Shane takes Cleo and Joel hostage as Darren tries to cut ties with the evil drug dealer.

A plan to take down Shane goes horribly wrong in Hollyoaks. Darren and Joel decide to team up to take on the druggy dad, but he finds out and takes Cleo and Joel hostage!

When the terrified pair find themselves locked up in an engine room will they manage to escape? Can Darren save them – or is Shane going to make sure they never see the light of day again?

shane sweeney

Shane realises that Darren and Joel are setting him up to the police and he swiftly kidnaps Cleo and locks her in the engine room

Joel is also soon entrapped. They know they're in dire straits!

Can the pair escape with their lives?

Not with Shane constantly monitoring them. Will they get any help from outside?

Shane watches over his captives...

Their situation looks grave... Is there any escape?Watch Hollyoaks on Channel 4 from Monday, August 21.

Cleo’s love for priest Joel leads her into danger and a massive Hollyoaks stunt, Nadine Mulkerrin tells Soaplife…

Cleo McQueen has a habit of falling hopelessly in love with inappropriate men. Her crush on Harry Thompson came to nothing as it turned out he was gay, she yearned for Nathan Nightingale, and now she has the hots for Joel Dexter, a Catholic priest with a heroin habit and blood on his hands. ‘She thinks Joel’s one of the good guys,’ actress Nadine Mulkerrin tells Soaplife. ‘But Joel’s about to lead her into a terrible situation that will have far-reaching ramifications.’

Why does Cleo love Joel? “He was there for her when she was grieving for her murdered sister, Celine. They were friends and she opened up to him. She thinks he’s a nice guy and she basically wants what she can’t have.”

What would happen if she found out he had a hand in Bart’s death? “She knows Joel has this big secret regarding Katy Fox and he believes her death was his fault, but she has no idea Bart’s been murdered. If she knew the truth about what happened to Bart, who’s her cousin, it would definitely make her see Joel in a new light.”

Will she sleep with Joel? “She wants to. She tells him she loves him, but she knows he has restrictions as a man of the cloth. Her feelings may or may not be unrequited.”

Why does she choose the wrong man all the time? “It’s down to what happened with Pete Buchanan. Being abused as a child is bound to have an affect on future relationships and getting involved with drugs is not uncommon. All she wants is to be loved, but she can’t help but be drawn to the wrong men.”

Why does Cleo follow Joel to a drugs deal? “He’s been acting strangely, talking about all this Catholic guilt stuff and she can sense something is wrong. She follows him because she wants to help. She knows he has a murky past with heroin and he helped her through when she was dabbling in it.”

What’s the story behind his motorbike? “It’s been stolen by Shane and, in a bid to take Joel’s mind off his problems, Cleo cleans it up and returns it to him.”

Where do they go on the motorbike?| “They make a decision to go somewhere on the bike and it doesn’t end very well. There’s a massive stunt and the repercussions will continue for quite some time…”

Nana and Bart McQueen return to Hollyoaks for the funeral of murdered Celine

As the McQueens and friends gather to lay Celine to rest in Hollyoaks, who was murdered by Cameron Campbell, there's a shock in store for the mourners when Nana McQueen shows up, with Bart in tow!

Bart hasn't been seen since he fled after coming up against Brendan Brady, and it soon becomes clear Bart is harbouring a secret. After an emotional ceremony during which Cleo gives a eulogy about her sister, can the McQueens move on? And will Bart's return cause trouble for Joel, who initially fled with Bart for owing Brendan money?

The McQueens and friends gather in church to lay murdered Celine to rest.

The McQueens and friends gather in church to lay murdered Celine to rest.

Cleo is stunned to see Nana has returned - with Bart in tow!

It soon becomes clear Bart, who hasn't been seen since he fled after clashing with Brendan Brady, has a secret.

Emotions run high as Celine's body is carried in to church.

Cleo McQueen stands to give a eulogy for Celine.

Cleo struggles to keep it together as she speaks in front of the mourners at Celine's funeral.

Cleo says a tearful goodbye to her sister Celine who was murdered by Cameron.

Tears flow as Celine's loved ones say goodbye at her funeral.

The mourners throw white feathers into the air for Celine. After the funeral, can the McQueens move on or will Bart's return bring more trouble?Watch Hollyoaks on Channel 4 from Monday, February 13

Cleo McQueen has painted herself into a romantic corner in Hollyoaks, but Celine has a plan to capture Nathan's attention. Does he actually want her interest though?

Cleo McQueen wants Nathan, but he seems to want Lisa. So Cleo pours her heart out in an email to him… and Celine sends it, reveals Hollyoaks star Nadine Mulkerrin.

So what exactly are Cleo’s feelings towards Nathan? “She has this ongoing friendship with him and they’ve been working together closely at The Dog. She fancies him and has developed strong feelings. It is that blurred line where you really love someone as a friend and start to realise that you are attracted to them on another level.”

Why did Cleo push Nathan and Lisa together if she liked him? “I think she felt that her and Nathan were never going to be, so she decided to play Cupid. I remember reading the script and thinking ‘Why is she doing that if she secretly likes him?’ But I think women do that sometimes.”

What makes her think now is the right time to do something about her feelings? “She has confided in Celine and she tries to convince her that she should say something to Nathan. She says: ‘He is with Lisa so there is nothing I can do. I have missed my chance.’ However, Celine convinces her to write this email message, admitting how she really feels.”

What does the email say? “They have a few drinks and get a bit giddy at the McQueens’ and it is a very Bridget Jones-style confession. It is sweet and honest, the sort of thing you would write in a diary – thinking that nobody will ever see it. She has no intention of pressing send.”

How does Cleo react when she finds out Celine did press send? “She goes crazy and then it becomes a mission to find and delete the email before either Nathan or Lisa sees it.”

But Nathan asks to see her… “Celine suggests that Nathan wants to see Cleo because he likes her, so she makes a real effort – Celine helps her get ready and she turns up in a dress.”

Will Cleo’s love be reciprocated? “It will be a shame if it isn’t – it’s awful when you get dumped on screen; it feels as if you are actually getting dumped in real life!”

Pete tells Cleo to tell the truth when she gives evident in his abuse trial in Hollyoaks, then promptly portrays her as a liar, says Nadine Mulkerrin

Cleo McQueen is conflicted when she finally faces her abuser, Pete, in court. Will justice be served? Nadine Mulkerrin reveals all to Soaplife...

How does Cleo feel about paedophile Pete’s trial? “She’s massively conflicted. She hopes he’s found innocent so they can run away together. But that’s because she’s been groomed from an early age. She has all her family urging her to tell the truth. Like many girls in her position, though, her abuser is the person she feels safest with. She thinks she’s in a normal and loving relationship with Pete [Kai Owen]. She’s in denial and not listening to all the people who are trying to help her.”

Does she really think they can be together? “Yes, she does. She wants to run away with him. He’s her friend and the only one who knows about the car crash and the truth about Holly [Amanda Clapham] and Nathan [Jared Garfield]. She feels safe with him, which is so sad. No matter who tells her it’s wrong, she’s not having any of it. She’s adamant he won’t go to prison because he hasn’t done anything wrong.”

How does Cleo feel when her mum, Reenie, shows up? “She loves her mum to bits, but she thinks she has the potential to ruin her plans. She’s written her mum off as an alcoholic and there are some angry shouting scenes between the two of them.”

How does Cleo cope when she’s interrogated by the defence? “Pete’s been very clever and he’s told her from day one to tell the truth, but he fights against it and makes her sound like a liar.”

Does she realise she’s been used? “Pete’s testimony confuses her. She’s like, ‘Why has he just stabbed me in the back like that?’ The cogs in her brain are whirring and, eventually, she realises he has no loyalty to her.”

How do you feel about the story reaching a climax? “I knew when I started that Pete would get justice and there would be a trial. It feels amazing to have completed it.”

Where does Cleo go from here? “She deserves a bit of happiness now, so she’s going to have fun with her friends and gain some normality. It’s nice to do smiley scenes and not be crying all day at work.”

Hollyoaks, Channel 4

Holly's drink-driving lies are about to exposed when Cleo decides she's not taking the rap on Hollyoaks

While Channel 4 Hollyoaks viewers are still reeling from Easter Monday's sickening car crash involving Holly (Amanda Clapham), Cleo, Nathan and Rachel, we can reveal that there is worse, much worse, to come…

Drunk and emotional, Holly should never have been behind the wheel of a car – and now she’s going to pay for it after smashing into the broken-down car of Nathan (Jared Garfield) and Rachel.

But Holly’s not the only person who will pay.

Drunk Holly staggers from her car and screams at Nathan to help Cleo

Channel 4 viewers saw Holly and Cleo (Nadine Mulkerrin) returning from the airport, where Holly had taken the heart-breaking decision to let the love of her life, Robbie (Charlie Wernham), leave for a new life in South Africa with his twin, Jason (Alfie Browne-Sykes).

Nathan and Rachel (Jennifer Brooke) were also leaving, about to start a trip of a lifetime to South America but, as our pictures show, that dream goes up in flames after the horror crash.

Viewers of E4’s first-look Hollyoaks will already know how this nightmare plays out.

We’re not going to give everything away but, as you can see from our pictures, the outcome is grim.

Nathan gets Cleo clear just before the car is hit by a falling tower

Holly has managed to get out of her car but Cleo is trapped. Holly screams at Nathan to help her… They’ve crashed into a tower that is threatening to collapse and Holly can’t get Cleo out on her own.

Nathan races to their car and manages to free Cleo just before a massive metal container falls straight on to Holly’s car. Phew!

Nathan is shocked by a massive explosion

Now it’s time for Nathan to get back to Rachel, who’s still stuck in their car…

The emergency services have arrived – but not in time to prevent an explosion.

And the look on Nathan’s face says it all.

The firefighters can't prevent a tragedy…

See exactly how the tragedy unfolds in Hollyoaks, C4, Tuesday, March 29, 6.30pm.

Cleo finally realises that Pete’s been manipulating and abusing her for years, says Hollyoaks star Nadine Mulkerrin…

How is Cleo so blind to what Pete is doing to her?

“You have to remember Pete [Kai Owen] has been grooming Cleo since she was 13 years' old. He’s manipulated her into believing what is happening between them is normal. She believes they’re in an equal, loving relationship and she genuinely hasn’t seen a glimpse of what is so obvious from the outside.”

What did she make of Porsche’s accusations?

“It was easier to ignore it and sweep what Porsche [Twinnie-Lee Moore] said under the carpet. Nobody else believed Porsche, so why should Cleo?”

How does Cleo react when the police turn up?

“She realises Reenie [Zoe Lucker] and Porsche have set up the visit and refuses to say anything. She’s secretly visiting Pete in hospital and she’s looking out for him. She’s desperate to keep that connection going, so he still has that element of control over her.”

But Harry knows she’s visiting Pete…

“Yes and he tells her she has to stop. But the urge to see Pete is stronger than Harry’s threats. In the end, Harry [Parry Glasspool] tells her family and that’s when it all starts falling apart.”

What does Pete’s mystery key have to do with everything?

“Pete’s hidden this key under the floorboards at home and he wants Cleo to get rid of it. It’s for the lock-up he has and it contains all the materials he’s kept from their relationship over the years: letters, photographs and gifts. She thinks it’s lovely that he’s kept these things and she can’t see the true meaning behind it.”

How does Cleo eventually come to realise the truth?

“She finds photos of Jade [Kassius Nelson] in among Pete’s things and she goes for her at college. Nancy takes them into a classroom to talk and Jade reveals Pete called her his special girl and he bought her gifts. She’s describing all the things Pete has done to her and Cleo realises it was abuse. She knows he’s lied to her and she feels betrayed. When she finally realises the truth, it’s really sad.”

Where does Cleo go from here?

“There’ll be a trial and we want to show that if you speak out, you can get justice. Cleo will go through a range of emotions. We worked closely with the NSPCC on this story and we met a group of survivors. I learned it will be a long process for Cleo.”

Hollyoaks, C4

Will Renee discover the terrible truth about Pete before she marries him?

Watching paedophile Pete Buchanan (Kai Owen) with his victim, schoolgirl Cleo McQueen (Nadine Mulkerrin), is extremely uncomfortable. You can sense how Cleo feels helpless and trapped and it's all too sickeningly clear just how master of manipulation Pete is taking advantage of that.

In Friday night’s E4 episode, after pervert Pete has sexually assaulted Cleo, the daughter of his fiancée, Reenie (Zoe Lucker), the tearful schoolgirl is shown at Porsche’s birthday party, saying to her sister Celine (Sarah George): “I think I might have done something really bad.”

She hasn’t. Pete has.

But before Cleo can say any more, a drunken Porsche (Twinnie-Lee Moore) reveals to her party guests that Cleo has a morning-after pill leaflet in her bag.

What’s that all about? That’s what Porsche wants to know. Will Cleo finally reveal that Pete has been doing to her exactly what he did to Porsche?

While viewers will have to wait until Monday’s episode to see what happens next, the Hollyoaks cast have been talking about tackling such a sensitive issue…

Nadine said that working with Kai was enjoyable, despite the dark subject matter: “It’s such a weird one because he is so lovely and we are friends and I enjoy working with him.

“It sounds bizarre, but I enjoy working with him because he’s brilliant, we work well together, and the scenes are electric – and you just feel like you’re doing some good gritty stuff you can get your teeth into.”

Pete Buchanan and Cleo McQueen (Lime Pictures)

The script was developed in conjunction with the NSPCC, and the cast also met with survivors of childhood sexual abuse to learn about the topic and listen to their stories.

Twinnie-Lee was deeply affected by the meeting. “You do really feel for these people because – well, they’re children. Somebody can take away your childhood and that’s it gone, and you live with that for ever,” she said.

Torchwood star Kai knew about Pete’s storyline before he auditioned for the part, but still wanted the role.

Kai Owen as Pete in Hollyoaks (Lime Pictures)

“I thought, ‘Wow that’s heavy stuff’,” the 33-year-old explained. “But I knew straight away that I wanted to tell the story, and I knew straight away that I wanted to get it out there.

“I knew exactly how I wanted to play him… this nice guy, this charming guy who manipulates everybody into thinking that he’s a lovely guy and would do anything for anybody, whilst having all these dark secrets. It’s a dark place to go to, but I have a very good support team around me.”

After Friday night's epiosde, Kai tweeted:

"Thanks for your comments tonight guys. Tough viewing!! But I'm so passionate to get the story out there."  #Hollyoaks @NSPCC x

— Kai Owen (@KaiKaiOwen) August 13, 2015

The Hollyoaks storyline is running alongside a campaign, #NoMoreSecrets, urging abuse victims to speak out and get the help they need.

“Statistically, there’s probably a family out there going through exactly what the McQueens are going through with Pete now,” Kai said. “And if we get one person to speak out, if we get one person to confess their secrets, then we’ve nailed it.”

Meanwhile, viewers are waiting, desperate for Cleo to turn to someone who can help her escape Pete's clutches…

"There's still a long way to go with the story," said Hollyoaks boss Bryan Kirkwood recently. "But the right thing will happen in the end."

Hollyoaks continues on Channel 4, Monday, August 17, 6.30pm.