Toby Mills

Fictional character from the soap opera, Hollyoaks

Toby Mills is a fictional character from the British soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Henry Luxemburg. The character debuted on screen during the episode broadcast on 25 October 2001. Toby is introduced into the series as a university student and a pub barman. He was originally characterised as a risk taker and a loyal friend. Producers decided to transform Toby into the show's first serial killer. His murder spree plays largely into his characterisation as writers displayed his anger issues and relationship issues. The show's production developed the serial killer plot as a mystery storyline. The killer's identity was originally concealed and Toby's true identity remained unknown to viewers. He was revealed as the killer in the show's 1000th episode and it formed the milestones main storyline. Writers focused largely on Toby's relationship with Ellie Mills (Sarah Baxendale). He continues to murder blonde haired women in secret until Ellie eventually discovers the truth. Toby later tries to kill Steph Dean (Carley Stenson) but she survives, creating the potential for Toby's crimes to be exposed. Ellie discovers Toby's murders but choses to ignore this. Luxemburg left the series and his departure was played out in a spin off show titled Hollyoaks: Leap of Faith. It focused on Toby's comeuppance and death. It features a series of stunts which were performed by body doubles. Toby is run over by a car and later falls from a one hundred foot building to his death. He made his final appearance as Toby during the episode broadcast on 5 November 2003. After his departure, Luxemburg revealed that he had never been worried about being typecast as a television serial killer. Luxemburg and Toby's stories have been nominated for two Inside Soap Awards and three British Soap Awards. Television critics have branded him the show's most prolific killer and praised his storylines.

Luxemburg auditioned and secured the role of Toby six months after he had graduated from drama school. In an interview with Steve Pratt from The Northern Echo, he reminisced about his "relief" felt when putting his skill set learned at drama school to use. Luxemburg recalled that he learned a lot when he assumed the role, adding "everything I was taught was falling into place."

Toby is introduced into the series as a university student at the Hollyoaks Community College studying Cultural Studies. He also takes part time employment as a barman at the Dog in the Pond pub. On the show's official website, Toby is described as being "not scared to take a risk, but a loyal friend." Toby's development into a serial killer played largely into his characterisation. Luxemburg was never worried about being typecast as a fictional serial killer because of the younger demographic Hollyoaks was created for. He revealed that many in the industry did not automatically associate him with the role. Toby tries to tell Mandy their relationship is over but she fails to realise this. His friend, Ben Davies (Marcus Patric) is confused that Mandy was okay with the break up. Toby later attends a party and Mandy is convinced they are still together. Luxemburg explained that Mandy kisses Toby and Toby's ex girlfriend, Ellie Mills (Sarah Baxendale) informs Mandy that Toby has broken up with her. The storyline had been planned and developed for eighteen months. The show's executive producer Jo Hallows wanted to create new stories which pushed the boundaries of the soap opera genre. Hallows told an Inside Soap reporter that she chose to keep the serial killer's identity a secret to "create maximum surprise" during the show's 1000th episode. She added that the murders would continue and occur in the village itself. Hallows created an atmosphere on the show where all characters live in fear of becoming the killers next victim. After Toby was unveiled as the serial killer, they portrayed his girlfriend Ellie as unaware of his crimes. Ellie's behaviour often contributes to Toby's paranoia and subsequent killings. Baxendale told Kathryn Secretan from Soaplife that Ellie undeserving to receive the blame for Toby's murderous behaviour. She added that Ellie "has absolutely no idea" about Toby's true identity. She explained that Ellie is aware that Toby is a "paranoid person" and knows he has a "angry side" but she could never fathom him being a serial killer. Baxendale believed a "pivotal point" in Toby's storyline is when Ellie secures work as a promotions girl and he becomes angry with her. She added "she gets really upset at Toby's reaction to her new job and she's actually quite scared because he's so angry." Luxemburg concluded that Toby "decides to stand up to his mum" and side with Ellie. She threatens to leave Hollyoaks permanently but Toby does not squander, despite it being a "tough decision". Writers created an ally for Toby via Ellie's brother Dan, who suspects that Ellie is having an affair with Scott. McNair told Alison James from Soaplife that Dan does not trust Ellie and thinks she is a "bitch". He sides with Toby throughout the entire storyline, unaware his sister is living with a murderer. When Toby kills another woman, he is bruised from the struggle. Dan sees Toby's injuries and when he finds the Mills flat ransacked he assumes Ellie is domestically abusing Toby. Steve Truglia, a stuntman and former SAS soldier played the role of Toby during the stunts. On screen Toby was depicted as being run over by a car, jumping across unconnected high rise building and falling from a rooftop ledge. The rooftop jumps were difficult because of the short pace run up prior to jumping. Truglia told a Wanstead and Woodford Guardian journalist that there was an airbag at the bottom of gapped building in case he miss and fell off the building. Truglia also had to wear a wig during the stunts to match the character's appearance. After the hours went by, Toby caught Ellie trying to get in contact with her brother which made Toby furious. Toby decided to bet with Ellie whether their love could survive anything, and suggested they each jump onto the opposite roof building. Ellie, however, was concerned as Toby continued to get increasingly aggressive. Dan arrived in time to witness Toby harming Ellie. In order to save his sister's life, Dan pushed Toby off the building, where he landed in the road and was hit by a car. This was witnessed by several people, including Ellie and Dan's sister Lisa, who had come with Dan to rescue Ellie. Toby later dies.

In 2003, the character was nominated for Best Bad Boy at the Inside Soap Awards. The following year, Toby's death and Dan's trial for his murder received a nomination for Best Storyline. At the 2004 British Soap Awards, Luxemburg was nominated for the Villain of the Year and Best Exit accolades. Toby's rooftop fall was nominated for Spectacular Scene of the Year award at the same ceremony. On 18 September 2020, Channel 4 chose the episode centric to Toby taking Ellie hostage in their flat as part of their Hollyoaks Favourites series. The series features what the broadcaster deemed "classic episodes". The BBC ran a poll to determine television's "Best Villain" in 2003. Toby was rated as the eighth best out of a list of twenty villains. Katie Byrne from Digital Spy ranked Toby at nine in her list of Hollyoaks' "nine scariest killers". She opined belongs to "far away era" of the show and branded his killing style as "throwback terror". Byrne described a gritty end to the character, stating "you know things are about to get dark when the conclusion of a storyline is played out in a late night one off episode." Marion McMullen of South Wales Echo included Toby's murder spree in her list of twenty five most memorable facts about Hollyoaks. Toby gained the title of the show's "biggest killer" due to the amount of murders he committed. Claire Miller and Ian Hughes writing for Cambridge News branded Toby "Hollyoaks' most prolific serial killer the soap has seen seven so far." They added the murder rate on the show was "reasonably quiet" until Toby was introduced. Frances Ewings from Metro named him "possessive" and "the soap's most prolific murderer" who had a "reign of terror" on the show. Ewings also questioned the plausibility of a serial killer who just murders blonde haired females, when in reality the female characters could dye their hair brown for protection. Jessica Boulton writing for Daily Mirror also assessed that Toby is one of the "most prolific" killers on Hollyoaks. Emma Clayton from Telegraph & Argus believed that Luxemburg's performance as a serial killer "struck terror into the hearts of millions of viewers." She branded Toby a "charming but deadly" character. A critic from Sunday Mercury reviewed that the rooftop fall was a "dramatic climax to the serial killer storyline". A Sunday World writer assessed that Hollyoaks had become "particularly gripping" viewing because of Toby's serial killer storyline. Kate Woodward from Inside Soap described the serial killer plot as a "blonde slaying bonanza". Soaplife's Secretan branded the character "the most dangerous and evil man in Chester" who committed "brutal murders". An Inside Soap reporter praised the serial killer storyline. They stated such a character was "much needed" in the show because it was "the perfect way to remove the endless stream of golden topped clones in the show."