Nick Pickard wants Will Mellor back on 'Hollyoaks'.

Nick Pickard

Nick Pickard

The Channel 4 soap will celebrate its 25th birthday in October this year, and the 44-year-old actor - who has played Tony Hutchinson since the show's launch - would love to see his former co-star reprise the role of James 'Jambo' Bolton.

Speaking to RadioTimes.com, he said: "I'd like to see Will Mellor come back. Obviously I started the show back in 1995 with him.

"His character Jambo was Tony's best friend, maybe if he came in to comfort him in his time of need or something. It would be a flying visit."

Will - who is currently working towards a revival of sitcom 'Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps' - initially left 'Hollyoaks' after three years in 1998 before making a return in 2004.

He was back on the set of the show last year when he appeared with Nick for an episode of 'Celebrity Antiques Road Trip', but it remains to be seen if a return is on the cards.

Will recently said: "Personally, I'd like to do something just to say thank you.

"But it's so difficult with schedules. Because it's a soap, they have to book you up for a long time and that could mean missing out on another job that could be better for me to do, as 'Hollyoaks' would only be going back for a little cameo.

"But I do owe the show a lot."

Bosses have teased big plans for the show's anniversary, including some old faces making a comeback as part of the celebrations.

As well as his old friend, Nick also had another idea for a return.

He added: "Obviously I'd really love it if Jezzy [Jeremy Edwards, who played Kurt Benson] came back, but he's dead [and already been back as a ghost in the 2013 'Hollyoaks Later'] so I don't think there's much chance of that!

"But you never know in soaps what could happen - four months ago I never had a dad and a whole other family but now I have!"