Trigger warning: This article contains discussion of child sexual abuse.
Hollyoaks spoilers follow for Tuesday’s (September 10) episode that is now available to view on Channel 4 streaming. The episode in question will air on E4 on at 7pm.
Frankie Osborne (Isabelle Smith) was left in tears as mum Suzanne Ashworth (Suzanne Hall) came to the realisation that she’s telling the truth about JJ’s (Ryan Mulvey) abuse.
The teen, as viewers know, has been sexually abused by twin brother JJ since she was nine years old, with JJ gaslighting her into keeping quiet, claiming no-one would believe her.
But Frankie bravely told dad Darren (Ashley Taylor Dawson) about her ordeal last month and, to her surprise, he never doubted her for a second. Suzanne, however, has refused to believe what’s right in front of her eyes, standing by JJ instead.
Nancy (Jessica Fox), who found out about JJ’s actions last week, reported the abuser to the police, with Frankie subsequently confirming her ordeal to the authorities in powerful scenes.
Suzanne was horrified when JJ admitted to having sex with Frankie – though he claimed that it was consensual. She publicly confronted her daughter at The Dog, revealing everything to a pub full of people.
It didn’t go as Suzanne intended, however, with everyone – including Pearl Anderson (Dawn Hope) – believing Frankie’s truth.
The scales soon started to fall from Suzanne’s eyes and, confusion aplenty, she decided to speak to Frankie in the latest offering of the show, with Jack (Jimmy McKenna) insisting that she do so.
Suzanne headed to the McQueen household, where Frankie was. An emotional heart-to-heart ensued, with Suzanne confirming that she remembers a time when, as a child, Frankie wet the bed.
‘A couple of weeks later I came into your bedroom and you were under the covers with JJ’, she revealed, fighting tears. ‘That look on your face. I knew. I knew there was something wrong.’
Frankie was emotional as Suzanne took her hands. ‘JJ, what he’s done to you…’ started Suzanne, making it quite clear that she believes her daughter. In fact, it seems like she always did – she just desperately didn’t want to.
‘You believe me?’, asked Frankie through tears.
Before Suzanne could respond, however, tragedy struck, with Cleo McQueen (Nadine Mulkerrin) – who had been fleeing from abuser Abe Fielding (Tyler Conti) – losing control of a motorbike, which crashed through the McQueen residence.
