Josie Porritt
Played by
Vinette Robinson
Life in Hope Springs offers Josie the unexpected possibility of finally being at peace with herself after years of feeling like an outcast. A temperamental yet free spirit, she grew up feeling like an outsider in her middle-class, religious family home. On learning his daughter was gay, Josie's preacher father arranged for an exorcism and her violent reaction saw her parents have her sectioned, then disown her. Abandoned, rejected and angry - Josie set fire to her parents’ church one night, and was soon spending a long stretch in Holloway for arson. In spite of her crime – or, perhaps, because of it, Josie is intensely moral - hating all the more the hypocritical ‘morality’ preached by users and bullies.
Whilst in prison, Josie was able to spread her wings, and found a bessie mate in non-judgemental and game-for-a laugh Shoo. Josie and Shoo came to Ellie as a double act; desperately trying to stay out of trouble, but inevitably falling back into it out of habit or stupidity. Still and all – the ever-positive Josie always picks herself up and dusts herself down.
After the confinement of prison, Josie is reinvigorated by the outdoor life she's now got on offer in Hope Springs. Refurbishing the local hotel and pub is a challenge she's more than happy to rise to, she loves the physical effort required and finally feels she's found a place where she could truly belong. Despite her gung-ho approach to life, Josie has, perhaps, the softest, most intuitive heart of all the women.
Read our interview with Vinette Robinson.