Opening Titles

Ever since it began, Hollyoaks has had opening titles that show off the regular characters and set the tone for the show. Often, the characters featured in the opening titles are updated as cast come and go. Every few years the opening titles are completely refreshed - generally with new visuals, and often a new logo or theme music. This page exists as an index of the various styles of opening titles. Each style has its own page which contains information on revisions made to the opening titles.

1995-style Opening Titles

Tenure: Episode 1 (23rd October 1995) to currently unknown
Versions: 2

Re-creation of the Ordnance Survey map used in the original opening titles which shows the original intended location of Hollyoaks.

The 1995 style of opening titles launched with the first episode.

The style features a blue-coloured map of Chester as the background (showing the intended location of Hollyoaks, just south of Boughton Heath), with a video footage overlay. Initially, this video overlay featured the main cast congregating, but this was later replaced with footage of Chester landmarks. In the foreground, a vertical scrolling filmstrip highlights each cast member through a series of specially-recorded clips, chroma keyed onto various Chester-themed backdrops. Additionally, individual film frames move around behind the filmstrip—initially featuring the cast against a blue screen, but some were later replaced with footage of events from the show. This style uses the original logo and theme tune.

1997-style Opening Titles

Tenure: Currently unknown to Episode 393/394/395 (28th December 1999)
Versions: 3

This style is very similar to the 1995 style. It no longer uses specially shot clips of the cast, instead using clips from episodes. They are no longer presented within a filmstrip, although they still scroll vertically in a curved shape on-screen. There are 30 shots that scroll vertical, and 10 shots which move in the background.

Also featured in this style is the Off on One opening titles.

The final episode to use this style of opening titles was Episode 393/394/395 (28th December 1999).

2000-style Opening Titles

Tenure: Episode 396 (3rd January 2000) to Episode 1625 (14th October 2005)
Versions: 1

The 2000 style of opening titles launched with Episode 396 (3rd January 2000).

A new presentation package was launched as the show marked the new millennium. The general approach is similar to the previous style; however, the clips now scroll over an image of Queens Park Bridge in Chester, with various other Chester locations and clips from the show appearing in the background. There are 27 shots that scroll vertically, and 16 shots which appear in the background. The cliffhanger from the previous episode features as the penultimate shot, with the final shot leading into the episode.

Also featured in this style is the Breaking Boundaries, The Boys Do Barca! and Indecent Behaviour opening titles.

2002-style Opening Titles

Tenure: Currently unknown to Episode 1625 (14th October 2005)
Versions: 2

The 2002 style of opening titles was similar to the 2000 style, only with refreshed visuals. There are 30 shots that scroll vertically, and 16 shots which appear in the background. The theme music was changed to the version introduced with Hollyoaks: Movin' On.

Also featured in this style is the Movin' On, Leap of Faith, After Hours, In Too Deep and Crossing the Line opening titles.

The final episode to use this style of opening titles was Episode 1625 (14th October 2005).

2005-style Opening Titles

Tenure: Episode 1626 (17th October 2005) to Episode 1980 (23rd February 2007)
Versions: 2

The 2005 style of opening titles launched with Episode 1626 (17th October 2005).

To mark the show's 10th anniversary and the departure of original producers Phil Redmond and Jo Hallows, new presentation was created for the show. Motion graphics expert Simon Cox designed a glossy 3D sequence to show off clips from the show, with lots of 3D visuals in the background.

There was only one minor update to this style of opening titles, with Mercedes replacing the final shot. The titles became out-of-date very quickly, with characters still being present months after their deaths or departures.

Also featured in this style is the No Going Back and Back From the Dead opening titles.

The final episode to use this style of opening titles was Episode 1980 (23rd February 2007).

2007-style Opening Titles

Tenure: Episode 1981 (26th February 2007) to Episode 2905 (10th September 2010)
Versions: 19 (2007 Version 1 through 2010 Version 2)

The 2007 style of opening titles launched with Episode 1981 (26th February 2007).

By early 2007, much of the cast featured in the previous opening titles had departed the show. As part of Bryan Kirkwood's revamp of the show, all-new opening titles were designed. Each character is shot individually on a green screen and then composited into a sequence alongside some snazzy pop-art-inspired effects. This meant characters could be added and removed easily, making these the first opening titles created with regular updates being a priority. This style also launched with a brand new theme tune and logo alongside the presentation.

This style launched a new logo for the brand, which featured gender symbols on a pink/blue font. As of Episode 2571 (1st June 2009), the logo became monochromatic with a bevelled gradient effect.

Also featured in this style is the Hollyoaks Later 2008, Hollyoaks Later 2009 opening titles and the May 2010 title card.

This style was originally planned to be used until Episode 2855 (2nd July 2010), but the replacement titles were scrapped and replaced, resulting in a delay.

The final episode to use this style of opening titles was Episode 2905 (10th September 2010).

2010-style Opening Titles

Tenure: Episode 2906 (13th September 2010) to Episode 4465 (2nd September 2016)
Versions: 75 (2010 Version 3 through 2016 Version 13)

The 2010 style of opening titles launched with Episode 2906 (13th September 2010).

With Paul Marquess taking on the role of Series Producer, it was necessary to mark his vision for the show with a brand new new presentation package. New opening titles were promoted as premiering with Episode 2856 (5th July 2010); however, this never came to fruition upon broadcast. It was later revealed that new opening titles had been "postponed". Previews of these titles revealed the style would feature brightly-coloured CGI environments that the camera would zoom through, with tracked and composited characters performing wacky out-of-character actions. When new titles eventually did premiere, they were entirely different, suggesting that this style had been completely scrapped at a late stage.

The style which premiered was reminiscent of the 2007 style, with a number of improvements. Characters were still shot on a green screen and placed in a unique CGI composition which showed off their individual personality or role in the show. The show's logo was given a 3D makeover and all-new theme music accompanied the look.

In 2011 and 2012—likely due to such a large cast of characters—two versions of the opening titles were running simultaneously, which meant some characters appeared in every episode's opening titles, and some only appeared occasionally. One version featured the sixth formers (identified here as type B1) and another featured the freshers (identified here as type B2). The choice of which version would be used for an episode was seemingly random. When this change debuted in autumn 2011, the logo was modified to remove the gender symbols which had been a part of the show's branding since 2007.

By late-2012, the two versions had become one again, with the theme tune being altered and extended to make this possible. Multiple extensions and shortenings of the sequence would take place over the next few years, depending on the size of the cast. Occasionally, numerous characters would share a shot to help with the duration of the opening titles.

In order to keep this style fresh, the colouring of the logo and title card would often by altered. The Christmas special in 2014 marked the first time the show received Christmas-themed title cards.

As the style was still in use during 2016, it currently holds the record for the longest-running opening titles style.

Also featured in this style is the Hollyoaks Later 2010, King of Hearts and Hollyoaks Later 2011 opening titles. Also included is the unique A Little Film About Love by Jason Costello, Chasing Rainbows, Hollyoaks Later 2012 and Hollyoaks Later 2013 opening titles.

The final episode to use this style of opening titles was Episode 4465 (2nd September 2016).

2016-style Opening Titles

Tenure: Episode 4466 (5th September 2016) to Episode 5165 (10th May 2019)
Versions: 64 (2016 Version 14 through 2019 Version 7)

The 2016 style of opening titles launched with Episode 4466 (5th September 2016).

By 2016 the show was overdue for a presentation refresh. Part of a revamp of the show's identity resulted in a new geometric-inspired logo, tweaked theme music and a new presentation package. All title shots are brand new and shot on the show's sets as opposed to green screens with CGI environments. Many of the characters are performing actions similar to their previous green screen shots. The initial batch of shots were directed by Sean Glynn and motion graphics were again produced by Simon Cox.

The final episode to use this style of opening titles was Episode 5165 (10th May 2019).

2019-style Opening Titles

Tenure: Episode 5166 (13th May 2019) to Episode 5765 (14th January 2022)
Versions: 34 (2019 Version 8 through 2022 Version 1)

The 2019 style of opening titles launched with Episode 5166 (13th May 2019).

This style is similar to the previous one, except characters are grouped up as family units and shots are candid rather than posed for. The theme tune has also been slightly remixed. Whilst the logo is the same, the transition as it appears has been revamped.

The COVID-19 pandemic made updating this style difficult, as cast were prevented from being in close contact. As a result, some characters were digitally composited into the titles when reshoots weren't possible, or digitally painted out. The indefinite absence of Stephanie Davis had also made it difficult to reshoot the Hutchinson family shots.

Also featured in this style is the Hollyoaks Later 2020 title card.

The final episode to use this style of opening titles was Episode 5765 (14th January 2022).

2022-style Opening Titles

Tenure: Episode 5766 (17th January 2022) to Episode 6457 (5th September 2024)
Versions: 27 (2022 Version 2 to 2024 Version 4)

The 2022 style of opening titles launched with Episode 5766 (17th January 2022).

The new style of opening titles debuted to mark Lucy Allan's vision for the show.

The titles begin with the Hutchinson family outside The Dog in the Pond as they make their way to the village. From here on in, groups of characters participate in different activities at the bazaar in the heart of the village.

Most of the groupings in the initial sequence are linked by characters or gesture appearing in both:

• Verity links the Hutchinson and Morgan-Cunningham shots.
• Yasmine links the Morgan-Cunningham and Maalik shots.
• Misbah links the Maalik and Lomax shots, although is only seen briefly from behind in the latter.
• the Lomaxes gesture towards the Osbornes.
• Brooke points their camera at Grace stepping on a ball.
• Felix approaches in the background of the individual character shots.
• Sam links the Westwood-Anderson and Chen-Williams shots as day becomes night.
• a link between the Chen-Williams and Nightingale shots is not obvious.
• Donna-Marie launches confetti from a cup which blends into the confetti that Prince launches.
• Mercedes links the McQueen and final line-up shots.

Some of these links are lost in the TV edit of the titles but the original intentions are more obvious in the extended cut, which was released on 14th January 2022.

The various shots transition to one another with a glossy swiping effect. The sequence ends with a group of the show's most prominent characters heading out of the village together.

The original batch of these titles was shot in autumn 2021 when the show was still under strict social distancing guidelines. The cast and crew were tested for COVID-19 to allow close contact on the shoot — a practice which would become a regularity as of January 2022.

Initially, the sequence's final shot featured a selection of the show's notable characters walking towards the city arch as if going for a night out together. However, as a cast member departed unexpectedly, an attempt was made to hide them from the group shot before replacing it entirely with a night-time shot of the village.

New shots were added to this style in January 2023, including two new groupings to complement the final adult line-up shot. These two new groupings continue the concept behind the adults' group shot, featuring characters in their friendship units, away from family units. The high school students gather at the bus stop, and the twenty-somethings make use of a photobooth during a night out at The Loft.

The final episode to use this style of opening titles was Episode 6457 (5th September 2024).

2024-style Opening Titles

Tenure: Episode 6458 (9th September 2024) to present
Versions: Currently in use (2024 Version 5 to present)

The 2024 style of opening titles launched with Episode 6458 (9th September 2024).

They debuted as the show's output decreased to three 20-minute episodes weekly, and they mark Hannah Cheers' vision for the show. The titles are part of a brand new presentation and branding package and utilise a new simplified logo, new fonts and modifications to the theme music.

The style initially premiered with a cast-less title card to prevent spoiling outcomes of storylines; it featured a drone flying over Chester's River Dee towards Queens Park Bridge—which was a familiar sight in the show's early opening titles. The Hollyoaks logo is motion-tracked to the bridge, and each stroke of the glyphs materialises at different times. The "Previously on" segment transitions into the opening titles via five falling vertical bars.

Following the outcome of multiple storylines from the show's "time jump", a full set of titles launched featuring the cast in various friendship, romantic and familial groupings in The Dog in the Pond, culminating in a large gathering at the end. This is similar in concept to the previous style, with the focus being primarily on one set—and appears to take some inspiration from 2019's 'Table for 45' promotional campaign, which featured a static camera in The Dog, as the scene and cast changed around it. The titles are framed by an intermittent coloured border, which comes together to form the logo at the end. The colours are altered for special events or seasons.

These titles mark the first time external locations have appeared in the opening titles since the 2005–2007 style. Also featured in this style is the Hollyoaks Later 2025 title card.

Spin-off Opening Titles

This page features opening titles for spin-offs such as Let Loose, In the City and any webisodes.

Other Opening Titles

This page features opening titles for any minor or non-canon productions.