Niall Rafferty
| Niall Rafferty | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Hollyoaks character | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Portrayed by |
Barry Sloane Devon Jackson (flashback) |
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| Duration | 2007–08 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| First appearance | 3 December 2007 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last appearance | 27 November 2008 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Introduced by | Bryan Kirkwood | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spin-off appearances |
Hollyoaks Later (2008) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Classification | Former; regular | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Profile | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other names | Matthew Brownlow | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Occupation | Hairdresser (2007–08) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Family | McQueen |
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| Father | Martin Brownlow |
| Mother | Myra McQueen |
| Adoptive father | Mr Rafferty |
| Adoptive mother | Jean Snow |
| Half-brothers | John Paul McQueen |
| Half-sisters |
Jacqui McQueen Mercedes McQueen Tina Reilly Carmel McQueen Michaela McQueen Carmina Celeste McQueen |
| Grandmothers | Marlena McQueen |
| Uncles | Louis McQueen |
| Aunts |
Kathleen McQueen Reenie McQueen |
| Nephews |
Max McQueen Matthew McQueen Bobby Gabriel McQueen |
| First cousins |
Theresa McQueen Celine McQueen Porsche McQueen Jennifique McQueen Louis McQueen Cleo McQueen Julie-Ann McQueen |
| Other relatives | Queenie McQueen Victor McQueen Bart McQueen Kathleen-Angel McQueen Goldie McQueen Hunter McQueen Prince McQueen |
Niall Rafferty (real name Matthew McQueen) is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Barry Sloane. He first appeared during an episode broadcast on 3 December 2007. Former Brookside actor Sloane was cast as the "mysterious" hairdresser Niall and was introduced by the series' producer Bryan Kirkwood. During Sloane's portrayal of the character on-screen, he was central to a storyline involving the already-established McQueen family and it was revealed Niall was the illegitimate son of Myra McQueen (Nicole Barber-Lane). The storyline featured Niall seek revenge on the McQueens, which concluded in highly advertised episodes featuring Niall kidnapping his siblings and causing the death of sister Tina McQueen (Leah Hackett). Niall was portrayed by upcoming actor Devon Jackson, the younger brother of Hollyoaks actor Kieron Richardson, in flashback scenes depicting the character's childhood.
The character's other storylines included his relationship with Steph Dean (Carley Stenson). Sloane made his final appearance as Niall during Hollyoaks late-night special series Hollyoaks Later in November 2008. Sloane has been nominated for several awards for his portrayal of the character.
The character of Niall was first announced in November 2007. Kirkwood discussed Niall in an interview with Digital Spy: "A tall stranger who walks into the village — a guy called Niall. He sets himself up as a hair stylist in the salon and he's very ambiguous and mysterious. Viewers will be wondering 'Is he gay? Is he straight? Is he a drugsman?' " He would soon be revealed as, "the big storyline of 2008 — Myra [McQueen]'s secret and abandoned son is back to wreak revenge on each of the McQueens in turn." Niall's backstory was revealed as his storyline continued through 2008. It was revealed he had been given up by a 14-year-old Myra and abandoned at a church a day after the birth. Niall then spent the rest of his childhood in care.
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