Richard Hillman

Infobox soap character
series=Coronation Street
color=#F0E68C
name = Richard Hillman
portrayer = Brian Capron



caption1 =
first = 20 June 2001
last = 14 March 2003
born =
death = 14 March 2003
parents =
siblings =
spouse = Gail Platt (2002-2003)
cousins = Alma Baldwin
occupation = Financial advisor
books = Coronation Street: The Complete Saga

Richard Charles Hillman is a fictional character in the British television soap opera, "Coronation Street", played by Brian Capron.

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.

He quickly became friends with Gail Platt. 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. Most notably, by supplying David with fake tanning products, his first introduction to the 'fake bake'.

Con-artist

Hillman's dealings were questioned after it was learned by Norris Cole that several elderly people had lost their savings to him. A charming con man, there was subsequent speculation that Hillman was not a relative of Alma but simply an opportunist.

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. 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. 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. 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.

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. 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. 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.

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. 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".

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.

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. 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... 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. 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. And every time I hear that, it's like I'm back there, looking at him."

David Platt talking to Jason about his mental da

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!"

External links

* [http://www.corrie.net/profiles/characters/hillman_richard.html Corrie.net profile of Hillman]