THERE’S fresh drama ahead in the eponymous Chester village and two new characters are introduced this week.
Elsewhere in Hollyoaks, one resident is considering forgiveness while another receives news about their health.
Two friends will fight over one new villager in Hollyoaks
New residents are settling into the village
Can Sienna Blake forgive Warren Fox’s misdeeds?
1. Sienna has a change of heart
Grudges may be a thing of the past for Sienna Blake this week.
In recent months, the character portrayed by Anna Passey was hellbent on revenge after finding out Warren Fox (played by Jamie Lomas) was involved in Brody’s death in 2021.
But with his health on the line, Sienna starts to sympathise with him… while Ethan Williams (Matthew Bailey) isn’t impressed,
The tough man even decides to confront Warren in the garage.
The outcome of their exchange may surprise many Channel 4 viewers as, in later scenes, Ethan tells Sienna that he thinks Warren might have changed.
In a surprising twist, Sienna also has a change of heart about her former partner, which prompts her to decide not to go through with an evil plan previously concocted.
Sienna decides to tell Norma Crow (Glynis Barber) that Grace Black (Tamara Wall) tampered with her donor test results, and she is a match for Warren’s liver transplant.
How will Norma react?
Will Norma save Warren’s life?
2. Norma vanishes
As fans of the long-running soap are surely aware, both Grace and Sienna decided to let Warren encounter a slow and potentially agonising death as he’s in urgent need of a new liver.
In late 2022, he revealed to his pal Felix Westwood that he only had months to live after some serious liver damage.
Warren has struggled to find a match, but his long-lost mother could save the day.
Matters go from bad to worse for Warren when he’s rushed to hospital after coughing up blood.
Norma, whose villainous streak may push her to hatch a plan for revenge against Sienna and Grace, is quick to tell him she’s a suitable match.
But the Undertaker goes mission when medical professionals try to prep her for immediate surgery.
Does the criminal mastermind get cold feet?
Misbah is trying to support her son Imran as he recovers from his eating disorder
3. Misbah makes a shock discovery
Norma will be coming face to face with another Hollyoaks resident this week.
But before she can, Misbah Maalik (Harvey Virdi) was heartbroken to find out her son Imran was struggling with an eating disorder.
After initially refusing help, the lad was sent to a treatment centre.
Coming up, the centre payment is due but Zain Rizwaan (former EastEnders star Jonas Khan) is told he has insufficient funds.
He begins to investigate by speaking with James Nightingale, only to find out there is no inheritance money.
However, he fails to come clean to Misbah and she stumbles upon the truth alone, during her last day working at the hospital.
Convinced Zain is hiding something from her, she’s left open-mouther when she finds a wad of cash in a cereal box.
To top it all off, she also learns the payment for Imran’s clinic hasn’t been made.
In later scenes, Misbah puts her own issues to the side when she encounters Norma fleeing the hospital.
Taking matters into her own hands, she ambushes the villain to convince her to go through with the surgery.
Time is ticking at the hospital – will Norma help Warren?
Could Misbah be given a surprising lifeline?
Rayne and Lacey make their Hollyoaks debut
4. Newcomers in Chester
As a new year begins, new faces are set to make their appearance in Chester in the form of Rayne (Neighbours actress Jemma Donovan) and Lacey (Annabelle Davis).
Lacey is hopeful when she gets to the village for a job interview with James at Dee Valley Law.
She admits how passionate she is about the job, with her primary wish being to help people.
Sadly, her confidence takes a hit when James seems far from enthusiastic at the thought of hiring her.
Elsewhere, Rayne makes quite the impression on twins Prince and Hunter McQueen (respectively played by Malique Thompson-Dwyer and Theo Graham).
Rayne makes her debut this week on a motorbike and both brothers immediately swoon over her.
They even agree to a bit of friendly competition over who can win her affection.
Later on, Rayne and Lacey move into their new house and, feeling like Nadira Valli (Ashling O’Shea) is hogging Rayne, Prince comes up with a plan to get rid of her with Tom’s help.
They are soon playing a game of truth or dare but the once friendly competition between Hunter and Prince turns sour and a fight breaks out.
Juliet had a health scare in recent weeks
5. Juliet gets good news
Fans of the soap know Juliet Nightingale (Niamh Blackshaw) was recently told she had cancer.
This week, she confides in Peri Lomax (Ruby O’Donnell), telling her the results of a new pet scan will determined whether the cancer is shrinking or not.
Juliet admits she’s terrified of needles and Peri offers her support.
Later on, Juliet tells her she’s received good news from her test results.
But is all really as it seems?
It becomes clear Juliet could be hiding something when she turns up with Peri to the party at Prince’s house.
Juliet drowns her sorrows before rushing out abruptly.
Will she speak her mind?
Hollyoaks airs on Channel 4.
