28 [23] = Frankie Osborne = 6.19% (Round 2)
Taking a dip of 5 places is one of Hollyoak’s longest serving characters; Frankie Osborne. She’s the mother of 4 who after the split of her marriage, moved on and married Jack. She’s seen a huge amount of big storylines, however for the past year has been a bit quiet (save for the Gilly stuff). What with Darren and Nancy’s upcoming marriage, we should see more of Frankie in the future. It would be good if Hollyoaks focused more on the family stuff, rather than the teens who have no family to see off/ no ties to anyone, as it gives a good dynamic for the show. Hopefully we will see more Jack and Frankie as 2012 progresses and they get something good to do.

27 [NE] = Dennis Savage = 6.24% (Round 2)
Next up is the 2nd highest member of the Savage clan – Dennis. Dennis is a character who was brought into the show to fill the void left when Lee Hunter left the village for a second time, the character has some of the same traits as Lee and also found himself in Leanne’s romantic pathway. However the character recently departed the show to go to India, however judging by tweets, the character is due back soon. What the character will do upon his return is anyone’s guess as the Leanne romance seemed to have petered out before he left.

26 [27] = Texas Longford = 6.29% (Round 2)
Texas takes a climb of 1 place from last year, in terms of progression though Texas performs a lot better this yet – she was eliminated in Round 1 last year and this year got to Round 2. At this time last year, Texas was seemingly not giving a damn about India’s murder. This seemed to be the case barring a couple of incidents until the Silas plot really hotted up. Texas was an almost victim on about 3 different occasions; however is still very much alive. Post Silas she hasn’t done a huge amount, except for share a kiss with new comer Jodie, what lays in store for her in 2012 is anyone’s guess.

25 [15] = Carmel Valentine = 6.55% (Round 2)
Another big fall for a member of the McQueen clan as Carmel takes a 10 place fall and out of the top 20 for the 1st time. I guess its difficult to believe these days that Carmel did infact win this one year (I believe when ThaGazBoi did it), however this year however really struggled in her Round 2 group. The character has had a bit of an up and down year, she was going to become a nun and became embroiled in Father Francis’ money scam. The character has been a bit on the outside of the major storylines of the past year and would be good to see Carmel actually get her teeth into a proper storyline – however it seems as though it may be a long time coming If the teens continue to dominate the proceedings.

24 [NE] = Ash Kane = 7.30% (Round 2)
Next up is Ash who enters this year at 24. Ash debuted on screen with the other freshers late in 2011, the character is the only one introduced who has also got her family living close by/ in the village. Ash had a secret from the others in the beginning – however it was revealed that she was living at home with Callum and her mum. The character is a bit alternative, strong and wild at times. I think with the introduction of Ash and Callum’s mum that we will probably see more of them in 2012 and possibly explore the family more.

These are fascinating. I love Leanne so it's sad to see her so low in the rankings. Sad to see Liberty so low too. I like Scott and Rob too but they've not made much of an impression yet. Can't fault the rest of the rankings really.

23 [NE] = Callum Kane = 8.19% (Round 2)
Callum is up next at 23, who is just 1 place above his sister, however does mean he is the highest place of the Kane clan. Callum also has the honour of being the highest ranked of the new sixth form gang, in fact he was the only one to progress to the 2nd round. However had this started a couple of weeks after it did, I’m guessing George may have had a better shot. Callum came into the show as a bit of a mystery and a loner and the brother to fresher Ash. The character I would say definitely comes out the best of the new teens and the fact his mum has been introduced should mean that we will get to see more of the Kane family in the future. The friendship between Callum and George is really well played and hopefully this friendship is developed more. The only problem with the character is that he is going out with 40 year old Maddie – if he stays clear then he may be even more popular.

22 [20] = Riley Costello = 8.28% (Round 2)
Taking a small dip of just 2 places is the last Costello standing – Riley. A character who has departed, however judging by reports (well twitter… and a soap magazine) he looks set to return. The character was put through the mill last year with his wedding to Mercedes coming to a big end with Mercedes confessing to sleeping with Carl. Mercedes was then kidnapped by Silas and along with their child almost died. Riley’s seen the death of his mum at the hands of Silas as well. Personally I think the Costellos (barring Jason – irratating) were a fantastic family, and hopefully as Riley is set to return that maybe Seth or Carl will return at some point in the future – ES – sort it out!

Carmel won one year? Hard to imagine now. Although I do remember she was a lot more popular when she first came into the show.

Yeah yohinn, I love the effort you're putting into this! Makes it feel like a proper countdown instead of just a list of names and numbers.

21 [16] = Tony Hutchinson = 8.37% (Round 2)
Hollyoaks’ longest serving character takes a drop of 5 places and to outside of the top 20. Tony has been in the show since the beginning and therefore survived every revamp and mass culling the show has seen. However over the last year the character has taken a bit of a back burner. During the PM revamp he was given the Sharpe family, who were swiftly axed from the show a few months later. After this he became embroiled with Cindy and also with Mandy’s return, he then went travelling before coming back to the village. For me (whilst its nice to have a long standing character in the show) the character is seriously being underused and it feels as though they don’t know what to do with the character anymore. Hopefully he’ll be given something to do in 2012, instead of playing a bit part.

Results Recap (50-21)

50 [NE] = Dirk Savage = 3.75% (Round 1)
49 [NE] = Jodie Wilde = 4.01% (Round 1)
48 [39] = Finn O’Connor = 4.10% (Round 1)
47 [NE] = Neil Cooper = 4.98% (Round 1)
46 [NE] = George Smith = 5.16% (Round 1)
45 [21] = Sinead O’Connor = 5.18% (Round 1)
44 [48] = Liberty Savage = 5.66% (Round 1)
43 [NE] = Maddie Morrison = 5.81% (Round 1)
42 [46] = Ruby Button = 6.24% (Round 1)
41 [NE] = Will Savage = 6.72% (Round 1)
40 [35] = Tom Cunningham = 6.79% (Round 1)
39 [NE] = Jono = 7.01% (Round 1)
38 [NE] = Declan Brady = 7.16% (Round 1)
37 [NE] = Scott Sabeka = 7.79% (Round 1)
36 [10] = Bart McQueen = 7.86% (Round 1)
35 [NE] = Tilly Evans = 7.91% (Round 1)
34 [42] = Leanne Holiday = 7.95% (Round 1)
33 [25] = Diane O’Connor = 8.18% (Round 1)
32 [NE] = Rob Edwards = 8.43% (Round 1)
31 [22] = Ricky Campbell = 9.09% (Round 1)
30 [NE] = Michaela McQueen = 5.57% (Round 2)
29 [NE] = Joel Dexter = 5.80% (Round 2)
28 [23] = Frankie Osborne = 6.19% (Round 2)
27 [NE] = Dennis Savage = 6.24% (Round 2)
26 [27] = Texas Longford = 6.29% (Round 2)
25 [15] = Carmel Valentine = 6.55% (Round 2)
24 [NE] = Ash Kane = 7.30% (Round 2)
23 [NE] = Callum Kane = 8.19% (Round 2)
22 [20] = Riley Costello = 8.28% (Round 2)
21 [16] = Tony Hutchinson = 8.37% (Round 2)

The rest of the results will be posted from 8.30... as i'm gonna go and grab some dinner - so see you then, for the countdown and reveal of your Favourite Character 2012...

No surprises to see most of the Teens in the low rankings.

You've put a lot of work into this, thanks

I'm loving your analysis of each character's popularity. I don't agree with all of it, but it's really fair. So interesting!

Great stuff - and says it all I didn't notice you hadn't included Daytona Lights (though they featured more than the likes of Diane and Dirk) in the poll until you mentioned them in Michaela's result.

Thanks for doing this, yohinnchild! I'm liking your tongue in cheek comments

Great results, I also think if George was in a later group he would be a lot higher. I also would have ranked Riley a bit higher and Michaela a lot lower if the list was just my own.

What a great way to reveal the results, thanks for the effort you put in, it's always interesting.

I'm flabberghasted to find out that Carmel was ever popular enough to win.

She was probably my favourite character back around when she first turned up

Thanks for all the effort you have put into this. Some surprises so far.

Ok lets do 20 - 01

20 [09] = Mercedes Fisher = 8.53% (Round 2)
Despite Mercedes having a huge year, the character takes a big fall of 11 places, out of the top 10 (she was in last years final), and just manages to remain in the top 20. I think the main problem with the character is that there is just no development there at all. She’s the same now than when she was when she first came into the show – she has learned nothing from her experiences and nothing seems to have changed her at all. It seemed as though she had changed throughout the Silas ordeal, however this now seems not to be the case. It’s quite frustrating and to be honest because of the non-development of the character you struggle to really care anymore. My own personal opinion is the character (and pretty much most of the McQueen family) has really passed it best and really should’ve left by now.

19 [NE] = Esther Bloom = 8.80% (Round 2)
Up next, is one of only 2 teens to reach the 2nd round and the only one to reach the top 20 – Esther. A testament to her potential and how liked she is, as the character has been severely overlooked in favour of the 40 year old teen and the rest of the ‘cool’ gang, however still ranks as the highest placed teen. Esther was really brought into the show to act as someone for Frankie to mother since Steph’s death. She came into the show with a bang after being attacked by Tom. She then came out that she was a lesbian and barring a fling with Tilly during the Welsh trip has not had much of a look in storyline wise. It’s a shame as Esther is a good character and well played, however seems at the moment at least to be just glued to Ruby’s side. Hopefully she is given something to do in the future.

18 [17] = Jack Osborne = 8.82% (Round 2)
Jack drops just one place from last year and still shows that the character is still very popular; even after all these years. Although Jack has not had the biggest of years and is usually on the outskirts of the main storylines these days, the character is (a bit like Tony) a staple ingredient to Hollyoaks. The relationship between Jack and Darren is fantastic and its good to see them both still on the show after these years. I guess Jack’s biggest plot in recent years was him faking his own death to get money to save the pub. Hopefully with Darren and Nancy’s wedding coming up that we will get to see more of Jack on screen + in the future he is given bigger storylines.

17 [NE] = Annalise Appleton = 9.36% (Round 2)
So next up is Annalise, who is ranked as the 2nd highest of the new fresher’s group. Personally I don’t understand her popularity, in the same way I couldn’t see Jess’ popularity when she was in the show and hooked up with Kris. The character of Annalise was introduced along with the 4 other freshers later last year, she is hooked up with Rob, despite having some feelings for Scott which was slightly touched on last year, until the moment between them was broken due to Rob’s hit and run. I think for a lot of the new characters, we will get to see them involved in some bigger storylines as time progresses – however at the moment the freshers do seem to be in a bit of a comedy storyline cycle – but I guess once the sixth formers are off the screen then other characters will get a turn.