Hollyoaks is lining up more tragedy and heartbreak this festive season, with conflict aplenty, heartbreak galore and deadly a sniper set to wreak havoc.
The most wonderful time of the year it certainly is not for the villagers and fans will be able to view all the devastating drama in one go, with the annual festive boxset making a comeback, with six episodes on offer.
For the Osbornes, emotions run high come Christmas time as Darren’s (Ashley Taylor Dawson) whereabouts remain unknown.
Nancy (Jessica Fox), however, is powering through as the festive season approaches, with a flare up in her multiple sclerosis.
As confirmed in the show’s Winter Trailer, Darren is hiding out with Charlie Dean (Charlie Behan), and he makes his return soon, facing questions aplenty.
With him having abandoned Frankie (Isabelle Smith) at such a crucial time, he’s wracked with guilt – but is it just his absence that’s making him feel so guilty?
Elsewhere, the Blake saga continues, with the clan feeling the love as Sienna (Anna Passey) is back with her loved ones, but will more secrets and revelations – plus Martha’s (Sherrie Hewson) recent return – prompt more heartbreak?
And can Sienna come to terms with the fact that love of her life Ethan Williams (Matthew James Bailey) is really gone?
Speaking of true love, Dillon Ray (Nathaniel Dass) is set to put his cards on the table where Lucas Hay (Oscar Curtis) is concerned – but is there for hope for HayRay? Or has too much water passed under that particular bridge?
The McQueens celebrate at the christening of the Marias -and by celebrate we mean thirsting over the ‘hot priest’. With Christmas fast approaching and her chemo underway, Mercedes (Jennifer Metcalfe) turns her attention to making memories with her loved ones.
The spirit of the holiday season is alive and well for the family, with joy in store as Myra (Nicole Barber-Lane) and Nana (Diane Langton) making unexpected returns to the village.
Cleo (Nadine Mulkerrin), meanwhile, has has finally fled Abe Fielding (Tyler Conti) and the Price Slice escape room – but not before going through a secret wedding ceremony and near-drowning, with Peri Lomax’s (Ruby O’Donnell) big day proving quite eventful indeed.
And the moment fans have waited for is almost here as the net starts to close in on Abe. Will he finally get his comeuppance?
Christmas Day itself proves emotional, with the ‘missing’ year leaving some residents pining for lost loved ones while The Dog in the Pond remains the beating heart of the village.
But as the wine flows, tongues get loose.
Misbah Maalik (Harvey Virdi) and Donny (Louis Emerick) bask in their love and later the revelers spill into the village for Carols. But the thing is – they actually would have been safer inside.
Much safer.
The Christmas tree and the singing acts as a perfect distraction for someone with a grudge to seek their revenge in the most violent of ways – with a sniper on the loose. But which wronged resident is stalking their prey and who will pay for their crimes?
The Christmas lights are drowned out by blue lights as the police swarm the village but just what has transpired? And who has been caught in the crossfire?
Elsewhere, Tony Hutchinson (Nick Pickard) is caught between ex-wife Diane (Alex Fletcher) and new lover Marie (Rita Simons) but he and Diane’s attention is soon elsewhere when son Ro (Ava Webster) is in crisis.
The landlord of The Dog ultimately finds himself with a painful decision to make.
Freddie Roscoe (Charlie Clapham), meanwhile, is caught in quite a love square with Grace Black (Tamara Wall), Vicky Grant (Anya Lawrence) and Mercedes McQueen all vying for his attention.
It’s going to be a festive season to remember for the residents of the village, though not necessarily for the right reasons we fear!
Hollyoaks streams Mondays to Wednesdays from 7am on Channel 4’s streaming platform, or catch episodes on TV at 7pm on E4.
