Hollyoaks casts Coronation Street star for major new Mercedes McQueen story

Hollyoaks has confirmed that Coronation Street star Ryan Clayton will be joining the show for a major new storyline involving Mercedes McQueen. In upcoming scenes, struggling Mercedes will check into a rehabilitation clinic, where she meets more than one mysterious face…

In a new trailer released yesterday about the next few dramatic weeks of the show, Mercedes is convinced by her loved ones to go to rehab to tackle her worsening addiction to prescription pills.

Ryan, best known for his roles as evil Josh in Corrie and police officer Mike in Waterloo Road, plays new character Jenson, a fellow patient in the clinic.

The trailer shows that there is a clear attraction between Mercedes and Jenson, which might not go down too well with Warren – even though he cheated on Mercedes at Christmas with Gemma.

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In rehab, Mercedes also strikes up a friendship with Brookside resident Nikki Shadwick, with Suzanne Collins reprising her iconic role for this story.

Nikki isn’t the only Brookside local making a return to the village in the coming weeks. The new trailer revealed that Liberty will begin a romance with Tim ‘Tinhead’ O’Leary, as Philip Oliver returns to his much-loved role this month.

However, it seems that loveable Tinhead has an ulterior motive for his arrival in the village, and Sienna immediately has her suspicions. Plus, the trailer shows Jenson confronting Tinhead about using Warren’s identity – what could he be up to?

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On her return to Hollyoaks after the successful crossover episode in October, Suzanne said: “I couldn’t believe my luck when I saw Nikki has a friendship with the iconic Mercedes. I’m a huge fan of Jen [Metcalfe, who plays Mercedes], always has been. She’s an incredible actress.

“The response to the crossover was incredible, so warm and positive. I’ve been sworn to secrecy, but since getting the news that Nikki would be returning, I’ve been floating around on cloud nine with the biggest secret smile on my face.”

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Philip added: “I’m so happy to be back in the building. Tinhead’s got a new fling this time around, but he’s also got some unfinished business lurking in the background.”