Jade Hedy played by Lucy Gape, made her first on-screen appearance on 13 September 2013. The character was announced by executive producer Bryan Kirkwood on 13 July 2013. Hollyoaks usually introduces freshers as new characters. Kirkwood revealed that Jade is the only new character in the freshers group. He wanted to focus on the established characters Tilly Evans (Lucy Dixon) and George Smith (Steven Roberts) and their transition into university. They will move into a "knackered old student house" which replaces the old student halls set.