Hollyoaks star Anna Passey has defended a new storyline that will see her character Sienna Blake discover that her uncle Jez (Jeremy Sheffield) is actually her father.
The much-loved character froze with fear earlier in the year when she came face to face with her uncle that was the spitting image of her evil dad Patrick, who was also played by Sheffield.
It was later revealed that, despite claims that he’s a good person, Jez is just as villainous as his deceased twin.
This week, Sienna is to receive another huge shock when grandmother Martha (Sherrie Hewson) informs her that he’s her biological dad – not Patrick.
Another example of retroactively changing the well-established continuity of the near-thirty year old Channel 4 soap, the story has received some negativity from die-hard fans who are struggling to understand the reasoning behind it.
Martha unveils the truth (Picture: Lime Pictures)
I can’t lie I hate this storyline with a passion #Hollyoaks https://t.co/FU10KTTZdi
— Soaps and Tv Frantic (@LoveSoapsntv) August 12, 2024
‘It really makes no sense and I don’t understand how any of this works,’ said one Metro reader of the upcoming twist, claiming that the show is ‘messing the whole family around way too much’.
‘I can’t lie I hate this storyline with a passion,’ exclaimed another upset viewer.
‘This would add a whole new layer of tragedy to Sienna’s life if Jeremy was a good person but from what I can tell he’s practically the same as Patrick so i really don’t understand the point of this,’ one said.
Yet another reason to stop watching Oaks rather soon or maybe even sooner lol it really makes no sense and I dont understand how any of this works. Yeah if Jez is Sienna's (and Dodger too??) real dad then why is he wanting revenge?? Makes no sense and so did he sleep with the mum
— katy (@miss1katy) August 14, 2024
Now, actress Anna has explained that she thought the writers were ‘joking’ when the plot was pitched to her, adding: ‘I was definitely shocked.’
‘There’s so much legacy with it being Patrick, but it’s a brilliant twist’ she told Inside Soap.
‘It would be such a mixed bag of emotions. On the one hand, she gets to have a father, and he’s lovely!
‘But if this was allowed to happen, why did it, and how did she end up with the childhood she had when it could’ve been so different? How did it possibly come to pass that Sienna got given to the wrong Blake? So much damage came with that. There would be lots of questions!’