| Character Profile | List of appearances |
Dennis Archibald Savage is the son of Julie Savage and Charles S'Avage.
Dennis wound up on his family's doorstep after being kicked out of home by his mother. His father had abandoned the family years before in favour of his medical career. Dennis was immediately attracted to Leanne Holiday, who expressed little interest in him romantically. Dennis's cousin Dodger Savage also took issue to Dennis's arrival, but things were eventually sorted between them.
After aiding in Leanne's release from prison for Texas Longford's murder, Dennis finally settled in the village and began a relationship with Leanne. Things ended in tragedy when Leanne was gravely injured in a bomb explosion at Doug Carter and Ste Hay's leaving party and the pair married on her deathbed. Although he attempted to move on with Blessing Chambers, the lack of justice hung over his head and - after threatening to kill Trevor Royle over the blast - decided to move to Blackpool with Blessing.
By 2018, Dennis was living in Milton Keynes and working at a notable carpet company. In 2024, Dodger's granddaughter Victoria Blake was placed in his care and Dennis was targeted by a gang. After being struck in a hit-and-run, Dennis was called to attend a police line-up but never showed and has been missing since.
Biography
2011-2013: Arrival and Relationship with Leanne
Dennis arrives in the village.
Dennis arrived in Hollyoaks to visit his family. He tried to talk to Leanne Holiday, but she took a bigger interest in Louis Souyave. When Dennis's uncle Dirk Savage discovered that Dennis's mother had kicked him out, he forces Dodger to let him stay with him. Dodger grew fed up of Dennis and convinced Texas Longford to let him live in her flat, delighting Dennis as Leanne was her roommate. Leanne opted to be friends but Dennis attempted to woo her with romantic meals and sexy lingerie as a Christmas present, creeping her out. Dennis was offered a secondment in Mumbai and was left disappointed when his family and friends - including Leanne - encouraged him to go. Dennis 'returned' in March, but confessed to Leanne that he didn't end up going.
Dennis was visited by his hiring manager Neesha who opted not to give Dennis another chance but agreed to a date, making Leanne jealous. However, at Dennis's birthday party, Leanne ditched Dennis for Ally Gorman and went home with him. After saving Daytona Lights's gig by finding a venue, Dennis and Leanne had a heart-to-heart where she wished she had feelings for Dennis, but didn't. Dennis got the message and also opted to be friends with Leanne. He turned to online dating (to little success), and helped Will Savage with his 'Enchanted Forest' party, and Leanne and Doug Carter with their sham wedding. When Doug jilted Leanne, Dennis stepped in as her groom and the pair were "married".
Dennis and Leanne get engaged.
However, Dennis went to Hawaii for their honeymoon alone and returned in December 2012. On New Year's Eve, Dennis and Leanne slept together, but left to work on an oil rig for six months soon into the New Year. Coming back in June, Dennis was horrified to learn that Texas had been murdered and Leanne had been imprisoned. He resolved to free Leanne, unnerving Will - Texas's true killer. Leanne was freed when Will's mother Anna Blake reported his confession to the police. Dennis proposed marriage to Leanne, who accepted.
2013-2014: Widowed and New Beginnings
After helping clear out the house of the late Gita Rahj - a patient who Doctor Browning conned with his wife Mercedes - Dennis found £100,000 underneath a mattress. He used the money to purchase a run-down house, to Dodger and Leanne's fury. This left Dennis and Leanne with little funds for their wedding, so Dennis staged a robbery on the McQueens' house with Theresa and Nana McQueen's input. However, his part was exposed to Leanne when she discovered that her engagement ring belonged to the supposedly-belated Myra McQueen. Leanne broke off their engagement.
Dennis marries Leanne on her deathbed.
An explosion at 28a and 28b Fern Street interrupted Dennis's plans to win Leanne back as he aided in the rescues of several of the people inside. To his devastation, Leanne was uncovered under the rubble and was not expected to recover from her injuries. Leanne regained consciousness and decided to marry Dennis at her hospital bed, dying merely hours later. After Leanne's funeral, Dennis had an awkward encounter with Tegan Lomax. Tegan's sister Leela believed that Dennis was the father of Tegan's daughter Rose, but Dennis revealed that he and Tegan had worked together on the phones at a sex chatline for a few weeks and hadn't seen each other since December 2012.
In February 2014, Dennis met glass collector Blessing Chambers whilst at a strip club. She spotted him hiding in the dancers' dressing room from his friends and hit him with her tray, resulting in her boss firing her. Dodger attempted to help Dennis move on from Leanne by setting Dennis up with Blessing, but things had a rocky start. Dennis found a lump on his testicles and in his stress, told Blessing that he'd marry her now. Blessing panicked and began distancing herself from him. She eventually revealed to him that she was transgender, leaving Dennis furious that she'd lied to him. They decided to be friends, but after Dennis helped her with her Student Union secretary election campaign, Blessing issued him an ultimatum: be her boyfriend or leave her for good.
2014: Departure
Dennis threatens to blow up Trevor's flat.
Dennis grew concerned for Blessing in the weeks leading to her operation. After she collapsed at a party Dennis hosted for her, he discovered that she had been self-harming and supported her. He also supported Maxine Blake as she was the victim of abuse by her husband Patrick, and ran into trouble with Trevor Royle after reversing a van into his flower stand. In the lead-up to the one-year anniversary of Leanne's death, Dennis became stressed when his estranged father Charles S'Avage showed up out of the blue. Dennis rejected him and ordered him to stay away. After Blessing unknowingly sold some of Leanne's belongings at Savage's Emporium, Dennis went to Leanne's grave where he found Trevor Royle.
Whilst at The Dog in the Pond with Trevor, Sinead O'Connor revealed to Dennis that Trevor's bomb caused the explosion at the Fern Street flats. Dennis later broke into Trevor and Grace Black's flat, turning on the gas and arming himself with matches. Charles and Blessing managed to talk him down. Dennis and Trevor called a truce, but Blessing unknowingly stole diamonds from Trevor and fled to Blackpool to sell them. Dennis uncovered her plan and re-considered their future together until having a heart-to-heart. After convincing Trevor that the diamonds were lost, the pair opted to remain in Blackpool... with Trevor's diamonds!
2014-2025: Life After Hollyoaks
Dennis and Blessing's relationship didn't work out and they ended up separating. He was headhunted by a carpet firm and relocated to Milton Keynes. In August 2018, Dennis returned for Dirk's funeral. He developed suspicions over the Cunninghams' lodger Milo Entwistle, ultimately breaking Milo who revealed that he caused Dirk's death. When they refused to kick Milo out and his cousin Liberty Savage sided with them, Dennis decided to leave the village, smashing Milo's drone on his way out. However, Liberty visited him in December 2018.
Years later, Dodger managed to track down his granddaughter Victoria Blake and asked Dennis to adopt her as he was working as an undercover police officer. Victoria was placed in Dennis's care in May 2024, but whilst walking her home from school, Dennis was struck by a car driven by Rex Gallagher, saving Victoria. Rex drove off. The car had been used in a robbery and the driver was arrested, but Dennis failed to show to attend a suspect line-up. Dodger went to check on him and found signs of a struggle, but no sign of Dennis and Victoria.
Kill Count
Murders/Manslaughters
None
Attempted Murders
- Trevor Royle, 24th October 2014 - Attempts to blow up Trevor's flat with Trevor in it by turning on his cooker gases as revenge for Trevor's involvement in his wife's, Leanne's death back in October 2013.
- Grace Black, 24th October 2014 - Dennis put Grace's life in danger when he wanted to kill Trevor and did not much care she was there until he was talked out of it by his father, Charles S'Avage.
Rescue Count
Successful Rescues
- Darren Osborne, 16th October 2013 - Rescued him following an explosion inside 28a Fern Street with assistance by Trevor Royle.
Failed Rescues
None
Appendices
Residences
| Address | Duration |
|---|---|
| Savage family caravan | 2011 |
| 3 Oakdale Drive, Flat 3 | 2011 to 2012 |
| Unknown | 2012 |
| 3 Oakdale Drive, Flat 3 | 2012 to 2013 |
| Unknown | 2013 |
| Savage's Houseboat | 2013 to 2014 |
| Blackpool | 2014 to ??? |
| Buckinghamshire |
Employment History
| Job | Duration |
|---|---|
| SU Bar barman | 22nd March 2012 to 23rd March 2012 |
| Sex chatline call handler | Late 2012 |
| Oil rig employee | January to June 2013 |
| Savage's Emporium employee | 2014 |
| Phone salesman | Until 2018 |
| Regional assistant sales manager at Crafty Carpets | Since 2018 |
Background Information
- Actor Joe Tracini's casting in Hollyoaks was revealed by his father, Joe Pasquale, in July 2011. Character details were announced by Digital Spy in August.
- Dennis was originally introduced as a minor character on a six-month contract. After a temporary exit, producer Emma Smithwick brought Dennis back on a permanent basis.
- Tracini decided to quit the role of Dennis in April 2014.
Introduction Sequence
- 2011-2014: Dennis, swinging on a rope, crashes through a large sheet featuring a cartoon drawing of himself.
Quotes
| “ | Ta da! Oh, look at you - you haven't changed a bit! We could still be twins. | ” |
— First line, to Dodger Savage.
| ||
| “ | Love you. | ” |
— Final line, to a picture of Dirk Savage.
| ||
