Hollyoaks 2025 winter preview: Major death revealed as Diane Hutchinson and Gemma Johnson plot to bring down Mercedes McQueen

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As the days get shorter and Christmas decorations appear, it’s the perfect time to cozy up and watch some TV. And Hollyoaks is promising some thrilling episodes in the coming weeks that you won’t want to miss!

Gemma Johnson, a newcomer to Chester’s Brookside, joins forces with Diane Hutchinson to plot against Mercedes McQueen.

Ste Hay finds himself drawn to Dillon Ray, the ex-boyfriend of his son Lucas, while Frankie Osborne’s life is turned upside down by an unexpected death.

Cleo McQueen is facing a difficult time after being diagnosed with postpartum psychosis, while her cousin Theresa unexpectedly comes back into her life.

Here’s a look at everything happening in the lead-up to the festivities…

Hollyoaks winter 2025 preview

1. Gemma Johnson and Diane Hutchinson blackmail Mercedes McQueen

Diane is desperate to rebuild her relationship with Tony, but their wedding day took a shocking turn when Mercedes shot him, making a fresh start incredibly difficult.

Working together, Gemma and her partner decided to separate Mercedes and Warren, and also ensure Mercedes faced the consequences of what she’d done.

Merce is stunned to learn someone is demanding £50,000 from her, and she doesn’t realize Gemma has been secretly drugging her, which is the reason she’s become dependent on medication.

2. Lucas Hay is determined to find out who ex-boyfriend Dillon Ray is sleeping with

Things are about to get really uncomfortable. With Lucas continuing to act aggressively towards his father, Ste seeks help from Dillon.

Dillon has been struggling with a complicated situation: he’s openly shared his feelings for his ex-fiancée’s father, but also really wants to keep it a secret.

They were enjoying a cozy afternoon together when Lucas unexpectedly showed up, leaving them worried he might discover what they were doing.

Adding to the drama, Ste’s former boyfriend, Rex, is back, and Lucas immediately sees him as a threat.

3. The Osbornes receive some shocking news about JJ

Frankie recently went on a date with Sully Sullivan, a former gangster who now works as a police officer. He’s trying hard to impress her family and prove he’s changed, but he still has a dangerous side.

Darren receives heartbreaking news about his son, JJ, who died while incarcerated after sexually abusing his twin sibling. Meanwhile, Frankie begins to suspect she’s being followed.

Teaming up with Dodger to bring Sully down, she hopes he’ll confess to putting a hit out on JJ.

Will he face justice?

4. Cleo McQueen is diagnosed with postpartum psychosis

Sienna found Cleo’s notebook filled with the same message over and over. Worried, she went to the McQueens for assistance.

Once Misbah persuaded Cleo to seek medical attention, she revealed that Cleo was experiencing postpartum psychosis.

I have to say, watching Mulkerrin tackle this new storyline has been really compelling. She’s diving into the realities of new motherhood, and it’s not just about the joy – she’s really showing the struggles, particularly how it can impact a woman’s mental health. It’s a challenging role, and she’s handling it with a lot of nuance.

We worked with the charity Action on Postpartum Psychosis while developing this story, and learning about real-life experiences was incredibly moving. I especially feel for Cleo and her situation.

5. Theresa McQueen returns with her eyes set on Dodger Savage

Theresa makes a grand return to the village, trying to lay low out of Warren Fox’s sight.

I know she really wants to see Dodger and thank him for everything he did for her, but I’m worried about the timing. He’s still dealing with so much after what happened to him, and I wonder if she’ll be able to connect with him on that level, or if he’ll feel comfortable opening up to her about it all.

6. Donny Clark’s relationship with Misbah Maalik crumbles

Donny and Misbah’s relationship changed forever when Misbah discovered Donny wasn’t who he seemed – he was actually Mick Johnson, someone from her past. She realized everything she believed about him was false, and he’s still hiding something important from her.

In October’s ‘Hollyoaks Later’, Donny was sexually assaulted by Sully. Will he be able to confide in Misbah about what happened?

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2025-11-25 19:07