{"id":856705,"date":"2026-08-16T00:04:22","date_gmt":"2026-08-16T00:04:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/856705\/"},"modified":"2026-08-16T00:04:22","modified_gmt":"2026-08-16T00:04:22","slug":"exclusive-hollyoaks-casts-mystery-man-xander-as-cindy-and-beth-team-up","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/856705\/","title":{"rendered":"Exclusive: Hollyoaks casts mystery man Xander as Cindy and Beth team up"},"content":{"rendered":"<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"3\" class=\"css-1ncddsh emevuu60\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/soaps\/hollyoaks\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/soaps\/hollyoaks\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"Hollyoaks spoilers\" data-node-id=\"3.0.0\" class=\"body-link css-1gyyefe emevuu60\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Hollyoaks spoilers<\/a> follow.<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"9\" class=\"css-1ncddsh emevuu60\">Hollyoaks is introducing a new character as mystery man Xander arrives in the village, Digital Spy can exclusively reveal. Indigo Kamal-Poole has been cast in the role, with the newcomer intriguing some of the established favourites when he arrives later this month.<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"13\" class=\"css-1ncddsh emevuu60\">Show chiefs have teased that Xander has a connection to one of the other residents, with his first scene seeing him on the receiving end of questioning from a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/soaps\/hollyoaks\/a73219378\/hollyoaks-spoilers-rebecca-ryan-beth-cindy-twist\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/soaps\/hollyoaks\/a73219378\/hollyoaks-spoilers-rebecca-ryan-beth-cindy-twist\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"bickering Cindy Cunningham and Beth Keane\" data-node-id=\"13.1\" class=\"body-link css-1gyyefe emevuu60\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">bickering Cindy Cunningham and Beth Keane<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><img draggable=\"true\" alt=\"indigo kamal poole as xander in hollyoaks\" title=\"EMBARGO 08.00 15\/08\/2026 Indigo Kamal-Poole as Xander in Hollyoaks\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1280\" height=\"1920\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" style=\"color:transparent;width:100%;height:auto;\"   src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/e52c8b44-8566-4a8f-8f48-0952db0d4718.jpg\" class=\"css-0 e1ddfba50\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Lime Pictures<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"18\" class=\"css-1ncddsh emevuu60\">Related: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/soaps\/hollyoaks\/a73427976\/hollyoaks-imran-leah-wedding-confession\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/soaps\/hollyoaks\/a73427976\/hollyoaks-imran-leah-wedding-confession\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"Hollyoaks&#039; Imran to make surprise wedding confession in dramatic ceremony\" data-node-id=\"18.0.1\" class=\"body-link css-1gyyefe emevuu60\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Hollyoaks&#8217; Imran to make surprise wedding confession in dramatic ceremony<\/a>  <\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"22\" class=\"css-1ncddsh emevuu60\">Kamal-Poole is a hard-of-hearing actor, and has praised Hollyoaks bosses for their approach to authentic representation, sharing: &#8220;It&#8217;s been really exciting exploring a character like Xander, and to be able to wear my hearing aids on screen without them being the driving force behind who he is.<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"26\" class=\"css-1ncddsh emevuu60\">&#8220;My hearing loss is a part of me, just as it&#8217;s a part of Xander, but it doesn&#8217;t have to define the stories we&#8217;re able to tell. I think there&#8217;s something really important about that kind of representation \u2013 where a character can exist with a disability, while their relationships and personality drive their story.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"31\" class=\"css-1ncddsh emevuu60\">&#8220;It&#8217;s been such a privilege to work with iconic characters such as Cindy and Warren already. I&#8217;m so excited for everyone to see how his storyline unfolds,&#8221; added the actor.<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"35\" class=\"css-1ncddsh emevuu60\">Xander&#8217;s first scenes air on Wednesday 26 August on E4 and Channel 4 Streaming.<\/p>\n<p><img draggable=\"true\" alt=\"beth keane and cindy cunningham in hollyoaks\" title=\" Beth Keane and Cindy Cunningham in Hollyoaks\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"6000\" height=\"4000\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" style=\"color:transparent;width:100%;height:auto;\"   src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/56ec348f-be7c-4cf3-bd7c-ab45d142b780.jpg\" class=\"css-0 e1ddfba50\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Ste Whalley\/\/Lime Pictures<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"40\" class=\"css-1ncddsh emevuu60\">Related: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/soaps\/hollyoaks\/a73390832\/hollyoaks-spoilers-leah-imran-wedding-jenson\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/soaps\/hollyoaks\/a73390832\/hollyoaks-spoilers-leah-imran-wedding-jenson\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"8 huge Hollyoaks spoilers for next week (17 to 19 August)\" data-node-id=\"40.0.1\" class=\"body-link css-1gyyefe emevuu60\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">8 huge Hollyoaks spoilers for next week (17 to 19 August)<\/a>   <\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"44\" class=\"css-1ncddsh emevuu60\">&#8220;Xander&#8217;s arrival could spark a miracle if he inadvertently gets Cindy and Beth on the same page,&#8221; teases our Hollyoaks insider.<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"48\" class=\"css-1ncddsh emevuu60\">&#8220;The two women have been at odds for weeks amid the big secret about how Beth&#8217;s son Maddox came into the world \u2013 and where they all go from here. But on this particular mission, they could be a formidable force as a duo!&#8221;<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"53\" class=\"css-1ncddsh emevuu60\">Hollyoaks airs on Mondays-Wednesdays with its <a href=\"https:\/\/www.channel4.com\/programmes\/hollyoaks\" target=\"_blank\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.channel4.com\/programmes\/hollyoaks\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"Channel 4 streaming\" data-node-id=\"53.2\" class=\"body-link css-1gyyefe emevuu60\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Channel 4 streaming<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"57\" class=\"css-1ncddsh emevuu60\">Selected omnibus episodes are available via <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.co.uk\/s?k=Hollyoaks&amp;tag=digitalspy.com-21\" target=\"_blank\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.co.uk\/s?k=Hollyoaks\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"Prime Video\" data-vars-ga-product-id=\"3cfb50ef-50e5-49c0-913c-ca0b1f10f590\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" data-node-id=\"57.1\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.co.uk\/s?k=Hollyoaks\" data-product-url=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.co.uk\/s?k=Hollyoaks\" data-affiliate=\"true\" data-affiliate-url=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.co.uk\/s?k=Hollyoaks&amp;tag=digitalspy.com-21\" data-affiliate-network=\"{&quot;site_id&quot;:&quot;53fd7fa5-d43c-401b-823b-b21cf6cddcd6&quot;,&quot;network&quot;:{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;Amazon&quot;},&quot;metadata&quot;:{&quot;links&quot;:{&quot;default&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.amazon.co.uk\/s?k=Hollyoaks&amp;tag=digitalspy.com-21&quot;,&quot;sem&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.amazon.co.uk\/s?k=Hollyoaks&amp;tag=digitalspy.co.uk-lift-21&quot;,&quot;social&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.amazon.co.uk\/s?k=Hollyoaks&amp;tag=digitalspy.co.uk-soc-lift-21&quot;}}}\" data-fp-affiliate-inline-link=\"true\" data-fp-affiliate-button-link=\"false\" data-vars-ga-product-price=\"$0.00\" data-vars-ga-product-retailer-id=\"077ee977-8ee4-4424-a450-66993ea4aedf\" data-vars-ga-link-treatment=\"(not set) | (not set)\" class=\"body-link product-links css-1gyyefe e1aq0z090\">Prime Video<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"61\" class=\"css-1ncddsh emevuu60\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/soaps\/hollyoaks\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"http:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/soaps\/hollyoaks\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"Read more Hollyoaks spoilers on our dedicated homepage\" data-node-id=\"61.0\" class=\"body-link css-1gyyefe emevuu60\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Read more Hollyoaks spoilers on our dedicated homepage<\/a><\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"66\" class=\"css-1ncddsh emevuu60\">Visit our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/tv\/a70049607\/streaming-guide\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/tv\/a70049607\/streaming-guide\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"Streaming Guide\" data-node-id=\"66.1\" class=\"body-link css-1gyyefe emevuu60\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Streaming Guide<\/a> now to see at a glance where you can view ALL your favourite shows and movies.<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"70\" class=\"css-1ncddsh emevuu60\">The new edition of Legends, a 100-page all-colour celebration of Ariana Grande, is here! <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hearstmagazines.co.uk\/livinglegendsarianagrande\" target=\"_blank\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.hearstmagazines.co.uk\/livinglegendsarianagrande\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"Buy Ariana Grande in newsagents or online\" data-node-id=\"70.3\" class=\"body-link css-1gyyefe emevuu60\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Buy Ariana Grande in newsagents or online<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Hollyoaks spoilers follow. Hollyoaks is introducing a new character as mystery man Xander arrives in the village, Digital&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":856706,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[29],"tags":[64,63,232739,229445,428,426904,430,134,433,308081,429,426903,366213,230602,427],"class_list":["post-856705","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-tv","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-collection-exclusives","tag-collection-latest-news","tag-content-type-news","tag-contentid-aa7081e8-6749-43fe-9348-ebbb98ca8074","tag-displaytype-standard-article","tag-entertainment","tag-hasproduct-true","tag-issyndicated-false","tag-locale-gb","tag-shorttitle-exclusive-hollyoaks-casts-mystery-man-xander","tag-sponsored-false","tag-subsection-hollyoaks","tag-tv"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/856705","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=856705"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/856705\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/856706"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=856705"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=856705"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=856705"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}