Things take an even darker turn.

Note – This article contains discussion of domestic abuse and eating disorders.

Hollyoaks’ Cleo McQueen is set to plan an escape from her relationship with Abe Fielding, in upcoming scenes.

Cleo is currently suffering abuse at the hands of her partner Abe, and this week he’ll suggest that they start trying for a baby, leaving her horrified.

In scenes that will air next week, the McQueens are concerned about Cleo’s health after she suffers a dizzy spell.

Abe buys her a nice outfit, but when he says it is to put her in the mood for baby making, Cleo starts to feel ill again, and they argue about his plans for the future.

Cleo says that she is scared about being pregnant with her past health problems, but Abe is unsympathetic about her concerns.

Later, Cleo is horrified when Abe has a surprise for her at the house – he has hired an escort for her for the night.

When she pays him to leave, Abe isn’t happy and he puts pressure on Cleo, saying that she is going back on the open relationship agreement they recently made.

The confrontation is interrupted by Sally, and she and John Paul stage an intervention for Cleo where they end up arguing about Abe.

John Paul tells Cleo that he is scared for her, and when he shares his own experiences of addiction, she feels cornered by her cousin.

The next morning, Abe acts like nothing has happened and suggests to Cleo that they spend the day together. But Cleo isn’t happy and, before heading to work, she shows him the bruises he inflicted on her the previous night.

At Casa McQueen, Abe fights for their relationship and begs Cleo to take him back, explaining that he has anger issues.

It looks like he has won her over once again, but when Cleo gets John Paul alone, she tells him that she needs help to escape Abe.

However, when John Paul comes looking for Cleo later, she plays happy families and she and Abe both confirm that their relationship is back on track.

Abe tells John Paul that he is concerned for Cleo’s mental health and manages to plant seeds of doubt in his head, so that when she breaks down in front of John Paul later, it is clear that Abe has got to him.

As Abe continues to pull the wool over John Paul’s eyes, Cleo tries to talk to her cousin but ends up isolating herself further.

Will Cleo be able to escape Abe?

Hollyoaks streams first online via Channel 4 each weekday at 7.30pm. Episodes then air on E4 the following day, before getting their YouTube premiere a week after that.