Hollyoaks spoilers follow.

Rex Gallagher boldly returns to the village in Hollyoaks next week – and faces a furious backlash for his role in the exploitation scheme.

In a surprise turn of events, Rex is granted his freedom after recently changing his police statement to implicate the true masterminds.

Viewers have just seen Rex give evidence confirming that his sisters Grace Black and Clare Devine were both heavily involved in what happened to Dillon Ray, Frankie Osborne and other young people in the local area.

This led to Grace and Clare finally being arrested for their crimes, as police detectives Donny Clark and Dodger Savage closed in.

grace black, clare devine, hollyoaks

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Related: Hollyoaks’ Clare Devine finally confesses the truth over illness claims

In new scenes next week, Tom Cunningham gives Rex his long-awaited introduction to prison top dog Froggy – played by former Emmerdale star John Middleton. However, he’s shocked to realise that Froggy has been keeping one crucial detail under wraps…

“Tom can’t believe it when he finds out that Froggy is Rex’s grandfather,” our Hollyoaks source explains.

“Froggy has been taking a very close interest in Rex, Clare and Grace – and now it becomes clear that it’s been personal for him all along.”

froggy in hollyoaks

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Related: Exclusive: Hollyoaks star breaks silence on explosive Blake family exit

Later, Donny visits Rex to explain that he’s being released after helping the police deal with Grace and Clare.

As Rex takes his first steps of freedom, he decides to keep to himself. He’s mainly worried about how Grace and Clare, who’ve been released on bail, will react to seeing him back.

Rex turns to his on-off boyfriend Ste Hay, hoping that they can get back together. Ste is wary of giving Rex a second chance – at least until he’s figured out how his troubled son Lucas would feel about it.

“Lucas is still livid over Rex’s involvement in what happened to Dillon,” our insider adds. “Lucas’s volatile temper has already led to several violent incidents at home, so Ste knows he has to tread carefully.”

ste hay and rex gallagher in hollyoaks

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nancy and darren osborne in hollyoaks

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nancy osborne, darren osborne, dillon ray and lucas hay in hollyoaks

Lime Pictures

Related: Exclusive – Hollyoaks plans another unexpected turn for Frankie Osborne

When Ste and Rex end up spending the night together, things seem to be looking up for their relationship – but what will Lucas have to say when he finds out?

Later, word spreads around the village that Rex is back and many people are unhappy that he hasn’t been punished more severely.

Rex brazenly attends a barbecue event that Tony Hutchinson is hosting at The Hutch, but Darren Osborne, Nancy Osborne, Dillon and Lucas are all there and not afraid to speak their minds… Will the situation get out of hand?

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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