Hollyoaks actress Jennifer Metcalfe has shared an intriguing photo of her new baby

Hollyoaks star Jennifer Metcalfe has shared the first photo of her new son on social media.

The actress, who plays Mercedes McQueen in the Channel 4 soap, gave birth to the boy on last Tuesday.

She Instagrammed the photo captioned 'My boys'. Her parter is Geordie Shore star Greg Lake.

The couple have not yet announced their son's name.

Pregnant stars Jennifer Metcalfe and Chelsee Healey both left the Channel 4 soap on Monday

There was a double disappearance on Hollyoaks tonight, when Mercedes McQueen and her cousin Goldie left the village together

The actresses who play Mercedes (Jennifer Metcalfe) and Goldie (Chelsee Healey) were both pregnant at the time of filming, although Jennifer has subsequently given birth to a boy, while Chelsee is due later in July.

In the episode broadcast on E4 on Monday, Mercedes planned to head to America to try and build a relationship with her son, Bobby. But just before she when, she gave Simone (Jacqueline Boatswain) a helping hand while a clueless Cindy (Stephanie Waring) offered Dirk's van to Mercedes to help get to the airport.

Goldie, meanwhile, absconded from court and gave Jesse the kiss she’s always wanted to give him, before taking £1000 from him to help her on the run. Later, she broke the news to her sons, Prince and Hunter, that they’ll be staying in the village without her and told Shane she didn’t need his help any more and to stay away from her boys while she’s gone.

Goldie hopped into the back of Dirk's van, but was collared by Ryan. However, Mercedes stepped in and warned Ryan to stay quiet otherwise the whole world would know about his affair with Kyle.

The pair headed out of the village with the radio blasting ready for a new adventure while Aunty Myra offered Prince and Hunter a shoulder to cry on.

It's not clear when Chelsee and Jennifer will return to Hollyoaks.

Jennifer Metcalfe has revealed she and co-star Chelsee Healey have been bonding over their shared excitement about becoming mothers

Hollyoaks actress Jennifer Metcalfe has said she has been sharing pregnancy tips with her fellow mother-to-be and co-star Chelsee Healey, although neither of them know much about what to expect.

Both women from the Channel 4 soap are pregnant with their first children: Mercedes McQueen actress Jennifer with partner Greg Lake and Chelsee with her boyfriend Jack Malloy.

Jennifer, 34, is due to go on maternity leave soon and said that she had been swapping advice with her 28-year-old colleague, who plays Goldie McQueen.

She said: “We have a little chat now and again, we’re as bad as each other though. She’s got the same attitude as me, we’re both going to take it in our stride and see how it goes each day.

“The odd time one of us will find something out that the other one doesn’t know we’ll help each other out, we’ve had some emotional moments, it doesn’t take much.”

Jennifer added: “It’s quite nice really because we’re both goin.g ‘What the hell is going on?’

“I’m going to be in Newcastle for maternity leave and Chelsee will be in Manchester, but we’re hoping to meet up when the babies are here for a play date.”

Read on interview with Jennifer Metcalfe here.

Hollyoaks continues on week nights on Channel 4 at 6.30pm.

Two grieving women with grudges against each other, Mercedes and Sienna had a rooftop showdown on Hollyoaks. Who came out on top?

There were harsh words and murderous threats when grieving Mercedes McQueen happened across equally distressed Sienna Blake on a rooftop on E4's Hollyoaks tonight.

Mercedes is mourning the death of her fiancee Joe Roscoe while Sienna is struggling to cope with the loss of daughter Nico, both of whom died in the Halloween spooktacular disaster.

Sienna was in a catatonic state as she slowly made her way to the hospital roof ready to jump, only to be met by an equally fraught Mercedes standing a few metres away from her.

Mercedes blames Nico for Joe’s death and threatened to push Sienna off the roof, but decided she didn't want to give Sienna the ‘easy way out’.

Instead, miraculously, the two women shared stories of the people they’ve lost and the experiences they’ve had and... called a TRUCE!

Meanwhile, Cindy and Jude recovered the dodgy money from Liam Donovan and in an emotional farewell, Jude confessed she was jealous of Cindy’s settled family life.

Cindy begged her mother to stay in the village, but Jude couldn't give up her glamorous lifestyle and left the village in a black limo while sipping Champagne and shedding a tear of regret.

Has Hollyoaks seen the last of her?

These scenes will screen on Channel 4 at 6:30pm on Thursday, November 3

Anna Passey: Nico's death in Hollyoaks is the 'biggest mum fail ever' (VIDEO)

Anna Passey and Jamie Lomas: Filming Hollyoaks' fire stunt 'got the heart pumping' (VIDEO)

Hollyoaks star Jennifer Metcalfe reacts to the fatal plunge from a cherry picker of Mercedes' fiancee Joe Roscoe

Hollyoaks star Jennifer Metcalfe paid tribute to co-star Ayden Callaghan who conquered his fear of heights to film his character Joe Roscoe's fatal fall from a cherry picker.

Joe fell from the cherry picker that was attempting to rescue him from the top of the Ferris wheel during the Halloween spooktacular. But the maze blaze caused an electrics fire on the fairground ride and Joe died as he attempted to jump to the cherry picker.

Jen told What's on TV: "I was so proud of him. He had all the wires on just in case, but regardless of that, that jump you see him do, he really did that...I had to climb over on to it, and everyone was going 'Well done', but I had a fire guy there and I was cabled up. But Ayden actually did that jump and I was just like, 'Well done Ayde!'"

Despite his fear of heights, Ayden made it even more difficult for himself, she revealed.

"He kept on going, 'Move it further away'. He almost preferred it to be further away, when it was closer it was almost scarier... I think it was about three metres away and he just jumped."

Watch Jennifer Metcalfe talk about Joe's tragic death just as Mercedes had accepted his proposal, above.

Goldie McQueen is the latest addition to Hollyoaks' most fiery family. But who is the McQueen which most defines the all-drama dynasty?

The McQueens arrived in Hollyoaks back in 2006, quickly becoming one of soap’s most controversial and colourful families ever.

Are you even a McQueen if you haven’t been to prison, faked your own death, slept with your sister’s husband or been held hostage a couple of times?

Now there's a new addition to the family – young mum Goldie (Chelsee Healey) is about to descend on the village with a troublesome young brood and a dangerous past.

But who has been through the most in the past 10 years? Who is the biggest ‘drama McQueen’? Here we rank the family which knows no shame… 13 Michaela

The first McQueen on the scene really had it easy compared to her relatives. More of a comedy sidekick to her friend Amy, Michaela (Hollie-Jay Bowes) had little drama of her own. Now she’s sunning it up in Ibiza – lucky for some…

12 Celine

While she hasn’t been around for long, self-conscious Celine (Sarah George) was in thick of it in the Gloved Hand Killer storyline. Taking inspiration from the hospital murderer, she attempted to kill her sisters’ abuser Pete.

10 & 11 Porsche and Cleo

Both sisters fell prey to stepdad Pete’s abusive nature. While no one would believe poor Porsche (Twinnie-Lee Moore), Cleo (Nadine Mulkerrin)was firmly under his spell. Porsche soon left after her husband’s affairs with her cousins were revealed, but Cleo remains in the village, taking the blame for crimes she didn’t commit.

9. Tina

When dying in an explosion orchestrated by your vengeful long-lost brother doesn’t even make you the unluckiest McQueen, you know your family has issues.

8. Phoebe

The honorary McQueen. The homeless teen had been through a lot before joining the family; she was then arrested for Mercedes’ 'murder' and offed by the Gloved Hand Killer. Now that is unlucky. Poor Phoebe (Mandip Gill).

7. John-Paul

Although he’s had a series of torrid love affairs and a turbulent career as a teacher, John-Paul  (James Sutton) may be the most stable person in the family. The torment and rape he suffered at the hands evil schoolboy Finn has been John-Paul’s biggest struggle, but his life’s been thrown into more confusion as his estranged dad is now his boss, the Headmistress!

6. Theresa

She’s been to prison for killing her daughter’s father, donated a kidney to a budding serial killer and, of course, been taken hostage. Through all this Theresa (Jorgie Porter) managed to come up with inventive names for her children – Myra-Pocahontas Regina Madonna Savage-McQueen just rolls off the tongue.

5. Reenie

We all know the McQueens love a drink, but Reenie (Zoe Lucker) was on a totally different level when it comes to alcohol consumption. Her parenting skills are not all they might be, but then the mum-of-three had a dreadful upbringing and is married to a complete wrong 'un. Bad luck as much as poor judgment, we’d say.

4. Myra

Having lost three children, Myra (Nicole Barber-Lane) is a truly unlucky soap matriarch. She was forced into an impossible ‘Sophie’s Choice’ decision by her abandoned son and was 'killed' by evil Dr Browning. As well as her own troubles, she has to witness the constant messes her kids get into.

3. Carmel

The ditzy beautician/PCSO/nun was often overlooked by her family. Carmel (Gemma Merna) fell in love with Jacqui’s immigrant husband, was scarred by a fake-tan lamp, widowed on her wedding day, manipulated by a fake priest and cheated on time after time. Even when she died in the 2015 train disaster, it wasn’t long before Mercedes upstaged her by faking her own murder.

2. Jacqui

Introduced fresh from a prison cell, Jacqui (Claire Cooper) had on-off relationships with crime and Tony Hutchinson. She suffered a sexual assault by a friend, her cheating husband Rhys died in a bus crash and her dreams of having a baby never quite panned out. Run out of the village by Trevor Royle, she faked her own death and moved to Alicante. Don't bet on her not returning one day!

1. Mercedes

It had to be Mercedes (Jen Metcalfe) – the village vixen is known for her explosive storylines and schemes. She’s been married three times with two dead husbands and one dead fiancé and affairs peppered throughout. She’s been kidnapped twice, faked her own death, killed her murdering husband, stabbed herself and become an escort. Now raising her former friend (and Gloved Hand Killer’s) children, the feisty McQueen seems to have mellowed, but given her track record, it won't last long…

Ratings by Jessica McComish

Hollyoaks star Jennifer Metcalfe chats about filming Joe Roscoe's romantic proposal to Mercedes at the top of a Ferris wheel

Hollyoaks star Jen Metcalfe reveals she and co-star Ayden Callaghan discovered they have no head for heights while filming their climactic Halloween stunt.

Jen told What's on TV that their sequence involves Mercedes and her on-off boyfriend Joe Roscoe becoming trapped at the top of a Ferris wheel at the height of the 'Spooktacular'.

Jen said: "I thought I was OK with [heights] and Ayden had said 'I don't really like heights' when we spoke a couple of times about doing the stunts, but I said 'We'll be fine when we get there, I bet it's not that big.'

"When we got there Aidan was really quiet, I forgot he really doesn't like heights.... I thought, 'You are actually really scared!' So we were both up there for five hours, literally we wouldn't hardly laugh because if we laughed it swung a little bit. We were like two little babies, it were embarrassing."

The couple are on the Ferris wheel because Joe is planning an elaborate proposal.

"Mercedes obviously knows that because Freddie's told her, but she isn't thinking she's going to take Joe back," said Jen. "She knows she loves him, but she thinks 'No, one step too much.' She wants to humiliate him, she wants to get it all on camera, send it viral and say, 'Nah see you later mate, jog on.'

"Obviously that doesn't happen and we see them both up there, really romantic scenes of him trying to win her back."

Whether they get down alive or not, viewers will have to watch on Monday and Tuesday on Channel 4...

With not one but two McQueen weddings planned in Hollyoaks next week, what could possibly go wrong?

It's almost time for both Celine and Mercedes to tie the knot in Hollyoaks which means chaos and mayhem are guaranteed!

Celine is preparing to marry Diego in order to trick his millionaire mum, Juanita, into believing they're a couple as part of Myra's huge money-making scam. However she's starting to get seriously cold feet about the whole thing.

Meanwhile Mercedes is preparing for her big day with Joe, but things go badly awry when she's hauled in by the police for possession of drugs!

Are either of the McQueen ladies actually going to make it down the aisle. As the week unravels it's not looking good...

Diego and Celine manage to get to the church but are suddenly interrupted. Who or what is going to try and stop them getting hitched?

Earlier, Diego sees Myra all dolled up in her wedding outfit and he urges her to stay away from the ceremony or risk their scam falling apart.

Mercedes isn't happy when Diego's mother, Juanita, turns up on her hen night.

Is the feisty millionaire about to stir up trouble for the McQueen clan?

During the hen night, Mercedes gets caught up in a fight between Cindy and Tegan and all three women are taken to the police station.Then Joanne arrives on the scene ready to cause even more trouble...

She slyly plants drugs in Mercedes' bag so that when the police do a search she's arrested for possession!

Meanwhile, with her wedding day imminent, Celine bumps into Jesse.

Celine and Jesse can't keep their hands off each other and end up kissing, unaware Diego is watching them from afar.

Mercedes begs Freddie to keep her arrest quiet from Joe, knowing he'll probably pull out of their wedding, but has Joanne already done her worst? Is bride Mercedes headed for an almighty fall?

As Celine and Diego prepare to say their vows everything is going suspiciously smoothly.

Juanita proudly watches her son, but the smile is about to be wiped from her face.

The ceremony is suddenly interrupted by a shock arrival. Who's decided this sham wedding isn't ahead? Watch the double wedding chaos unfold in Hollyoaks on Channel 4 from Monday, September 26

Six years after Hollyoaks gave its titles a refresh, the series is launching a whole new opening sequence – and it will sound different, too

Hollyoaks has added so many new faces in recent months that its opening titles, featuring all the characters in the village, were in danger of running as long as the actual drama.

Well, maybe not quite…but they had got longer. And it’s clear that not only viewers had noticed.

Because from Monday, September 5, viewers will see Hollyoaks start in a very different way, moving away from the CGI style to scenes filmed at different locations in the village.

The series’ new Executive Producer, Bryan Kirkwood says: “I am thrilled with the new titles. I think they are vibrant, fun and glossy and from the first opening guitar riff feel completely Hollyoaks.

“It is great to see our characters in their own precincts and they will evolve as characters come and go.”

There’s a new logo, too and the title music has been refreshed, with a new arrangement by A-Skillz.

Set across day and night scenes, the titles open with recovering drug addict Ste Hay (Kieron Richardson) riding a carousel with his children, Leah and Lucas. Very appropriate, really, as Ste’s relationship with his kids goes round and round in circles…

They also feature Sienna Blake (Anna Passey) laying on a bed of leaves, possibly blown from the trees by one of the storms that regularly rage through Sienna’s life. Or… Sienna is laying where her father Patrick was buried, in the local woods. She always wanted to be close to him.

Sienna’s daughter, Nico Blake (Persephone Swales Dawson) is seen standing ominously in front of a burning fire… Or is she in it? There are those who would definitely want to see her burn in hell. She has, after all, killed her grandfather Patrick [Jeremy Sheffield], her mother’s lover, Trevor Royle [Greg Wood] and Carly Bradley [Sophie Wise], daughter of Ben [Ben Richards], the man her mother almost married.

Holly Cunningham and Zack Loveday (Amanda Clapham and Duayne Boachie) will be seen having a water fight in a hot tub. Well, that’s less complicated than them sleeping together…

The last shot of the titles shows Hollyoaks village at night, with Mercedes McQueen [Jennifer Metcalfe] – who has been slipping in and out of the village for 10 years, twirling in the moonlight in a red dress. Ah, the Scarlet Woman…

As with the old style, new characters will also feature in the scenes, including former Waterloo Road and Casualty star Chelsee Healey, who has joined the soap as a new McQueen character called Goldie.

Hollyoaks continues, with its new titles, on Channel 4, Monday, September 5.

With sinister psychopath Silas Blissett back in Hollyoaks, it was only a matter of time before he set his sights on Mercedes. She may have escaped his ruthless murder spree four years ago, but he's not going to let her get away this time.

Now that he's teamed up with Gloved Hand Killer Lindsey, it's two against one as the creepy duo form a plan to lure Mercedes into their web. The pair use Joe's mobile to entice her over to the Roscoe's, but their plot deviates when Lindsey's waters suddenly break!

With killer Lindsey looking as if she's about to give birth at any second, it's left to Silas to deal with Mercedes alone.

Lindsey finds Joe's phone and sends Mercedes a text to lure her over to the Roscoe's...

But the Gloved Hand Killer is soon bending over in agony as her waters break...

Sinister Silas watches as Mercedes walks right into his trap.

Mercedes is forced to play a terrifying game of chess...

Will she escape Silas for a second time?

Or is it game over for the one who got away as Silas prepares to do his worst?

Find out in Hollyoaks on Channel 4 from Monday, May 16

What's this? Are Hollyoaks enemies Freddie and Mercedes about to get together?

Birthday girl Porsche McQueen (Twinnie-Lee Moore) is celebrating with a party in the Folly, but Hollyoaks' goodtime girl isn't set to have the time of her life with husband Lockie (Nick Rhys).

Lockie tries - as he always does - to be the attentive, loving husband and even manages a dance with Porsche…

Birthday girl Porsche celebrates with Lockie

But Porsche then drives Lockie away by drinking to excess after Reenie (Zoe Lucker) hijacks the party to celebrate her engagement to Pete (Kai Owen).

Now very drunk, Porsche is in the perfect mood for a row with Mercedes (Jennifer Metcalfe) - and that makes Lockie nervous…

It brings out the party-pooper in Mercedes and she decides Porsche should try her special cocktail - with added sauce.

Mercedes has a special ingredient for Porsche's drink

Mercedes is enjoying winding up Porsche and making Lockie squirm. Mercedes knows Lockie wants her, not Porsche - and he knows she knows.

Mercedes adds her sauce to Porsche's cocktail

Lockie writes Mercedes a suggestive text but accidentally sends the message to Porsche. So now he has to find the time to keep both women happy…and he does.

It's Porsche's birthday and she'll scream if she wants to

But Porsche's party is destined to end unhappily for her… And maybe for Lockie and Mercedes, too, as they've been caught on camera by Celine (Susan George).

Hollyoaks, Channel 4.

Pregnant Mercedes thinks having a baby with Joe Roscoe may be the making of her, Hollyoaks star Jennifer Metcalfe tells Soaplife. But only if she gets to keep the child…

Why is motherhood right for Mercedes now?

“She’s older and she wants to make up for past mistakes she made with Bobby, who’s her little boy living in America.”

Does she want to see Bobby again?

“I don’t know, but there’s always a chance of a reconciliation. However, she isn’t allowed to see him because the last time she had him she dangled him off the top of a block of flats. I’ll be surprised if she is allowed to keep this baby!”

How does Mercedes feel about Phoebe’s death?

“Phoebe [Mandip Gill] was always cared for by Jacqui [Claire Cooper], who was her closest sister, and she sort of left Phoebe in Mercedes’ incapable hands and told her to watch over her. Mercedes failed and that’s hit her hard.”

How does she feel about Joe (Ayden Callaghan) being her baby’s dad?

“He’s certainly no worse than her and they have a mutual respect. They’re creating quite a nice friendship. They need each other because they’re not as close to their families as they used to be.”

What about Lindsey, Joe’s ex?

“Lindsey [Sophie Austin] wants to be Mercedes’ best mate again, so she’s finding it quite difficult. Mercedes is trying to keep her at arm’s length when all Lindsey wants to do is help out?”

Is this why Mercedes considers having an abortion?

“I think she’s considering it because she thinks she should. She looks at the situation and she thinks it’s probably not right. But when she actually has a heart-to-heart with John Paul [James Sutton], she realises she wants the baby more than she realised. I’ve always wanted to show more of a softer, maternal side to Mercedes. But she won’t be a conventional mother, she’ll do things her own way.”

Hollyoaks, Channel 4

Hollyoaks’ Jennifer Metcalfe tells Soaplife about Mercedes’ resurrection - and how she nearly gets killed for real.

Mercedes McQueen is back – and talk about making an entrance! After faking her own death, Mercedes has been living it up in France. But her high life comes to an end when Trevor Royle and Darren Osborne (Ashley Taylor Dawson) bundle her into the boot of a car. Back in Hollyoaks, she must face the cops and dices with death when she wrestles a gun from Joe’s hand.

“When I read what was going to happen, I was like, ‘Fantastic! Put me in that boot and get me back!’” laughs Jennifer. “She doesn’t come in quietly and she risks going to prison and getting killed.” It’s business as usual, then…

What has Mercedes been up to in France?

“She has Grace’s £50,000 and she’s been living it up. However, she’s had to do it undercover, so it’s been a lonely time.”

How does she feel about being back in the village?

“She doesn’t want to go back as she knows she’ll probably get into trouble with the police for faking her own death, but Trevor [Greg Wood] doesn’t give her a choice. She doesn’t want to go to the police, either, but Trevor threatens to kill Phoebe [Mandip Gill] if she refuses.”

Is she arrested?

No, she lives to fight another day. She turns on the waterworks and it does the trick. For now…”

Does that work with her family, too?

“There’s a mixed reaction. Mercedes is expecting open arms and cries of ‘The little Princess is back!’ But Porsche [Twinnie-Lee Moore] ends up slapping her. Theresa [Jorgie Porter], however, is made up.”

Will Mercedes stick around?

“She wants to go back to France, but Phoebe tells her she can’t because Nana [Diane Langton] was in a fire and she’s now in hospital fighting for her life. All Mercedes’ plans have to be binned and she has to get herself to the hospital.”

So she’s back for good?

“Yes. I’ve loved my time off, but I’ve come back all guns blazing and I’m really excited about what’s to come for Mercedes.”

How does Mercedes stop Joe from killing Freddie and Lindsey?

“Mercedes ends up in The Dog car park, when there’s a stand-off between Grace [Tamara Wall], Freddie [Charlie Clapham], Lindsey [Sophie Austin] and Joe [Ayden Callaghan], who wants to shoot Freddie. If that happened, it would draw more attention to Mercedes’ mess and, as much as she hates Freddie, she doesn’t want him dead. So, she whacks the gun out of Joe’s hand.”

But the gun goes off…

“Yes, and Mercedes might take a bullet. You’ll have to tune in and see…”

Hollyoaks, Channel 5.

Hollyoaks star Jennifer Metcalfe has confessed she never thought she would be able to keep the secret that Mercedes McQueen was still alive.

The leopard print-loving McQueen sister was thought to have left the Channel 4 soap for good last year when she was seen being stabbed. But she made a shock return last month when it was revealed Mercedes was alive and living in France.

Jennifer said: “It was really hard. I said to the producers, I’ll try and keep it a secret as long as I can, but I’m the worst liar in the world.

Mercedes is back (Lime Pictures)

“But it turns out I’m a really good liar. I just lied my way through it all!”

She added: “I haven’t been back filming yet. I had one scene yesterday, got in, all dolled up, and it got cancelled. So I’m yet to go back [officially].”

And Jennifer wants Mercedes to get back with Trevor, and hopes she doesn’t change her scheming ways any time soon.

She said: “I quite like Mercedes and Trevor, she’s at her best when she’s with him. Mercedes is at her best when she’s partnered with a guy.

Greg Wood plays Trevor Royle in Hollyoaks (Lime Pictures)

“The lovely thing about my character, which they write really well for, she is loyal to her family, so a bit of a roller coaster ride – but yeah I prefer her when she’s bad.”

Hollyoaks have released a video with a distinct film noir flavour, played out to the haunting Train Song, by Vashti Bunyan.

It’s a stylish film, with all the Hollyoaks characters dressed in 1940s style, on board a dark train that is clearly speeding towards trouble.

And Mercedes (Jennifer Metcalfe) certainly looks troubled (pictured)! … But she’s not the only one.

We already know that the soap’s latest major disaster will see a wedding party train crash, with many of the McQueens on board, including Mercedes, Carmel (Gemma Merna), John Paul (James Sutton) and Theresa (Jorgie Porter).

We also know that Jennifer and Gemma are about to exit Hollyoaks… Now it looks like they could be leaving by train.

But this spine-tingling train journey hints at trouble for others… particularly Patrick Blake (Jeremy Sheffield) and Maxine Minniver (Nikki Sanderson) - who are seen with their baby - Dodger (Danny Mac) and Sienna (Anna Passey).

Watch the creepy video below.

Hollyoaks continues on C4, Monday, November 3, 6.30pm.

http://youtube.com/v/pRayCnF5bnM

Hollyoaks star Jennifer Metcalfe has revealed she is leaving the show.

The 30-year-old actress, who plays Mercedes McQueen on the Channel 4 soap, announced the news on Twitter, joking that she needs a break from the sky-high stilettos her character favours.

"Mercedes is leaving the village, she needs to give her high heels a rest - my feet are knackered," she said.

Jennifer's departure comes days after her co-star Gemma Merna, who plays her screen sister Carmel McQueen, said she was leaving.

"I have loved working at @Hollyoaks for the past 8 years. I have met some great people and have some of the best friends I could ask for. I have some great story lines ahead of me and can't wait to get stuck into them," Gemma tweeted.

But two previously departed family members - Myra McQueen (played by Nicole Barber-Lane) and Theresa McQueen (Jorgie Porter) - are returning to Hollyoaks.

Three new McQueens are also headed to the show: Theresa's mum, Kathleen (Alison Burrows) and new McQueen cousins, Porsche (Twinnie Lee Moore) and Celine (Sarah George). Their teenage sister, described as the family's 'brainbox', will arrive in coming months.

Cameron Campbell's brother Lachlan, played by Nick Rhys, could be a possible love interest for one of the new McQueens when he arrives in the village.

Jennifer later wrote: "Read all your lovely messages ... Lookin forward to welcoming the new mcqueens (their ace) lots of love and keep watching (sic)."

Hollyoaks’ Jennifer Metcalfe tells Soaplife explains that Mercedes stupidly flashes the cash she got from Dr Browning’s life insurance… and it puts her life in danger!

Where has Mercedes been?

“Honest to God, I don’t know! I don’t remember leaving in the first place! But now she has all of Browning’s life insurance money and intends to enjoy it.”

Is it a lot of money?

“Yeah, it’s £500,000. This is the best thing that could have happened! She has never had much before and now she is loving life.”

Does she think she has got away with his murder?

“Yes, but there’s always that thing where she’s looking over her shoulder. Whenever Browning’s mentioned or there is anything to do with the police she gets a bit nervous, but she is trying to live her life minute by minute.”

Why does she give Cindy money?

“She gives her £10,000 because she’s carrying Dr Browning’s baby. It is not like Mercedes to do that, but Cindy helped her. Even so, out of £500,000 it is not a lot. At first she tries to give her £1,000, but Cindy says: ‘You can add a zero to that’.”

Does Mercedes realise Trevor wants the money?

“She’s totally oblivious to it. She’s in this bubble at the moment and thinks nothing of flaunting the money in front of Trevor, Grace and her family.”

Why does Trevor want the money?

“Grace gets kidnapped by Ray, but Mercedes doesn’t know this. Trevor’s in love with Grace and is desperate to find her and knows Mercedes has got the money. He’s determined to get his hands on it to save Grace.”

And does he?

“Mercedes is having a spa day and comes out of the shower to be greeted with Trevor holding a gun. He tells her to transfer all the money to an account. She’s terrified. She knows what Trevor is capable of. She’s trapped in a room with him and the easiest thing would be to hand over the money.”

But?

“But Mercedes has fought hard for this money. It’s not something she will give up easily…”

Jennifer Metcalfe has admitted it was far from glamorous filming her latest Hollyoaks scenes.

The soap's fans will see her alter-ego Mercedes Fisher involved in a dramatic hostage situation when she is locked up by Clare Devine (Gemma Bissix) in a cage surrounded by dogs.

Jennifer told Digital Spy: "They're really fab scenes and there's a lot of high drama. They weren't very glamorous to film, as we were in the middle of a cage in a scrapyard when we'd been having all of the blizzards and the snow. However, once we watched some of the footage back, we could see that it was worth every minute.

"First of all, Mercedes is trapped on her own in the cage, but then Clare brings Dr Browning along too. She threatens both of them with some wild dogs, so it's all very dramatic!"

Jennifer is back on screen after a short break.

"It's fab to be back. It took me a couple of weeks to warm back up again, as they always chuck me back in with a massive storyline! I'd been hoping that I'd get an easy ride for a month or two," she said.

"It was quite challenging for a couple of weeks as I was getting back into the swing of things, but I soon got to grips with it again and it's great to be filming some really good stuff. I'm really enjoying it."