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{{Infobox|Box title = Helen Cunningham|Image file = helen01.jpg|Image size = 280x475|Row 1 title = Portrayed by|Row 1 info = Kathryn George|Row 2 title = First Appearance|Row 2 info = 1997|Row 3 title = Last Appearance|Row 3 info = 20 February 2004|Row 4 title = Family|Row 4 info = Sons<br>[[Lewis Richardson]]<br>[[Tom Cunningham]]<br>[[Max Cunningham]] (Step)<br><br>Daughters<br>[[Mandy Richardson]]<br><br>Granddaughters<br>[[Grace Hutchinson]]<br>Ella Richardson<br>[[Steph Lomax-Cunningham]]|Row 5 title = Husbands|Row 5 info = Dennis Richardson<br>[[Gordon Cunningham]] (1999-2004)|Row 6 title = Current Status|Row 6 info = Deceased (Car Accident)}}'''Helen Cunningham''' (previously '''Richardson''') played by Kathryn George. George first appeared in the role in 1997 before the character was written out in 2004 when she was killed in a car accident. While on the serial Helen was central to several storylines including a relationship with [[Gordon Cunningham]], her affair with [[Tony Hutchinson]] (Nick Pickard) dealing with the suicide of son [[Lewis Richardson]] (Ben Hull) and her daughter [[Mandy Richardson|Mandy]]'s abuse at the hands of husband [[Dennis Richardson|Dennis]].
 
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{{Tabs1|Helen Cunningham|Character Profile}}
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{{Tabs2|Helen Cunningham (List of appearances)|List of appearances}}
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}}
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{{Infobox character
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|image = Helen_Cunningham_2003.png
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|name = Helen Cunningham
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|played by = [[Kathryn George]]
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|first appearance = [[1997]]
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|last appearance = [[20th February 2004]]
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|duration = [[1997]]-[[2004]], [[2017]]
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|died = [[20th February]] [[2004]]
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|cause of death = Injuries sustained in car accident caused by [[Milo Entwistle]]
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|sister/s = [[Auntie Joan|Joan]]
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|spouse/s = [[Dennis Richardson]] (until 1997)<br>[[Gordon Cunningham]] (1999-2004)
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|children = [[Lewis Richardson]] (1977)<br>[[Mandy Richardson]] (1981)<br>[[Tom Cunningham]] (1999)
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|relationships = [[Tony Hutchinson]] (affair)
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|occupation = Businesswoman
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|born = [[14th May]] [[1956]]}}
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'''Helen Cunningham''' (previously '''Richardson''') was the ex-wife of [[Dennis Richardson]], the wife of [[Gordon Cunningham]] as well as the mother to [[Lewis Richardson|Lewis]], [[Mandy Richardson]] and [[Tom Cunningham]]. She and Gordon were killed in a car accident in [[February 2004]] when the car she, Gordon and Tom were in was struck by a truck (later revealed to have been driven by [[Milo Entwistle]] in [[2018]]). The crash left both Mandy and Tom orphans.
   
== Storylines ==
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== Biography ==
For much of Helen Cunningham's early time in the Village she had the terrible misfortune of being saddled with a family intent on ripping itself apart. Helen had a tough time whilst she was married to Dennis Richardson (David McAllister), who had been abusive to her and had repeatedly raped their daughter Mandy. Helen was unaware of this until Mandy confessed to her brother Lewis.
 
   
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=== 1956-1997: Backstory ===
After Dennis was sent to prison for seven years, Helen found a new love interest in [[Gordon Cunningham]] (Bernard Latham). The pair slept together and Helen was shocked to realise that she was pregnant. Gordon did the honourable thing by asking her to marry him. They soon got married and Helen gave birth to baby [[Tom Cunningham]] (Ellis Hollins), but more tragedy came for Helen when she found out Lewis had attempted suicide and was slowly dying. This left Helen devastated and she found it hard to cope.
 
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To be added.
   
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=== 1997-2000: Early years in Hollyoaks ===
 
For much of Helen's early time in the village, she had the terrible misfortune of being saddled with a family intent on ripping itself apart. Helen had a tough time whilst she was married to [[Dennis Richardson]], who had been abusive to her and had repeatedly raped their daughter, [[Mandy Richardson|Mandy]]. Helen was unaware of this until Mandy confessed to her brother [[Lewis Richardson|Lewis]] after running away in [[1998]], and Lewis angrily confronted Dennis before he was thrown out of the family home.
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After Dennis was sent to prison for seven years after being found guilty of sexually assaulting Mandy in [[October 1998]], Helen found a new love interest in [[Gordon Cunningham]]). The pair slept together and Helen was shocked to discover that she was pregnant. Gordon did the honourable thing by asking her to marry him. They soon got married and Helen gave birth to baby [[Tom Cunningham]] on [[28th December|Millenium Eve]]. In [[October 2001]], Helen was devastated when she found out Lewis had attempted suicide by overdosing on paracetamol and was slowly dying from liver failure. This left Helen devastated and she found it hard to cope. Mandy struggled to grieve for Lewis as Helen did as Lewis had assaulted his girlfriend, [[Ruth Osborne]], shortly before his death. Helen and Mandy became estranged, whilst [[Laura Burns]] ended up filling Mandy's gap in the [[Richardson family|family]].
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=== 2001-2004: Final years in Hollyoaks ===
 
Due to Lewis's death, the relationship between Helen and Mandy fell apart and the pair barely spoke to each other. After a while, however, the pair began to rebuild their relationship. Helen then enjoyed a period of happiness running the ironing and cleaning business 'Steam Team' next door to Gordon's Drive 'n' Buy whilst raising Tom.
 
Due to Lewis's death, the relationship between Helen and Mandy fell apart and the pair barely spoke to each other. After a while, however, the pair began to rebuild their relationship. Helen then enjoyed a period of happiness running the ironing and cleaning business 'Steam Team' next door to Gordon's Drive 'n' Buy whilst raising Tom.
   
 
Then suddenly, for reasons best known to herself, Helen became restless: her shop changed its identity, and so did she, indulging in an affair with Tony, Gordon's friend. This was eventually exposed when an earthquake destroyed the barge the lovesick pair had chosen as a bolt hole. After much argument, Tony told Helen that he did not want to be with her any longer and that she should get back with Gordon for Tom and Mandy's sake. Helen took Tony's advice and she and Gordon were fully reconciled.
 
Then suddenly, for reasons best known to herself, Helen became restless: her shop changed its identity, and so did she, indulging in an affair with Tony, Gordon's friend. This was eventually exposed when an earthquake destroyed the barge the lovesick pair had chosen as a bolt hole. After much argument, Tony told Helen that he did not want to be with her any longer and that she should get back with Gordon for Tom and Mandy's sake. Helen took Tony's advice and she and Gordon were fully reconciled.
   
Helen began to regain the respect of daughter Mandy and stepson [[Max Cunningham]] (Matt Littler), but soon things were back on rocky ground for her when husband Gordon had a death scare, suffering a heart attack. Helen blamed herself, but Max supported her and Gordon seemed to recover. However a week later, lightning struck twice when Gordon, Helen and Tom were involved in a car accident that left Gordon dead after he suffered another heart attack.
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Helen began to regain the respect of daughter Mandy and stepson [[Max Cunningham]], but soon things were back on rocky ground for her when husband Gordon had a death scare, suffering a heart attack. Helen blamed herself, but Max supported her and Gordon seemed to recover. However a week later, lightning struck twice when Gordon, Helen and Tom were involved in a car accident that left Gordon dead after he suffered another heart attack.
   
 
Helen was devastated and although she returned home from the hospital, she later died in her sleep whilst sitting in a chair with a blanket over her legs. This left Tom, who survived the crash, an orphan. According to Helen's will, Tom was supposed to stay with Mandy. He then lived with his brother Max for four years until Max died when he was run over on his wedding day, and his widow wife Steph Dean begins to take care of Tom until her death in 2010.
 
Helen was devastated and although she returned home from the hospital, she later died in her sleep whilst sitting in a chair with a blanket over her legs. This left Tom, who survived the crash, an orphan. According to Helen's will, Tom was supposed to stay with Mandy. He then lived with his brother Max for four years until Max died when he was run over on his wedding day, and his widow wife Steph Dean begins to take care of Tom until her death in 2010.
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[[Category:Cunningham Family]]
 
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== Background information ==
[[Category:Richardson Family]]
 
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* In [[2003]], producer [[Jo Hallows]] decided to axe both Helen and [[Gordon Cunningham]], with the characters' final scenes airing in [[February 2004]].
[[Category:Deceased Characters]]
 
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[[Category:Characters]]
 
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== See also ==
[[Category:Female Characters]]
 
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* [[Helen Cunningham (List of appearances)|List of appearances]]
[[Category:1997 Characters]]
 
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* [[Richardson family]]
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* [[Cunningham family]]
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[[Category:Hollyoaks characters]]
 
[[Category:1997 debuts]]
 
[[Category:2004 departures]]
 
[[Category:2017 returns]]
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[[Category:2017 departures]]
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[[Category:2004 deaths]]
 
[[Category:Richardson family]]
 
[[Category:Cunningham family]]
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[[Category:Businesspeople]]
 
[[Category:Deceased characters]]
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[[Category:Past characters]]
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[[Category:Residents of 36 Grange Drive]]
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[[Category:Residents of 12 Tatton Crescent]]

Revision as of 09:22, 12 September 2021

Character Profile   List of appearances    


Helen Cunningham (previously Richardson) was the ex-wife of Dennis Richardson, the wife of Gordon Cunningham as well as the mother to Lewis, Mandy Richardson and Tom Cunningham. She and Gordon were killed in a car accident in February 2004 when the car she, Gordon and Tom were in was struck by a truck (later revealed to have been driven by Milo Entwistle in 2018). The crash left both Mandy and Tom orphans.

Biography

1956-1997: Backstory

To be added.

1997-2000: Early years in Hollyoaks

For much of Helen's early time in the village, she had the terrible misfortune of being saddled with a family intent on ripping itself apart. Helen had a tough time whilst she was married to Dennis Richardson, who had been abusive to her and had repeatedly raped their daughter, Mandy. Helen was unaware of this until Mandy confessed to her brother Lewis after running away in 1998, and Lewis angrily confronted Dennis before he was thrown out of the family home.

After Dennis was sent to prison for seven years after being found guilty of sexually assaulting Mandy in October 1998, Helen found a new love interest in Gordon Cunningham). The pair slept together and Helen was shocked to discover that she was pregnant. Gordon did the honourable thing by asking her to marry him. They soon got married and Helen gave birth to baby Tom Cunningham on Millenium Eve. In October 2001, Helen was devastated when she found out Lewis had attempted suicide by overdosing on paracetamol and was slowly dying from liver failure. This left Helen devastated and she found it hard to cope. Mandy struggled to grieve for Lewis as Helen did as Lewis had assaulted his girlfriend, Ruth Osborne, shortly before his death. Helen and Mandy became estranged, whilst Laura Burns ended up filling Mandy's gap in the family.

2001-2004: Final years in Hollyoaks

Due to Lewis's death, the relationship between Helen and Mandy fell apart and the pair barely spoke to each other. After a while, however, the pair began to rebuild their relationship. Helen then enjoyed a period of happiness running the ironing and cleaning business 'Steam Team' next door to Gordon's Drive 'n' Buy whilst raising Tom.

Then suddenly, for reasons best known to herself, Helen became restless: her shop changed its identity, and so did she, indulging in an affair with Tony, Gordon's friend. This was eventually exposed when an earthquake destroyed the barge the lovesick pair had chosen as a bolt hole. After much argument, Tony told Helen that he did not want to be with her any longer and that she should get back with Gordon for Tom and Mandy's sake. Helen took Tony's advice and she and Gordon were fully reconciled.

Helen began to regain the respect of daughter Mandy and stepson Max Cunningham, but soon things were back on rocky ground for her when husband Gordon had a death scare, suffering a heart attack. Helen blamed herself, but Max supported her and Gordon seemed to recover. However a week later, lightning struck twice when Gordon, Helen and Tom were involved in a car accident that left Gordon dead after he suffered another heart attack.

Helen was devastated and although she returned home from the hospital, she later died in her sleep whilst sitting in a chair with a blanket over her legs. This left Tom, who survived the crash, an orphan. According to Helen's will, Tom was supposed to stay with Mandy. He then lived with his brother Max for four years until Max died when he was run over on his wedding day, and his widow wife Steph Dean begins to take care of Tom until her death in 2010.

Background information

See also