Bob Hope

Bob Hope is a fictional character from the ITV soap opera Emmerdale, played by Tony Audenshaw. Prior to playing Bob, the actor had previously made a guest appearance in the show as a security guard. Bob was introduced as a hosiery salesman and love interest for Viv Windsor (Deena Payne). He made his first appearance during the episode broadcast on 19 September 2000. Bob is portrayed as having a happy-go-lucky, cheeky persona, and is Emmerdale's most married character with seven marriages to five women. His storylines have included marriage, divorce, fatherhood, losing his daughter Dawn Woods (Julia Mallam), adultery, and homelessness. Creation and casting In 2000, Emmerdale began airing five nights a week, and producer Kieran Roberts planned to introduce six new characters, the first of which was Bob, who made his first appearance in September. Roberts teased Bob's arrival during an interview with Inside Soap'''s Rachel Roberts, saying he was "an outrageous, very funny character". He said Bob was a hosiery salesman who would "provide some long overdue love interest for Viv Windsor." Tony Audenshaw auditioned for the role earlier that year. He previously had a guest role in the serial as a security guard. Deena Payne, who plays Viv Windsor, was screen tested with Audenshaw and five other actors. When the producer asked if she had a preference, she replied that she did not like the fourth actor, who turned out to be Audenshaw. A couple of weeks later, the producer told Payne that Audenshaw had been cast as Bob. Payne told Tony Purnell from the Daily Mirror that she dreaded her first scene with Audenshaw and was nervous about "getting up close and personal" with him. However, when the two actors got talking in between scenes, they started to get on well. Audenshaw commented "I'm aware Deena didn't think I was right for the part at first. But we clicked early on and have built up a great working relationship. People assume she is like Viv – a nightmare on the set and a bitch to work with. I just say, 'Yeah, she is', but I'm only joking." Characterisation Audenshaw said that he loved the comedy aspect to Bob, but was not keen on his "ludicrous hairstyle". The actor explained that it took ages "to quiff up" and spray it, so it would stay in place. While travelling around the country selling hosiery, Bob meets Viv, who had not had a major love interest since the death of her husband two years prior.