Hollyoaks spoilers follow.
Note: This article contains discussion of domestic abuse and eating disorders.
Next week on Hollyoaks, Cleo plans her escape as Abe’s abuse worsens, while Ste hopes to reunite with James and Leela is suspicious about Joel and Mercedes.
Here’s a full round-up of all the biggest stories coming up:
1. Cleo fears the future
Cleo’s family are concerned about her after she suffers a dizzy spell. Abe buys her a nice outfit, but when she says it is to get her in the mood for baby making, she feels ill again.
The couple argue about Abe’s baby plans, and Cleo admits she is scared about being pregnant because of her health problems, but he is unsympathetic.
In The Dog, after Abe asks Joel about his drug use, he tells his brother that Cleo is struggling with her eating disorder again.
2. Zoe recovers
After giving birth to her baby three months early, Zoe is recovering in hospital.
Pearl admits she was shocked that Prince is the father and not Hunter, but reassures her granddaughter that the baby is a miracle and their health is all that matters.
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3. Abe shocks Cleo
Abe surprises Cleo with an escort for the night, and Cleo is horrified. She pays him to leave but Abe isn’t happy. He puts pressure on her and says she is going back on their agreement to have an open relationship.
4. Sally and John Paul intervene
Cleo and Abe’s argument is interrupted by Sally. She and John Paul stage an intervention for Cleo, and they end up rowing about Abe.
Scared his cousin’s eating disorder has returned, John Paul speaks about his own experiences with addiction – but Cleo feels cornered by her family.
5. Ste and James are set up
Ste is depressed after his split with James. As Dillon fails his driving test and therefore can’t take Lucas to Cornwall, the pair decide to get Ste and James back together.
They are both invited to a meeting at Casa McQueen and quickly work out that the children have been set up. Ste takes the opportunity to beg for another chance, but a distraught James turns him down.
Ste turns up at the flat to try again but finds James with painkillers and is scared about what he was going to do.
6. Cleo plans her escape
Cleo is abused by Abe, but the next day he acts like nothing has happened and suggests they spend the day together. But Cleo isn’t happy and shows him her bruises from last night.
Later, Abe tells Cleo he has anger issues and begs her to take him back. It looks like he has won her over, but she secretly asks John Paul to help her escape.
7. Joel asks for help
Mercedes tells Joel that Warren is annoyed that he hasn’t visited him in prison yet, while the family await Norma’s post-mortem results. Leela tells Joel he will be drug-tested when he goes back to work.
Mercedes and Joel visit Warren, and he tells them that he has been framed for Norma’s murder and he will find out who did it and get revenge.
Warren can tell that Joel is using again and asks Mercedes to help him get clean. But Joel also wants Mercedes’ help – to cheat his drug test.
8. James receives support
Ste asks Leela to visit James, but she thinks he needs professional help. Meanwhile, Maxine goes to see him but he works out that Ste sent her. After shouting at Maxine, James tells Ste to back off.
Leah visits James next and he is touched by her concern. He tells her that the painkillers were just for a headache, and Leah later reassures Ste. Could she be the one to get them back together?
9. John Paul changes his mind
John Paul looks for Cleo after her plea for help, but his cousin plays happy families and both she and Abe insist their relationship is back on track.
Abe tells John Paul that he is concerned about Cleo’s mental health and plants seeds of doubt in his head and he gains a new ally.
Cleo later breaks down to John Paul, but she no longer has his support, so she gives in to Abe.
10. James has a secret
Ste goes round to see James and finds him taking more painkillers. Ste asks James to spend the day with him, and he turns up at The Dog in his wedding outfit, hoping his plans will win him over.
Leah continues to try and get the couple back together, but James shouts at her in his office. Maxine then asks him why he has just changed his will to leave everything to Ste and the children. What is James hiding?
11. Leela is suspicious
Mercedes tells off Joel for going to work looking worse for wear. Leela confronts Mercedes and wants to know what is going on with her and Joel.
Later, Joel thanks Mercedes for helping him and promises that he will stay away from heroin from now on. Leela sees them talking and jumps to the wrong conclusion.
12. Vicky and Ethan grow closer
Vicky and Ethan work together at The Loft, and Sienna notices that they make a good team. Ethan denies that there is anything going on between them, but as they circle each other, it is clear that Vicky has caught his eye.
13. Mercedes blackmails Joel
Joel owes Mercedes for her help, and she wants him to provide an alibi for Warren as there is a two-hour period that he can’t account for. Joel is reluctant and is scared about potentially going to prison.
Leela tells Mercedes that she thinks she is seeing Joel behind her back. Fed up, Mercedes threatens Joel and tells him that if he doesn’t go to the police to help his dad, she will tell Leela he has been taking drugs.
14. Cleo is alone
John Paul comes round to see Cleo again and is concerned when he finds out that she and Abe are trying for a baby, but Abe continues to pull the wool over his eyes.
Cleo continues to do as Abe says but tries to talk to John Paul again. However, she ends up turning on him and becoming even more isolated.
Hollyoaks streams first online via Channel 4 each weekday at 7.30pm. Episodes then air on E4 the following day, before getting their YouTube premiere a week after that.
Selected omnibus episodes are available via Prime Video.
Read more Hollyoaks spoilers on our dedicated homepage
If you've been affected by any of the issues raised in this story, organisations including Refuge (www.refuge.org.uk) and Women's Aid (www.womensaid.org.uk) can provide further support and information. The 24-hour, freephone National Domestic Abuse Helpline is 0808 2000 247. The US National Domestic Violence Hotline is 1-800-799-SAFE (7233), or text LOVEIS to 22522.
Beat is a charity which raises awareness and understanding of eating disorders, and supports those affected by them. It has a one-to-one secure messaging service, and details of its phone helplines can be found here.
