Charlie Dean is heading back to Hollyoaks village for a surprise visit and he’s floored to find out about Dillon Hay’s affair with Leah Barnes
Charlie Dean is set to make a return to Hollyoaks, despite earlier reports that actor Charlie Behan was departing the Channel 4 soap after a long-standing run of 13 years.
Behan originally joined the cast in 2011 as the child of Becca Dean and Justin Burton, replacing Joshua McConville in the role.
Although the soap took a dramatic time leap last September which saw Charlie’s character absent whilst his on-screen family were embroiled in a significant storyline, involving Frankie Osborne (played by Isabelle Smith) coming forward about her twin brother JJ Osbourne (Ryan Mulvey)’s sexual abuse.
Upcoming spoilers for Wednesday’s episode (November 20) tease: “Frankie is delighted by Charlie’s visit home. He’s shocked when Lucas reveals the news about Dillon and Leah.”
This revelation comes amidst speculation of Charlie possibly being father to Leah Barnes’ (Ela-May Demircan) baby following the show’s timeline advance. Fans were thrown into chatter over paternity guesses, only for it to be later confirmed that Dillon Ray (Nathanial Dass), not Charlie, is the child’s father.
Leah’s sibling, Lucas Hay (Oscar Curtis), was betrayed by Dillon who had an affair while Lucas was doing time in a youth detention centre for assaulting JJ upon discovering the abuse Frankie endured. Now that Charlie is venturing back to the village, viewers are left wondering what impact his return will have on the already troubled family dynamics, reports the Liverpool Echo.
Charlie’s anticipated comeback to the village is set to send shockwaves amongst fans, following their previous outrage over his abrupt exit. Devotees of the show voiced their displeasures openly when he left; one fan remarked: “NO! ! ! ! ! Why? Charlie has always been such a great character and well acted.”
Another weighed in with: “I’m actually really confused about #Hollyoaks. Why bring back old characters that people were over but get rid of perfectly good (loyal) characters who people still love. It’s not the characters that are stale they just need new stories written for them, plenty of life left yet!”.
Meanwhile, Jack Osbourne (played by Jimmy McKenna) implores Nancy Osborne (Jessica Fox) to remain composed despite yearning for Darren Osborne (Ashley Taylor Dawson), who is missing. Determined, Nancy resolves to keep Frankie in the dark about Darren’s ‘true’ situation, persisting in the belief that he’s just staying with his sister.
The plot thickens as Robbie Roscoe (Charlie Wernham), suspecting a connection between Darren’s disappearance and his own grim past involving Dave Williams’ (Dominic Power) murder, especially as Darren’s discarded car turns out to be one of Robbie’s ill-gotten vehicles.
At the garage, tensions rise as Ste Hay (Kieron Richardson) witnesses a heated exchange between Rex Gallagher (Jonny Labey) and Robbie, leading him to suspect Rex might have played a role in his husband James Nightingale’s (Greg Finnegan) demise. Back at school, Nancy tries to soldier on with her teaching duties under immense pressure, confiding to John Paul McQueen (James Sutton) her fears that Darren may never return.
The question on everyone’s mind remains: could Charlie’s presence in the village act as a catalyst for Darren to come back to those he loves most or is he intent on staying away even longer?
Hollyoaks airs Monday to Wednesday on E4 at 7pm and first look episodes can be streamed Channel 4 from 7am
