Hollyoaks spoilers follow for the latest episode to air on E4 and stream on the Channel 4 service.

Hollyoaks has kicked off a dark new storyline for the recently returned Bobby Costello.

Bobby is on the run and has been hiding out in The Dog, but with construction work about to begin and the police on the hunt, Mercedes McQueen planned to run away with him to Scotland.

She asked John Paul for help, and he was torn. His moral dilemma got worse when he confided in fiancé Jez Blake, who insisted that he go to the police (of course, Jez has his own motivation for suggesting that).

In the village, Clare Devine-Banks tried to be friendly with Mercedes by relating to her situation, but Mercedes spat back and said that Tori was with her real family at the Blakes. She twisted the knife further by saying she took pity on Clare over her (likely fake) cancer diagnosis, but still hates her.

mercedes mcqueen and bobby costello in hollyoaks

Lime Pictures

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Later on, the McQueen household was set upon by armed police, with Donny Clarke revealing that someone told him Mercedes had been in contact with Bobby. The authorities found nothing and left, but an angry Mercedes blamed John Paul.

Myra later revealed she accidentally told Donny due to a misunderstanding, but at the point it didn’t matter. Bobby left Mercedes a voicemail revealing that he had left by himself.

The episode ended with him walking alone in the dark away from the village when he was approached by a certain someone in a car: Clare.

“It’s okay, don’t worry. I’m a friend of your mum’s,” she said. “Look, there’s not much she can do with police swarming everywhere, and the last thing they’re gonna do is look in my direction, so come on.”

Bobby relented and got in the car, but what exactly has Clare got planned for him?

hollyoaks clare devine wearing her headscarf sitting in a car looking out her window

Lime Pictures

Related: Hollyoaks confirms dramatic Rex and Ste reunion in prison showdown

Elsewhere, Marie Fielding star Rita Simons has revealed she’ll be leaving the soap in the autumn, stating she’s ready to return to London life after being based in Liverpool for two years.

“Before she goes, Marie has a bit more carnage and a few laughs to unleash on the village,” she teased on Instagram.

Hollyoaks airs on Mondays-Wednesdays with its Channel 4 streaming premiere at 7am, then an E4 broadcast the same night at 7pm. Full episodes are also released on YouTube a week after their Channel 4 release.

Selected omnibus episodes are available via Prime Video.

Read more Hollyoaks spoilers on our dedicated homepage

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