Hollyoaks fans left ‘shaking’ as fan favourite feared dead in game-changing twist
Cleo McQueen had the chance to flee her abusive partner Abe Fielding's control in the latest episode of Hollyoaks but decided to help him instead in a jaw-dropping twist
Hollyoaks has aired a dramatic Cleo McQueen cliffhanger leaving fans “shaking” and “screaming”.
The Channel 4 recently revealed that Cleo (Nadine Mulkerrin) had been held captive in a secret bunker by abusive boyfriend Abe Fielding (Tyler Conti) for a year after he made her believe she’d killed his mother Marie Field (Rita Simons) — who is very much alive — in the motorbike crash.
Once Cleo learned that her relative Mercedes McQueen (Jennifer Metcalfe was battling bowel cancer, she stabbed Abe with a CD shard before trying to escape the bunker.
Wednesday’s (September 18) streaming episode opened with Cleo locking a bleeding Abe in the bunker before she tried to make her escape. However, faced with the outside world and Abe begging her not to leave, she turned back and returned to the bunker with a first-aid kit to treat Abe’s wound.
Fans were left concerned for Cleo as she went back to help Abe instead of fleeing his control once and for all. Taking to social media, one fan penned: “I was shaking when she got out. but … OMG what???” Another added: “I was screaming for her to run.” Someone else said: “Poor Cleo hope she gets out of there.”
“I’ve tried to leave, and I can’t,” Cleo said. “Please will you help me? I’m sorry.” Meanwhile, Marie tried convincing Joel Dexter (Rory Douglas-Speed) and Leela Lomax (Kirsty-Leigh Poter) that they shouldn’t object to Abe dating Peri Lomax (Ruby O’Donnell).
Marie reminded Joel she’d supported him when he “fell back into heroin” years ago. “Peri and Abe are perfect for each other,” Marie insisted.
Peri Lomax spotted Cleo’s clothes in Abe Fielding’s flat (Image: Channel 4)
Viewers later saw Peri visiting Abe at his flat, where she revealed she’d previously seen his “ex” Cleo’s top hanging over one of his chairs. “Listen, you are not a rebound,” Abe claimed. “You are not a fling. You are not a distraction. I really, really like you, Peri.”
However, Peri soon discovered the wound on Abe’s back and wanted answers. Abe made up a lie about injuring himself while on a run, as Cleo remained locked in the bunker all alone.
Abe pushed Cleo, causing her to fall and hit her head on a nearby beam (Image: Lime Pictures)
Abe later angrily confronted Cleo, accusing her of only coming back because she felt guilty. He then pushed Cleo, causing her to fall and hit her head on a nearby beam.
Elsewhere in the episode, there were updates on a few other characters. Fans may have noticed Lucas Hay (Oscar Curtis) has been missing since the time jump. Misbah Maalik (Harvey Virdi) explained to Ste Hay (Kieran Richardson) after he’d woken from his coma that his son Lucas had been sent to a youth offenders home for attacking JJ Osborne (Ryan Mulvey), after he’d found out JJ abused his twin sister Frankie Osborne (Isabelle Smith).
