In a shocking new development for Channel 4's long-running soap, Hollyoaks confirms dark and troubling scenes ahead for Lucas Hay and Dillon Ray as their fractured relationship takes an even more dangerous turn.
A Web of Deception and Heartbreak
Young chef Lucas Hay, portrayed by Oscar Curtis, finds his world crumbling after ex-boyfriend Dillon Ray, played by Nathaniel Dass, ended their relationship earlier this month, confessing he no longer loved him. What Lucas remains unaware of is the devastating truth: Dillon has secretly fallen for Lucas's own father, Ste Hay, with the two having slept together behind Lucas's back just last week.
The situation grows increasingly complex as Dillon has discovered Ste, played by Kieron Richardson, has been suffering abuse at Lucas's hands for months. When police became involved, Ste made the shocking admission that he had been hitting his son, not the other way around, a lie that has had severe consequences.
Family Torn Apart
Social services have now intervened, resulting in baby James – Ste's grandson, whose biological father is Dillon – being removed from Ste's flat. Dillon subsequently took the infant to the Maaliks for safety, later finding Ste in a dark emotional state.
Spoilers for the upcoming week reveal Ste and Mercedes McQueen, played by Jennifer Metcalfe, will drown their sorrows together. While Mercedes wants to continue partying, Ste becomes thoughtful after receiving a message from social services confirming a meeting scheduled for the following day.
Meanwhile, both Dillon and Lucas are summoned to The Dog pub after receiving a message from Frankie, though Lucas has been secretly monitoring Dillon's communications through a cloning app he installed weeks earlier.
Dangerous Manipulation and Soaring Tensions
Lucas suggests that Frankie called them both for an intervention to reunite them, attempting to connect with Dillon who continues to push him away. Their attention quickly shifts when they encounter Ste, who has relapsed.
With the social services meeting imminent, Dillon offers to help John Paul McQueen in getting Ste sober and prepared. Ste, however, remains in self-sabotage mode, convinced he doesn't deserve to have baby James returned to his care.
Lucas tells Frankie he won't give up on Dillon, declaring him his person, but the chef's determination takes a dark turn when he sees a text from Ste to Dillon and jumps to conclusions. Has he finally uncovered the truth about their betrayal?
Lucas soon makes an excuse to arrange another meeting with Dillon, while Ste heads to Price Slice to obtain more alcohol, only for Dillon to spot him and intervene. Lucas begins manipulating the situation in a concerning attempt to regain Dillon's attention, with his methods reaching dangerous new heights that leave viewers questioning just how far he's willing to go.
Other village developments include Theresa McQueen's unexpected return after being conned out of her diamonds, Gemma Johnston settling smugly into the Maaliks, and Mercedes planning to visit Tony Hutchinson while dealing with her own guilt.
Hollyoaks streams Mondays to Wednesdays from 6am on Channel 4's streaming platform, with television broadcasts at 7pm on E4.
