy feelings engaged employee realising loves breaks loyalty refuses date breaks briefly engaged ultimately leaves discovers cancer aftermath decides pursue singing career applies factor despite cancer story rejected audition cancer spreads later told condition terminal struggles cope diagnosis causing cancel wedding goes ahead honeymoon begins plans impending death local italian restaurant catches fire saves children chooses remain inside die funeral family friends watch video messages recorded prior death march returns tells plays goodbye message december appearance ghost development casting characterisation originally auditioned play friend established character unsuccessful casting team later asked apply new role placed straight final stage auditions delighted subsequently given major television role joined cast straight leaving high school aged seventeen appearance march longest serving female cast member remaining introduced friend initially naive easily led years personality altered greatly bully bit bitch enjoyed transformation villain believed memorable character felt acting contrast struggled portray genuine moments commented type character cry things cares found difficult relate struggled find balance pushing far far ultimately preferred play bitch comical nasty assessed isn bad rogue likes making attention deemed character unpredictable great deal confidence online called beautiful blonde wild child penchant arrogance displays people branded superficial referred true red female assessed couldn care attitude described sided character observed bitch vain jealous small minded wrote causes trouble wants happily lie gossip way conversely noted good best friend sweet girl developed revealed softer beneath tough façade deeply insecure little girl love affection artistic creative streak lead attend performing arts college attain degree drama inspired rivalry fellow actor saw determined sun described resident drama queen explaining dislike summer stemmed fact previously actress village vocal ability opined hardly world best singer family relationships years arrival family introduced series dynamics dean family evolved time initially dysfunctional unit different way families tended disrupt lives whilst happy arrival actress plays mother assessed supportive solid like old fashioned family unit despite lack finances required undertake body soul time went affected affairs parental separation typical soap families time series early years played acted attention boys lovers included christian virgin football playing later relationship ups downs obsessive disorder boost confidence forced join rock band actions successful said proud sacrificed relationship cameron leave tour europe inside soap praised supportive despite cameron erratic behaviour appeared finally find happiness fell love attracted max initially resisted believed air headed blonde interested bad boys younger brother developed crush kind sensitive way handled altered impression explained max begins realise looks begins think actually nice friends quit series producers planned exit max wedding killed wedding day pulled tom path car filmed aftermath max death listened depressing music reach character mindset believed mistake kill max awful thing happen received amazing feedback storyline aftermath tom asked mother scene executive producer deemed favourite year interaction intended represent lots heart relationships friendships love loss praised performance storyline particularly scene brief actors required film scenes felt hard challenge portray convince audience genuinely husband killer viewers including staff believed chemistry greater ultimately decided better suited max hoped drama corner bit comic relief illnesses storyline found challenging portray diagnosed feeling responsibility members viewing public disorder actress researched extensively assisted reading visited organisations spent day set teenage girl close age condition shared insights experiences actress felt acting assisted episode director witnessed hand having worked hospital felt privileged chosen storyline particularly typically taboo subject featured prominently soap opera praised serial taking subject matter researchers contacted charity developing storyline felt succeeded communicating impact diagnosis stated great soap opera specially watched mainly young people look issue gets ignored pleased storyline reaching people stated received letters fans highlighting exposed subject positive feedback website initially reacted angrily diagnosis confirmed uncommon explaining character going stages likely teenagers terrible trouble coming terms time lot difficult things deal blow independence writing sunday mail assessed plot serve bring arrogant agreed understanding inspiring opposed rejection different observed condition serve behaviour chosen character explored spin deep seizure believes possessed spirit causing cancer diagnosed cancer underwent plot said echo true story big brother contestant died cancer devised prior appointment executive producer chose continue deciding interesting storyline character viewers know love going hard time preparation storyline studied illness time line experiences undergo chose speak cancer patients cancer believing handles personal way additionally aimed cancer believable possible explaining wouldn prior knowledge expect wanted fresh eyes trusted storyline found particularly important portrayal right previous year fronted campaign producers aimed send message early detection series young audience initially ignore symptoms hoped raise awareness cancer educate women importance regular tests stated confident beating illness alternative worth thinking character originally reluctant tell family cancer fear hurting embarrassed tell love interest wanting look storyline developed cancelled wedding refusal accept condition terminal explained character ability deal situation disbelief contrasting attempt stride spend quality time people loves goes deemed storyline depicted way aiming tell tragic story sweet humorous tone comedy element storyline use cancer story enter talent recruiting orphan tom stage giving story emotional impact commented deep knows fantastic singer thought judges feel sorry according viewer feedback storyline brilliant stated viewers upset illness brought mother tears departure announced decided quit serial pursue career musical theatre deemed difficult decisions stating dream job miss friends cast crew decision resign june convinced producer play long exit storyline concluded filming september filming final scenes secured west end role previously felt ready leave series time came upset felt reality called final scenes sad emotional stated input exit happy devised arson plot begin result characters die production team intended details die secret transmission prior broadcast revealed risk life save amy barnes barnes actress explained death face day cancer thinks lose performed stunts filming rest undertaken stunt double promotional trailer episodes aired channel network featuring fire event rescued amy children burning building refused leave saying ready die exit received positive reaction fans social networking website twitter stating honoured response legacy continued following death husband family friends left come terms grief november confirmed reprise role guest appearance appears angel attempted suicide convinces life matters tells shows special song recorded daughter forgotten whilst looked happily placed hand shoulder tom returning heaven stating ready solo reception received award nominations portrayal nominated best comedy performance category british soap awards best dramatic performance received long list nomination best actress national television awards nominated sexiest female inside soap award found nomination category followed accompanied nominations best actress best dramatic performance learning cancer character selected british soap characters industry experts poll run readers able vote favourite character discover soap greatest legend following departure stars commented favourably actress character deeming ultimate original stating admitting cried airing final scenes television entertainment website holy soap fire death coming calling actions brave year duration described memorable moment telling love watching commit suicide inside soap said award character soap certainly win column guardian television critic stated time having suffered tenure years wrote gave stalking storyline negative review called plot acting ridiculous commented felt sorry serial way raise game relationships focal point reviews daily_mirror found love triangle sister love interest surprising compelling guardian observed failed engagement best world don feel marriage going previously named singing max funeral favourite soap moments laws sunday mercury felt plenty chemistry relationship frequently commented daily_mail stephen weekly soap column expressed rivalry found quarrel finally admitted feelings stephen accurately predicted happiness short lived highlighted lack subtlety scripting lead wedding observing course know moment says going stop marrying grim pulling shortly wedding car stephen derided singing ambition plot line deeming voice average writing need use cancer sympathy vote singing later questioned accept intended singer commenting ambition stuff remainder population breathe major relief abandonment dreams positively stephen wrote loved bravery humour manipulation cancer brings reviewing centric spin deep times commented late night episodes previously amusing versions main deep lies beneath episode selected recommended viewing laws sunday mercury launch series returns target named satellite pick day writing daily_telegraph column tabloid culture named family joint tenth list included
Steph Cunningham