With Hollyoaks now racing towards the biggest change of its entire tenure, which will see it drop to three episodes landing digitally first, the Channel 4 soap has dropped an extended autumn trailer, previewing the explosive build-up to a time-jump of an entire year.
In episodes over the next few weeks, major storylines will come to a head, including the final showdown between Warren Fox (Jamie Lomas) and Dave ‘Blue’ Williams (Dominic Power), the tragic revelation that James Nightingale (Gregory Finnegan) has a brain tumour, Cleo McQueen’s (Nadine Mulkerrin) attempt to escape Abe Fielding (Tyler Conti), and the eventual arrest of JJ Osborne (Ryan Mulvey) for his sex abuse of sister Frankie (Isabelle Smith).
With secrets out in the open leading to apocalyptic confrontations, a sequence of stunts will also put many lives in jeopardy, including bombs planted by Blue – and not everyone will make it out of this alive.
The stunt week will welcome in Hollyoaks new era across Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday airings – the new pattern the show is adopting. The episodes will drop at 7am on All4 on each of these days and then show on E4 at 7pm the same night.
Following the explosive cliffhanger of the first week viewers will then see time fast forward through four seasons in the village, before exploring, initially via show stalwart Tony Hutchinson (Nick Pickard), what has changed.
And, of course, who has not lived through the stunt…
But before that, there is a lot more to untangle too, as the electric scenes from the chaotic trailer have proven.
JJ finally arrested
The abuse Frankie has suffered at the hands of her twin brother JJ is revealed to the village in explosive fashion, with the brave teen defiantly hitting back at mum Suzanne who continues to accuse her of lying.
With Darren having confided in Nancy, he is then there for Frankie as she faces a very public situation. But JJ, previously feeling smug, finds himself arrested.
However, when he then proclaims to Frankie that he admitted they slept together but said it was consensual, she is left fearing that she will never be truly freed.
James’ tragedy
Ste is left hurt when he discovers James has slept with his best friend’s dad, Jeremy, but when he then collapses, we discover he’s dealing with more than just a broken heart – he has been diagnosed with a brain tumour.
Faced with being ripped apart forever, can James and Ste get through their biggest challenge yet?
Cleo’s great escape
It all gets too much for Cleo when boyfriend Abe continues to control and physically abuse her, leaving her to seek solace from her family.
But when he continues to manipulate everyone around them, she’s forced to flee. Will she escape his clutches?
Ethan and Sienna – not over!
Dilly plays matchmaker with Vicky and Ethan but is this new affair doomed from the beginning when Ethan confesses his love to ex-Sienna.
But, given that Ethan is set to exit the village – and he discovers truths about Dave – don’t expect a happy ending…
The end for Joel?
Leela knows something is up with her husband Joel but when she finds him collapsed and unresponsive, the reality of what he’s been hiding is revealed, but will it be too late for him?
Warren and Blue – the final showdown
Finding unlikely allies in Donny, Grace and Freddie, Mercedes puts a plan in motion which sees Warren escape from prison with the help of Sunshine and Reg, played by Rob Beckett and Romesh Ranganathan.
But a shocking chain of events unfolds and the plans for Warren and Mercedes to flee the village are de-railed. With the twins missing and Cleo in crisis, Mercedes knows she can’t leave just yet.
And Warren ends up face to face with Dave, who unmasks himself as Blue. A fight to the death is then inevitable.
Blue’s revenge
It’s not just Warren that Dave wants to make pay as he continues his mission of revenge – but undercover Donny is onto him and piecing it all together – but when Misbah is then taken hostage, will he be forced to drop the case?
Cindy and Tom will also discover the truth about Dave and, as he points a gun their way, will he silence them for good?
All the while, Dave is plotting his final crescendo, in the form of a ticking bomb, secretly hidden.
But who will be in its radar when it goes off?
