He was diagnosed with leukaemia.
Note: This story discusses topics including sibling sexual abuse.
Hollyoaks spoilers follow.
Frankie Osborne will struggle on Hollyoaks after her brother JJ was diagnosed with leukaemia.
Following the recent time jump on the Channel 4 soap, it was revealed that JJ was awaiting trial after sexually abusing his sister, but he suddenly collapsed outside of the court just as it appeared that he would plead guilty.
It was later revealed that he had been diagnosed with leukaemia, with Frankie confiding in Lucas that she was considering dropping the charges against her brother altogether following the development.
In next week’s scenes, Frankie is initially furious that Darren and Nancy are supporting JJ through his treatment, with the teenager left feeling their priorities have shifted. Despite this, she still intends to go to the police and drop the charges.
Darren, who is torn between wanting to help JJ while also condemning his crimes, speaks with Mercedes, who is currently undergoing treatment for cancer. She states that the key to recovery is the support of friends and family, offering tips to her friend on how he can help JJ.
Frankie remains upset following Darren and Nancy’s gravitation towards JJ, though Nancy tells Darren that he should return home and look after his daughter. Will Frankie go through with her intention of dropping the charges?
While the Osborne family will be plunged into drama, Ashley Taylor Dawson – who has played Darren on the soap since 1999 – recently commented on the departure of Ellis Hollins, who had played Tom Cunningham.
“Ellis, well, what can you say? He’s a god! I worked with Ellis when he was three years old,” Dawson remarked exclusively to Digital Spy. “I think it’s amazing for him to go off and do other stuff, and find [out] what he is as a human and as an actor.
“But as part of the show, he goes down as an absolute legend. I can’t explain how much I love that boy, he’s like my own. But I think it’s good for him. I think Ellis will go off and try other stuff and that’s what it’s all about. I was lucky enough to go and try things and do things for a while myself.”
Hollyoaks airs on Mondays-Wednesdays with its Channel 4 streaming premiere at 7am, then an E4 broadcast the same night at 7pm. Full episodes are also released on YouTube a week after their Channel 4 release.
