Hollyoaks has dropped its winter trailer, confirming dark twists will not make this Christmas merry in Chester.
Angie Quinn Screen Time Reporter
17:36, 24 Nov 2025
Darren Osborne doesn’t look like a happy fella in forthcoming Hollyoaks scenes (Image: Channel 4)
Hollyoaks has unveiled its very dramatic winter trailer as the Channel 4 soap gears up for a not-so-merry Christmas.
Darren Osbourne (Ashley Taylor Dawson) tries to protect his daughter Frankie (Isabelle Smith) as she gets closer to villainous Sully (Harry French). But do the family know exactly how dangerous Sully is?
There is more bad news for Darren as he gets the distressing news that his son, JJ, has died in prison. Soon after, Frankie is convinced she is being stalked after receiving some concerning letters. In a huge twist, Frankie teams up with Dodger Savage (Danny Mac) to take down Sully.
She wears a wire, hoping to elicit a confession from him, as she believes he put a hit out on JJ. Will Frankie seek justice for her abusive brother?
Across the village, Diane Hutchinson (Alex Fletcher) wants to start a new chapter with her husband Tony (Nick Pickard) as the happy couple kiss under the mistletoe.
Tony and Diane Hutchinson kiss under misteltoe in the Hollyoaks trailer (Image: Channel 4)
But her happiness is short-lived when she finds out Mercedes McQueen (Jennifer Metcalfe) is the person who shot Tony, and revenge is at the top of her Christmas list.
Diane soon finds an ally in scheming new resident Gemma Johnson (Tisha Merry), who is hellbent on splitting her ex-lover Warren Fox (Jamie Lomas) up from Mercedes.
Armed with the knowledge that Mercedes shot Tony, Gemma enlists Diane’s help and the pair conjure up a plan to blackmail Mercedes for £50k.
Mercedes McQueen falls victim to a blackmail plot and asks Warren for help (Image: Channel 4)
Gemma gets Mercedes hooked on pills whilst Diane piles on the guilt with Tony recovering from his stroke. Will Diane and Gemma get what they want this Christmas?
As their scheme kicks off, Mercedes starts spiralling with boyfriend Warren on hand to help. However, there is another surprise in store for Mercedes when her half-sister, Theresa McQueen (Jorgie Porter), arrives back in the village.
Will Dodger be able to confide in Theresa about being sexually assaulted by Griff?
Ste Hay (Kieron Richardson) is playing anything but happy families as his life crumbles due to his son, Lucas’ (Oscar Curtis), violent behaviour spiralling out of control.
Ste is caught up in a worrying dilemma in the Hollyoaks trailer (Image: Channel 4)
Ste continues to play with fire as he leans on his son’s ex-fiancé, Dillon Ray (Nathaniel Dass), for support. But Lucas is fixated on finding out who his ex is sleeping with. Will he catch Ste and Dillon in the act?
However, another twist sees Rex Gallagher (Jonny Labey) make a comeback, but it’s long before Ste punches his ex-boyfriend in the face.
There is also heartbreak when Cleo’s (Nadine Mulkerrin) behaviour causes concern with Sienna (Anna Passey) and the McQueen family as Hollyoaks addresses postpartum psychosis.
Hollyoaks airs Monday to Wednesday on E4 at 7pm and first look episodes can be streamed Channel 4 from 7am