| Coronation Street character | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Richard Hillman | |
| Richard Hillman | |
| Portrayed by | Brian Capron |
| Duration | 2001-2003 |
| First appearance | 20 June 2001 |
| Last appearance | 14 March 2003 |
| Book appearances | Coronation Street: The Complete Saga |
| Profile | |
| Date of death | 14 March 2003 |
| Status | Deceased |
| Occupation | Financial adviser |
Richard Charles Hillman was a fictional character in Coronation Street played by Brian Capron. Brian Capron, born 11 February 1947 at Eye in Suffolk, is a British actor who trained at the London Academy of Music and Events 451 - Battle of Chalons: Flavius Aetius ' defeats Attila the Hun. Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. Events 1489 - The Queen of Cyprus, Catherine Cornaro, sells her kingdom to Venice. Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1489 - The Queen of Cyprus, Catherine Cornaro, sells her kingdom to Venice. Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. Death is the termination of the biological functions that define living Organisms It refers both to a specific A financial adviser is a professional who renders investment advice and Financial planning services to individuals and businesses Coronation Street (commonly known as 'Corrie' is an award-winning Soap opera created by Tony Warren Brian Capron, born 11 February 1947 at Eye in Suffolk, is a British actor who trained at the London Academy of Music and
Contents |
First appearance and romance
Hillman, a financial advisor, first appeared in a storyline when he attended Alma Baldwin's funeral in the summer of 2001, claiming to be her cousin. Alma Marie Halliwell (previously Sedgewick and Baldwin) played by Amanda Barrie, is a Fictional character on the ITV Soap
He quickly became friends with Gail Platt. Gail Platt (née Potter; previously Tilsley and Hillman) is a long running Fictional character on the British Soap opera This developed in to a romance, and eventually Richard moved in with her, winning over her children Sarah-Louise and David by buying them expensive gifts. Sarah-Louise Grimshaw (nèe Tilsley; previously Platt) is a Fictional character on the UK Soap opera Coronation Street. David Platt is a Fictional character on the popular ITV Soap opera Coronation Street.
Con-artist
Hillman's dealings were questioned after it was learned by Norris Cole that several elderly people had lost their savings to him. Norris Benjamin Cole, played by Malcolm Hebden, is a Fictional character on the British television Soap opera Coronation Street A charming con man, there was subsequent speculation that Hillman was not a relative of Alma but simply an opportunist. A confidence trick or confidence game (also known as a bunko, con, flim flam, gaffle, grift, scam, scheme
Murders
Richard Hillman is renowned as one of the greatest soap villains of all time. Throughout his time on the soap, he turned from a conniving fraudster into a fully-fledged serial killer, becoming known as 'Killman' Hillman by the press. In the broadest sense a fraud is a Deception made for personal gain or to damage another individual A serial killer is a person who Murders usually three or more people with a "cooling off" period between each murder and whose motivation for killing is largely based He murdered three Street residents and attempted to kill several others, including his own wife and two stepchildren.
Duggie's demise
Richard set up a business called Kellett Towers, which specialised in buy-back mortgages where he would buy a person's house outright, but they would be free to reside there until their death. Richard also went into business with Duggie Ferguson, building an estate of new homes. Hillman confronted Duggie at the flats during a disagreement about Duggie's shoddy workmanship. During the argument Duggie fell several floors when a bannister gave way (ironically, due to his own shoddy workmanship). Duggie was critically injured, however Richard left him to die, opportunistically allowing the incident to remove his unwanted business partner. He panicked at first, whipping out his mobile and dialling emergency services. However, he only dialled '99' before stopping, then he went to Duggie's flat to steal the large amount of cash Duggie stored there.
Murder of Patricia Hillman
Soon after, Hillman's bitter ex-wife Patricia came to Weatherfield and wanted her half of the business. Hillman refused and, after a heated argument at the flats, smashed Patricia in the face with a spade, killing her instantly. Her body was buried in the foundations of the flats. Norris became increasingly suspicious, but Hillman bullied him into silence. Several months later Hillman and Gail married.
Battle with Audrey Roberts
Over the following months, his business going downhill, Richard learned that Gail's mother, Audrey Roberts, was worth £250,000. Audrey Roberts (née Potter) played by Sue Nicholls, is one of the longest running characters on the Soap opera Coronation Street Over the next few months, he managed to convince Audrey and her family that she was going senile, then tried to kill her in a house fire. Gaslighting is a form of Psychological abuse. It involves an increasing frequency of systematically withholding factual information from and/or providing false information She survived and eventually realised that Hillman was trying to kill her. She tried to warn Gail of his shady dealings, but Gail was convinced that she was indeed senile and refused to believe any of it, cutting all ties with Audrey. Audrey enlisted her friend Archie Shuttleworth (played by Roy Hudd) and tried to expose Hillman, but they were unsuccessful. Roy Hudd, OBE (born 16 May 1936 in Croydon) is an English radio and television actor
Murder of Maxine Peacock
Hillman was becoming desperate for money and needed to kill again. His next target was Emily Bishop, whose house he had bought in a mortgage buy-back scheme. Emily Bishop (née Nugent, previously Swain) is a long running character on the British Soap opera Coronation Street Upon Emily's death he would be free to sell her house. During Maxine's mother Doreen Heavey's 50th birthday party at the Rover's Return pub, Hillman sneaked out of the pub, disguised himself as Aiden Critchley, and entered the house of Maxine Peacock where Emily was babysitting. The Rovers Return Inn is a fictional Public house on the long running British television soap, Coronation Street. Maxine Marion Louise Peacock (née Heavey) was a Fictional character played by Tracy Shaw on the British Soap opera Coronation Richard brutally attacked Emily with a crow bar. However, Maxine unexpectedly returned home at that point, saw him with the crowbar standing over Emily and confronted him. Hillman muttered in a sinister voice, "You should have stayed at the party Maxine", and beat her to death. Hillman staged a robbery and framed the despised Aiden who was jailed. Emily survived the attack.
Hillman received a phone call that a woman who had sold her home to Richard in a buy-back scheme had died a week prior. Hillman was distraught with guilt, realising that the attempt on Emily's life and Maxine's murder were now pointless, as he had already legally gained possession of the dead woman's home, and therefore would be able to now sell it. ---- Guilt is the Fact, state or Verdict (by a Court or other Tribunal) of an Offence, Crime, Violation
Confession
After drug tests showed that Aiden had been drugged with the same variety of tranquilizers that Audrey had been prescribed (but had never taken), Aiden convinced Sarah-Louise Platt that he didn't commit the murder. Sarah-Louise Grimshaw (nèe Tilsley; previously Platt) is a Fictional character on the UK Soap opera Coronation Street. Gail also then learned that Richard had lied about several other matters connected to his ex-wife's disappearance. She recalled seeing Richard at the cabinet where the tranquilizers were kept the night of Maxine's murder. She also learned that Richard had lied about his former wife's bracelet, when Steve McDonald revealed he had himself found it on the building site. Gail confronted Hillman, who confessed to the murders. Gail was sickened and described her husband as "Norman Bates with a briefcase". Fictional character biography Both the novel and Alfred Hitchcock 's 1960 film adaptation explain that Bates suffered severe emotional Abuse
Drowning horror and Richard's death
Hillman ran away, but returned two weeks later and planned to kill his entire family. He was in the house when David returned home, and kept him silent when David's friend, Craig, called through the window. When Sarah returned later with then-boyfriend Todd, she left daughter Bethany on the sofa. While she was seeing Todd out, Hillman picked up Bethany and told Sarah that they'd both be okay if she did exactly what he said. Gail returned home in the evening, and had her hands tied by Richard. Gail, however, managed to smuggle a pair of nail scissors into her hands on the way out of the house. The kids were safe, but were bound and gagged in the family's car. While Gail was telling her kids she loved them, she put the scissors in Sarah's hands. Originally, Richard was going to gas the family in the garage, until Audrey called in and disturbed his plans. With the help of Kevin Webster, Tommy Harris, and Gail's ex-husband Martin Platt they broke down the garage door. Kevin John Webster, played by Michael Le Vell, is a long running character in the British television Soap opera Coronation Street Martin Platt was a Fictional character from the British ITV soap opera Coronation Street, portrayed by Sean Wilson.
However, Hillman drove off, with "You and Me Song" by The Wannadies playing on the CD player, which he said was a favourite of Sarah-Lou's from a previous summer holiday. The Wannadies are an Alternative rock band formed in 1988 in Skellefteå, northern Sweden. Martin, Kevin and Tommy were pursuing in another car. Sarah cut David's bonds, slowly but surely, then cut her own. Sarah then reached forward and tried to free Gail. Richard tried to pull them back and was swerving all over the road. Hillman eventually drove them into the canal, screaming "This is it! I LOVE YOU!". The various family members managed to free themselves from the vehicle and were rescued by Tommy Harris. Richard drowned. His corpse was later identified by Gail beside the canal before being zipped into a body bag.
Beyond the grave
On 28 January 2006 as Sarah celebrated her 19th birthday she received a birthday card signed "I still think of you as my daughter. Events 1077 - Walk to Canossa: The Excommunication of Henry IV Holy Roman Emperor is lifted Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. . . Love Richard". The Platts put this down to a sick joke, but a few weeks later Gail received a Valentine card from Richard. Gail received a third card on 14 March 2006, the third anniversary of his death. Events 1489 - The Queen of Cyprus, Catherine Cornaro, sells her kingdom to Venice. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. On Mother's Day, Audrey received a card. On her birthday, she received a card from him stating that he would 'see her soon'. In April, Les Battersby announced that he gave a ride to Richard Hillman in his cab, though this was seen as Les getting in on the gossip.
Sarah tried to convince Gail that it was David that was sending the cards. David denied this and started truanting from school, which caused Gail quite a lot of stress. Gail decided to test David by saying that it was Richard's birthday coming up in June 2006. On Richard's "birthday", she received a card. That confirmed that the evil card-sender was David, as he didn't realise Richard's birthday was actually in December.
Richard Hillman is still controlling the way the Platt's behave years after death. David has been permanently traumatized by the situation, and proves it by acting in vicious or disturbing ways. On Halloween 2007, David drove his car into the canal in the exact same place as Richard, to the same music. It seems that all these years later, the ordeal is still clear in his head, and still shows no signs of leaving.
On 14 March 2008, David pushes Gail down the stairs, ITV said this episode was made for this date as it will be five years since Richard died.
Hillman's ghost
Throughout his succeeding storylines, Richard's former stepson David often hints at still being haunted by the memory of his psychotic stepfather. Instances include:
David Platt talking about his "bullies": "It's all about you in the first place. You and Richard. What do you call somebody who can't tell the difference between Blind Date and Crimewatch? David's mum. Blind Date is a British Dating game show produced by ITV contractor London Weekend Television. And every time I hear that, it's like I'm back there, looking at him. "
David Platt talking to Jason about his mental damage: "It's weird the images that go through your head when somebody did want you dead. Like Richard. "
David Platt to his mum: "Why would I send cards from Richard? I still have nightmares about him!"
David Platt during an argument with his mum: "I've hardly had a great life, have I? With your psycho boyfriends!"
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