Hollyoaks 2025 – McQueen death tragedy, huge returns and court showdown
Hollyoaks fans are convinced they've worked out what's in store for their favourite Chester villagers in 2025 and it looks set to be a turbulent year for some charatcers
As Hollyoaks approaches its 30th anniversary in 2025, avid soap fans are on tenterhooks trying to guess what drama Channel 4 has queued up for the beloved characters.
The hit show, which launched in October 1985, left viewers at home gobsmacked with a year-leap in 2024 that led to shocking departures and bombshells rocking Chester, not to mention some stellar comebacks and devastating exits.
With the fans’ theories running wild on social media about the fate of the villagers in the upcoming year, it seems not everyone will be toasting to joy in the village, as per soap enthusiasts’ predictions.
Hollyoaks fans think Mercedes McQueen could be killed off as part of the Channel 4 soap’s 30th anniversary ( Image: Lime Pictures)
There’s a pall of gloom hanging over the character of Mercedes McQueen, played by Jennifer Metcalfe, who’s been grappling with an aggressive bowel cancer, and recently got the devastating news that her treatment is failing. Loyal viewers are bracing themselves for what they believe could be a harrowing twist, with the soap’s stalwart possibly meeting her end in an emotional exit.
A fervent fan took to Reddit to express their thoughts: “I think Mercedes will die then. Misbah said at best she’d live for around about another year without the drugs she needs. That would take us to somewhere around September/October next year. I know Mercedes is marmite (I personally love her! ) but she’s is a Hollyoaks icon and her exit would be a huge thing for the show.”
“Also read an interview with Jennifer Metcalfe about how her dad died from bowel cancer and it would be such a touching tribute for her character to go that way, showing how real the impacts are and how it affects not only her but those left behind too.”, reports the Liverpool Echo.
‘Story not spoken about a lot’
Jonny Labey previously hinted that bosses had big plans for his character Rex Gallagher in 2025 (
Actor Jonny Labey previously hinted that bosses had big plans for his character Rex Gallagher in 2025. He explained at the time: “As far as I’m allowed to say, there’s going to be a huge, huge storyline. They are kind of planning and aligning quite a lot of things so it all lines up. The writing team are making sure they are steering it in the right way and linking everything together because there’s so many crossovers.”
“Newcomers Jacob and Kat are a huge link to what Rex was. He’s come from a whole dynasty of danger and crime. What happens next really affects a lot of people in the village. It’s really building up to something which Rex is hugely a part of next year which is really quite turbulent but also quite gripping and it’s something that’s a huge problem in the UK and it’s a huge problem with how people are treated.”
“It’s not necessarily a story that’s been spoken about a lot so I can tell you that and Rex is kind of being at the forefront. Something massive happens in the New Year and it’s nostalgic in a weird way for fans so it’s really going to set things on fire but what it leads to and the world Kat and Jacob are a part of is a much bigger picture.”
Huge returns
Dodger Savage is heading back to the village after 10 years away ( Image: Lime Pictures)
Chelsee Healey, known for her role as Goldie McQueen in Hollyoaks, is set to make a comeback in 2025 after a temporary exit earlier this year due to maternity leave. The actress made a brief appearance in June for her on-screen son Hunter McQueen’s funeral wake but has not been seen since the recent time jump.
Chelsee, who was recently announced as a contestant on Dancing on Ice, reassured fans of her return in a behind-the-scenes Instagram video from the Casa McQueen set. .
In other Hollyoaks news, Danny Mac will be returning to his role as Mark ‘Dodger’ Savage in the new year. It was revealed in October that Danny would be reprising his popular soap role, with Dodger returning to the village after a decade away.
The Blake family has had a dramatic few months, with the shocking revelation that Patrick’s long-lost twin Jez (Jeremy Sheffield) is actually Sienna’s (Anna Passey) father – and therefore Dodger’s father too. Fans are eagerly waiting to see what brings him back to the village.
JJ’s comeuppance
JJ Osborne’s trial is due to go ahead in January ( Image: Lime Pictures)
The trial was previously delayed after JJ was informed that his leukaemia treatment wasn’t effective and that a bone marrow transplant was his best shot at survival. However, JJ now appears to be on the mend and will be able to confront Frankie in court after she donated her bone marrow to save him.
In episodes set to air on January 8, Lucas Hay (Oscar Curtis) visits Frankie after learning about the upcoming trial. Frankie shares her fears with him about needing her dad Darren Osborne’s (Ashley Taylor-Dawson) support and worries he’ll vanish again, following his six-week disappearance before Christmas. Will Darren provide the support his daughter needs and will JJ face justice?
