Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks are kicking 2025 with a bang as Mercedes McQueen’s health takes a turn for the worst, Dodger Savage returns and two former lovers lean in for a kiss
Frankie Osborne’s case against twin JJ Osborne goes to trial in Hollyoaks
Hollyoaks have dropped a brand-new trailer to ring in the New Year as storylines reach dramatic peaks. The walls close in on Abe Fielding (Tyler Conti), Frankie Osborne’s (Isabella Smith) case against twin JJ Osborne (Ryan Mulvey) goes to trial, Mercedes McQueen (Jennifer Metcalfe) health declines amidst her chemotherapy treatment and there is a first look at Mark (Dodger) Savage’s (Danny Mac) return
The issue-led Sibling Sexual Abuse storyline which saw teen Frankie abused by her twin brother JJ reaches another important peak as the trial commences this January. Frankie bravely takes the stand as she recounts the traumatic events of the past few years however the trailer shows a complex case for the jury and anguish for the family as JJ goes back on his word and claims Frankie has a history of lying. Disappointment turns to anger for protective dad Darren Osborne (Ashley Taylor-Dawson) when JJ’s defence questions Frankie’s reliability.
With Cleo McQueen (Nadine Mulkerrin) waking up at hospital armed with the truth and Peri Lomax (Ruby O’Donnell) confiding in her family after being attacked, the scales fall from the villagers’ eyes and a spiralling Abe reaches new lows when he bundles his suspicious mum Marie Fielding (Rita Simon) into a car.
Cleo McQueen and Joel Dexter appear to lean in for a kiss
Believing there are no bounds to Abe’s abuse, Mercedes suggests to the women he has hurt that they only have one option left, to kill him. Elsewhere, Mercedes’ health takes a turn for the worst as whilst undergoing chemotherapy treatment for Bowel Cancer, she contracts an infection. Her family including mum Myra McQueen (Nicole Barber-Lane) rally around her at her home.
The trailer also shared the first look at Danny Mac reprising iconic role as Dodger is back in the village lurking in the shadows, but what has changed since he’s been away? With a new dad and grandmother to meet, and Sienna Blake’s (Anna Passey) killer secret yet to be uncovered, what will Dodger discover?
Dodger Savage is back in Hollyoaks village(Image: Channel 4)
The criminal underbelly of the Hollyoaks village better watch out as Donny Clark (Louis Emerick) is back in the police force. As it turns out, he’s not the only one. After a punch thrown in the village leads to returning Dodger being arrested, an exclusive scene revealed that he is an undercover police officer, and his case has just been compromised.
With the trailer showing Mark hanging around with Rex Gallagher (Jonny Labey), what exactly is he investigating? Grace Black (Tamara Wall) is also back in control as she reminds herself and her brother that they are the children of notorious bad man Fraser Black and they won’t be pushed around any longer. Debuting a brand-new look and fierce take-no-mercy attitude, Grace returns to the criminal world.
Mercedes McQueen’s health takes a turn for the worst(Image: Channel 4)
Sienna has a killer confession to make when confronted by Dilly Harcourt (Emma Johnsey-Smith) over Ethan Williams’ death. The trailer also shows Sienna seducing Dilly’s boyfriend Prince McQueen (Malique Thompson-Dwyer) what is Sienna’s motive for moving in on her cousin’s lover?
Also, as Robbie Roscoe (Charlie Wernham) beams at the thought of being a dad, Freddie Roscoe (Charlie Clapham) pales to discover that Vicky Grant (Anya Lawrence) is still pregnant with his baby, will he tell his brother the truth?
Meanwhile, Tony Hutchinson (Nick Pickard) leads the celebrations for the grand reopening of The Hutch with the dream team back together as his former employee Ste Hay (Kieron Richardson) is hired and will a former flame rekindle when Cleo and Joel Dexter (Rory Douglas-Speed) appear to lean in for a kiss?
Hollyoaks airs Monday to Wednesday on E4 at 7pm and first look episodes can be streamed Channel 4 from 7am