Dylan Shaw, played by Mikey Riddington-Smith debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 9 May 2012. The character was announced on 29 January 2012 by Daniel Kilkelly from Digital Spy and was then named "Mikey". Hollyoaks put out a casting call for deaf actors over the age of sixteen to audition for the role. Their requirements were are that all candidates must be fully or partially deaf and have the ability to communicate in sign language.