Hollyoaks spoilers follow for Monday December 23 and beyond. The episodes in question are now available to view on Channel 4 streaming as part of the Christmas 2024 boxset.

The identity of Ethan Williams’ (Matthew James Bailey) killer has been revealed and it’s unexpected for sure, given that it’s the person you would least expect.

Ethan, as viewers know, was tragically killed off in October on what should’ve been the happiest day of his life as he married one true love Sienna Blake (Anna Passey).

The day very quickly descended into chaos, with Vicky Grant (Anya Lawrence) revealing some secrets about what happened in the missing year between she and Ethan.

A row ensued between Sienna and Ethan and the latter plummeted to his death seconds later. Sienna was arrested for the crime, with Maxine Minniver (Nikki Sanderson) believing that her former friend is guilty.

Sienna was released from prison on the day of her soulmate’s wake, with Jez (Jeremy Sheffield) having had a role to play in such a thing.

The patriarch later told Martha (Sherrie Hewson), who is suffering from Alzheimers, that she was the one to claim Ethan’s life.

But after months of mystery, the killer was finally revealed in episodes which can now be streamed online.

While being interviewed by the police over what she saw in the lead up to Cleo McQueen’s (Nadine Mulkerrin) return, a confused Martha blurted out that she killed Ethan.

Sienna was taken aback and did her best to console Martha, assuring her that she’s just confused, but Martha was adamant that it was she who took Ethan’s life.

But Sienna reiterated her grandmother’s innocence, dropping quite the bombshell as she revealed that she killed Ethan.

Another red herring? That would be a no, with Sienna confessing to Jez in subsequent scenes about how she and Ethan got into a fight over Vicky and, in a heated rage, she pushed him from the window.

No, you’re crying.

The revelation will no doubt come as a shock to fans given just how torn up Sienna was in the aftermath of Ethan’s death as she remained adamant that she would never kill her soulmate.

Jez, meanwhile, admitted that he knew of Sienna’s guilt and chose to stay quiet, with he and Martha subsequently discussing the development, branding Sienna a true Blake.

But just what does the future hold for Sienna now? The character, who has always had a dark side, appeared to have grown significantly in the last decade so will claiming a life – coupled with the arrival of her twisted new relatives – set her back on a dark path?

Fan-favourite Ethan met a tragic end two months ago, with star Matthew James Bailey confirming in an interview that he was a casualty of the cast cuts.

‘I’m absolutely devastated to be leaving the show,’ he told me. ‘I’ve made it clear that this is my home and I never thought it would end the way that it did. 

‘I feel like Ethan had a lot more potential and growth in him. 

‘I would openly say when I thought it was time for him to step away but, to be honest, I don’t think it was the right time. I don’t think we were finished. So no, it wasn’t my choice. I would never walk away from the show.’

Hollyoaks streams Mondays to Wednesdays from 7am on Channel 4’s streaming platform, or catch episodes on TV at 7pm on E4.