Hollyoaks has had its fair share of explosive storylines in the past year, with everything from tragedy, romance and scandal.
And it looks like 2023 is going to be even more dramatic, with the bosses lining up some exciting plotlines that will keep viewers hooked for months to come.
In recent episodes, poor Diane was shot with a crossbow by Tony’s evil half-brother Eric, during the horrifying siege in The Hound.
Drama – It looks like 2023 is going to be even more dramatic, with the Hollyoaks bosses lining up some exciting storylines that will keep viewers hooked for months to come.
While Juliet has struggled to cope with her cancer diagnosis, with scenes in which she is seen trying to navigate her family and romance with Peri Lomax.
And Hollyoaks producer Lucy Allan has anticipated what’s to come for those characters, while also lifting the lid on the twists and turns that other villagers will face in the upcoming scenes.
Here, we take a look at the five big stories that will wow fans of the Channel 4 soap opera.
Juliet’s Cancer Story
With Juliet (Niamh Blackshaw) still adjusting to life since being diagnosed with Hodgkin’s disease, Lucy joked with Metro.es that fans will see a heartwarming special episode involving the teen and her girlfriend Peri (Ruby O’Donnell).
Lucy told the publication: ‘It’s a great emotional story. We are talking about Juliet: the fighter! It was important to us that Juliet not lose Juliet through this story. What I can tell you is that we are going to Brighton to film a special episode for Juliet and Peri; we really wanted to see the joy of those two as a couple. We know they’re fan favorites, people love them together.’
Plot: With Juliet (Niamh Blackshaw) still adjusting to life since being diagnosed with Hodgkin’s disease, Lucy teased that fans will see a touching special episode involving the teen and her girlfriend Peri.
He went on to say that while viewers haven’t completely turned against Nadira (Ashling O’Shea) in the midst of her romance with Juliet, fans are still rooting for Juliet and Peri as their long-running romantic story continues.
And as Juliet stands strong in her fight against cancer, her feelings turn to anger and she questions the unfairness and unfairness of her diagnosis.
Fans will also see how Peri copes with the situation not only as Juliet’s partner, but also as a nurse and how she handles the two.
Meanwhile, Juliet’s plight is also a challenge for her brothers James and Romeo and their mother Donna-Marie (Lucy-Jo Hudson).
Battle: Juliet stays strong in her fight against cancer, her feelings turn to anger and she questions the unfairness and unfairness of her diagnosis.
Lucy tells how the relationship between mother and daughter will be “challenged” throughout the story in the wake of Donna-Marie’s absence for much of Juliet’s life and how she manages when her daughter needs her most.
Instead, it’s been Romeo (Owen Warner) who has always been there for his little sister, and viewers will see how he struggles to cope, with the character distracted by his new romance with Rayne (Jemma Donovan).
Lucy goes on to praise Juliet’s actress, Niamh Blackshaw, for her “extraordinary things” in terms of her acting, before concluding that Juliet and Peri will meet an “extraordinary character” during their trips to Brighton.
She says that the girls will bring the character back to town and teases that the person is a familiar face who recently won another show.
The fate of evil Eric
In dramatic pub raid scenes, Eric (Angus Castle-Doughty) is shot by police after he shot Diane (Alex Fletcher) with a crossbow.
However, Eric was not killed (as is the case with many soap opera villains) as the bullet misses when Maxine trips him.
Lucy reveals that Eric not dying is intentional, as it gives the character a chance to face his problems, and the producer goes on to say that “as an incel, if he can’t succeed, he wants to die.” he didn’t give her what he feels is a ‘victory’.
“Like incel, if he can’t succeed, he wants to die”: Lucy reveals that Eric not dying is intentional, as it gives the character a chance to face his problems.
She recounted how bosses wanted to be ‘conscious’ not to ‘sensationalise’ the story, but to see ‘justice delivered the right way’.
She said: ‘For us, the correct way would be not to allow him to die. It was important to us that they not give him that. We will also do justice for our community against Eric, but also some of the realities of who Eric is. He this is a damaged and troubled individual that he has taken advantage of himself, so we will see that as well.”
What’s next for Mason?
Fans have seen 15-year-old Mason (Frank Kauer) embroiled in the misogyny/Incel storyline after being groomed and manipulated by Eric, and Lucy revealing that they were willing not to “villainize the online world” but rather to initiate conversations around the issues.
In the aftermath of the siege and the discovery of his involvement with Eric and the Men’s First forum, Mason’s sisters, Lizzie and Serena, disown him, while their parents, Honor and Dave, refuse to go to the police, which only he annoys his daughters even more.
Drama: In the aftermath of the siege and the discovery of his relationship with Eric and the Men’s First forum, Mason’s sisters, Lizzie and Serena, disown him, while their parents, Honor and Dave, refuse to go to the police.
Lucy told Metro of the fallout: “We’re going to see a huge journey for him and an explosive fallout in that family as a result of all this. Whether he’s 15 or he’s the parent, the lack of knowledge he may have about the world online and where people live is fascinating to watch.
He also recounted how the Hollyoaks writers were intrigued by what happened when Mason’s online world was taken from him and how he copes, joking that we’re still “not quite there yet” to Mason’s story, adding that the latest developments are a ‘huge peak’ but not the end.
Darren and Charlie (and Nancy’s departure)
With actress Jessica Fox temporarily leaving to welcome her first child, it means her character, Nancy, will also be leaving town for a while.
But Dancy fans can rejoice when Lucy confirmed that Nancy and Darren won’t be breaking up (again!), but that there is a ‘defiant reason’ why the teacher will have to go.
With Nancy gone, Lucy recounted how the soap will explore the mental health of teenagers in the Osborne household, seeing how Darren and Charlie manage without ‘the rock’ that is Nancy.
Leaving soon: Dancy fans can rejoice when Lucy confirmed that Nancy and Darren won’t be breaking up (again!), but that there is a ‘defiant reason’ why the teacher will have to go.
Plot: Given that Darren was involved in a major storyline of emotional depression last year, soap opera bosses were keen to highlight the reality of mental health in that it’s ‘not just there and gone’
Given that Darren was involved in a huge emotional depression storyline last year, soap bosses were keen to highlight the reality of mental health in that it’s “not just there and gone.”
Sienna and Ethan (and their not so happily ever after)
With a tumultuous love life throughout her years in Hollyoaks, show bosses aren’t planning on giving Sienna (Anna Passey) a happy ending any time soon.
Lucy recounts how Hollyoaks plans to take her time to ‘invest’ in the couple, while seeing the ‘dynamic’ mix as Ethan (Matthew Bailey) tries to be a stepfather figure to Sienna’s children with their father Warren (Jamie Lomas) in the road. .
But the couple is ready to hit a bump in the road, but it won’t be Warren who stands between them, but a new character coming to town with ‘explosive consequences’.
The producer teases that Ethan comes up with a plan for the newcomer that is “downright terrible,” which will result in some major “challenges” for him and Sienna in the months to come.
Hollyoaks airs Monday to Friday from 6:30pm on Channel 4.