There’s high drama and emotion for the residents of Hollyoaks village across Christmas and New Year, as our in-depth episode guide reveals.

The McQueens are back together and united for the festive season, but it’s a bittersweet affair as Mercedes’ (Jennifer Metcalfe) tough year weighs heavily on them all.

Also with the weight of the world on her shoulders is Martha (Sherrie Hewson), as she remains convinced that she was Ethan’s killer.

As Sienna Blake (Anna Passey) is rocked by the revelations, there are more twists to follow.

Elsewhere, the Hutchinson family is rocked by tragedy which leads to further bad news.

And Dillon Ray (Nathaniel Dass) and Lucas Hay (Oscar Curtis) could finally be on the path to a reunion, if the fates finally align for the couple…

The dates in the episode guide relate to the airings on E4. Hollyoaks is also dropping all episodes online as a box-set from 23rd December on All4.

Monday December 23

Sienna is worried about Martha. Dilly is grateful to be back in the Blakes.

Mercedes is on Abe’s case and tells Sienna her theories.

Abe threatens Mercedes with vile taunts. Misbah finds Mercedes and tells her she’s been trying to get hold of her to talk to her about her latest blood results. 

Later Mercedes makes a phone call to Freddie and tells him that they have to stop her treatment, and she really needs him. But it’s Grace who gets the voicemail. 

Misbah invites Vicky and Robbie to a Christmas party.

Jez plans a Christmas grotto at the shed. Grace is keeping tabs on Freddie and has banned him from seeing Mercedes – leaving him feeling trapped. Robbie assures Grace he only has eyes for her.

Back at the Blakes Martha admits that she killed Ethan. With Martha distressed Sienna confronts her…

Christmas Eve

Martha confronts Jez for telling her she killed Ethan when it was in fact Sienna. He admits he knew. At the grotto Sienna and Martha confront Jez. He cancels the grotto! 

Nana and Myra arrive at the McQueens and are shocked to see Mercedes so unwell. Nana fills John Paul on all the news from Alicante.  

Mercedes tells Myra about her diagnosis. Myra is hurt she didn’t know until things went so far. They plan to make a great Christmas day. Freddie goes to see Mercedes but she asks him to leave her alone, with Myra there. 

He climbs in the window catching Mercedes unaware and tells her he is in love with her. 

Grace notices Freddie has slipped away from the party and at the Love Boat, makes amends with Rex. 

At the Osborne’s Darren is trying to put things right with Nancy. He insists it’s family first and Nancy is doing her best to put on a brave face.

Misbah and Donny host a Christmas party and love is in the air, but it gets awkward that Freddie is there. Misbah puts Grace in her place about Mercedes being barred from the soiree. 

Myra comes back from the hospital with good news about Cleo. Upstairs Freddie and Mercedes share precious stolen moments together and he asks her to run away with him tomorrow. 

Christmas Eve (Part Two)

On Christmas Day, Vicky is not feeling very festive as she hides her secret from Robbie.

Waking up in Mercedes’ bedroom Freddie plans to take them away. The McQueens catch Freddie sneaking out and are pleased for her.

Grace is also putting a brave face on and insists they go to The Dog for Christmas dinner.

Myra finds Mercedes planning to run away and is furious. It gets emotional as Mercedes and Myra clash over her leaving.  

The villagers head to the Dog. Sharing their first Christmas engaged, Misbah and Donny take advantage of the mistletoe, and they raise a toast to Tony for putting on the spread. 

Donny invites everyone to sing carols later in the village. 

Nancy is suspicious that Darren is having an affair, while Vicky suggests to Robbie that they get married.

Monday December 30

The McQueens are on different paths.

Tony and Diane are sparring. The stock take is down and Tony is suspicious while Diane rails at him. She has to watch love birds Marie and Tony getting on so well. So she lies again to get Tony’s attention claiming her drinking has relapsed.  

But she has worked out it’s Ro taking the alcohol. Searching Ro’s room Diane finds empty wine bottles.

It’s hostile between them as Ro accuses her of only caring about getting Tony back. 

Tony is spoiling Diane with his signature Prawn Linguine. It’s hard for her to tell him the truth while basking in his attention. Meanwhile Ro is in the park, drinking again. 

Arlo is cruel when he sees him, making transphobic comments.

Ro is in trouble, but Tony can’t see it. He passes out on the floor of his room.  

At the hospital Freddie has had a realisation of all the hurt that he has caused.

New Year’s Eve

The Hutchinsons wake up to find Ro unconscious on his bedroom floor. At the hospital  

Tony is shocked that he didn’t see that anything is wrong. Diane is guilty. Marie and Arlo arrive and her son is the picture of innocence asking after Ro. 

Diane’s guilt overwhelms her and she flees the hospital.

At his bedside Tony and Diane try to get to the bottom of why Ro was drinking and crucially was there an event that caused it.

Things are awkward and strained between Dillon and Lucas. At the park, after a few false starts they begin to talk properly for the first time since Lucas returned. Dillon puts his cards on the table.

With New Year’s Eve that night, tradition lays heavy on their minds. Can they make a fresh year a new start for them both. There seems many obstacles to get over and its not yet clear… 

Hope springs when Pearl gives the boys a nudge and Lucas asks Dillon to see in the New Year at Casa McQueen.

New Year’s Day

Donny is watching and listening to Abe and his detective skills haven’t gone away… 

As the Hutchinson’s fall apart Tony tells Diane the worst news.

Dillon won’t give up on Lucas. In the village he pleads with Lucas and tells him that he knows he still loves him.

At the Lomax household, Rex asks lost Lucas to join him for some drinks later on, on him.  

Donny gives Dillon a dressing down for not pulling his weight with baby James.