The McQueens are devastated.

Hollyoaks spoilers follow.

Hollyoaks’ Mercedes McQueen will be left fighting for her life next week as her condition suddenly deteriorates.

Mercedes was diagnosed with bowel cancer during the show’s time jump and has undergone intensive chemotherapy treatment that hasn’t worked as the doctors would have liked.

Last year, she briefly stopped her treatment to source the drugs she needed illegally, but this didn’t work, and she was persuaded by Misbah to return to the hospital’s treatment plan.

Meanwhile, Mercedes and Freddie fell in love and planned to run away together at Christmas, despite Freddie still being married to her friend Grace.

But on Christmas Day, Grace arranged for her brother Rex to shoot her in the village. She made it look like she stepped in to save Freddie’s life, and this made him think twice about leaving her.

Mercedes was heartbroken by Freddie’s decision, but she will soon have much bigger problems to worry about. In scenes that will air next week, Prince arrives home to find her collapsed on the floor.

After she is rushed to hospital, the McQueens are given the devastating news that Mercedes has contracted an infection, and that her survival will depend on the next 24 hours.

While Myra tries to pretend that everything is okay, Mercedes sees through her lies. As she is growing weaker, she asks her family to take her home from hospital.

Meanwhile, Cleo is still recovering from her car accident from before Christmas, and she panics when she hears that John Paul has arrived at the hospital.

She thinks that he is here to take her home, so Peri is forced to break the news to her about Mercedes’ serious condition.

While Myra is concerned about Mercedes being discharged from hospital, John Paul wants to respect his cousin’s wishes, so he works together with Peri to make this happen.

Emotional pictures released by Hollyoaks show the McQueens, including Cleo, gathered at Mercedes’ bedside as her life hangs in the balance.

Will Mercedes survive this latest health scare?

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.