It's a life-changing week for the residents of Hollyoaks, as a huge explosion at Marnie Nightingale's patisserie will cause tragedy in the village.
In the soap's biggest stunt since COVID rules were put in place on set, much-loved characters will fight for their lives and not everyone will make it out alive.
To mark the big week, Hollyoaks producer Lucy Allan recently caught up with Digital Spy to chat about the stunt and her future plans for the show.
Allan previously served as the soap's showrunner in 2009 and has been back in charge since early 2021, when she took over from Bryan Kirkwood.
What can you tell us about your vision for the show? Was there anything you were looking to change when you arrived?
"Obviously this was a return to Hollyoaks for me and I was absolutely delighted to receive a show that was in such robust health, in spite of all the challenges that have been thrown at it due to COVID.
"I've said all the way through that this was never about reinventing a very much-loved brand. This was about building on what we already had and making sure that we keep the ethos of Hollyoaks – from doing things first, to keeping the show's unique take on the world absolutely at the forefront of every story that we tell."
Are you taking a different approach to the show second time around?
"I'd say the show isn't fundamentally different to what it was last time I was here. Its core values remain exactly the same - telling compelling, bold and audacious stories with a unique Hollyoaks spin on them. That continues to be the show's USP and it's exactly what we continue to do.
"We have the hour-long episode and the stunt coming up this week, which show all of those elements of Hollyoaks that are so vital and so important."
A lot of the fans are seeing the stunt as your era starting properly on screen. How did it come about?
"The stunt came from story. It felt like we were in the right place to play this big seismic event.
"We were also aiming to give the audience what they want. We know that it's been really tough through COVID and we're extraordinarily grateful to the audience for sticking with us through tough times, in the tough world we all find ourselves in.
"We were delighted to get Channel 4's support for this hour-long episode early in the year. We wanted to kick-start 2022 with a bang.
"I really hope that when the audience watch the stunt, they can see the love and work that went into it because every single person involved did an awesome job.
"We hope it's a fantastic piece of television and we've really pushed for it to be told in the 'Hollyoaks way'. You've seen the 'Out of Time' trail and that will make absolute sense as you watch the build-up on screen this week."
There are sure to be casualties in the disaster, so can you tell us anything about that?
"I won't give any names or numbers of deaths, but it's always so very, very hard to work out who does go in these scenarios. From the writers' room to the story office, we all spend many hours dwelling on our decisions, but they're all driven from a desire to tell fantastic stories.
"Many of the most-loved characters that we've had on Hollyoaks are the ones that are no longer with us, but went out in these huge soap moments. The power and legacy those leave give huge value and credence to those characters. But it's still really hard decisions for us all to make."
Will more characters be leaving in the months ahead?
"It's the nature of soaps that people come and go. We mourn those that leave and fall in love with new characters who arrive."
As you were in charge in 2009, you've told stories for many of the 'old favourites' in the past. Was there anyone in particular you were excited to tell stories for again?
"There's a huge avenue of riches with them all. That's the brilliance of it – there are characters that I've known, loved and lived with, whether it's because I've been working on the show or watching the show.
"I've always loved Warren as a character. His friendship with Felix has been a joy to watch – just seeing how that works, builds and fits together. There are also characters like Mercedes, Tony, Darren and Nancy.
"One person I hadn't worked with before, who's been a real joy, is Harvey Virdi, who plays Misbah. It's been a real privilege to work with the Maalik family. But there are so many others – too many to mention! What was a delight coming back was re-meeting old friends and getting to know the new faces."
Zara's return has gone down well with the fans, and we know Lisa Hunter is returning briefly this year too. Are you planning to bring anyone else back?
"I'm really delighted over how well Zara has landed as a character. She was a real joy of a character back when I was a storyliner – one of those people that you really enjoy getting to write for. Lisa Hunter being with us briefly is fantastic too.
"What I would say is we've got some exciting cameos coming up. Tony revisits his past and there's a very exciting cameo who crops up for that. But then it's really about building on what we have and moving forward."
The show's biggest successes in recent years have been the issue-based stories, covering topics such as sexual abuse in football, County Lines and far-right extremism. Are you planning to tell more stories along those lines?
"Absolutely. Issue stories sit at the heart of what Hollyoaks does and they always have done. Those bold, brave audacious stories are ones where we get in there first, we tell them differently and we look at them through the prism of our audience. Those issue stories remain absolutely at the heartland of the show."
You experimented quite a bit during your first stint in 2009, with the flashforward episode and non-linear week. Are there any more special episodes coming up?
"One of the joys about Hollyoaks is absolutely its ability to break the format. We did the Black to Front episode last year, where we had the real privilege of getting to know a smaller group of people. We've had other single-strand episodes and we'll continue to look at those.
"You'll also see when you watch the stunt this week that we've looked at how the format and time runs. That's been a really exciting part of the process, as we build towards the hour-long episode. We'll do more if the right stories and characters are there for them."
You've just brought in the Chen-Williams family. Can you tell us about your plans for them?
"We're very excited about them. From the first conversations in the writers' room, we were looking for a modern, blended family. We're looking at that notion that's very representative of the UK today – people growing up in households with people who may not be siblings or parents by blood.
"We'll see what that means for the family – how they come together and how they fall apart. If some of the children got to meet each other when they're a bit older, how does that work?
"The Chen-Williams are a family that have love at their heart as well. Inevitably they're in Soapland, so life will not be without its challenges. We'll see some areas of that family where that kicks in, but there's loads coming up for them.
"We spent a long time doing a character workshop with the artists and we wanted to hear their ideas as well. It's always great to hear directly from them and find out what their take is. I'm really excited to see how we take that family forward."
What are your plans for the McQueens?
"You can expect more McQueens mayhem and madness. There are challenges coming up in that family – some of them are more unexpected than others. Mercedes will be sitting in that matriarchal role, sometimes bringing them together and sometimes blowing them apart."
Darren and Nancy have had their strains recently. Are you a fan of them as a couple?
"Who doesn't love Darren and Nancy? Whether you love them because they're together or apart!
"Dancy lives on. Life will never be without its hurdles for two people so diametrically different from each other, but that's where the real joy comes. We know when the challenges really kick in and the chips are down, they'll probably find a way to come through."
What's ahead for Tony and Diane?
"We're really excited to have them in the pub, at the heart of the village. I think you can look forward to – as asked for by the fans, because we do listen – some fun coming up for those guys as well.
"That's especially as we head towards the summer, with Tony and Diane coming together as landlord and landlady. Tony perhaps has aspirations elsewhere as well, so we'll look at what Diane will do to support him."
What's coming up for Ste and the Lomaxes?
"We're all excited about Ste and Sienna. Feedback from the audience seems to be that those two are landing very well together. When that was pitched in the writers' room, there was a collective gasp about the joy of those two. We continue to be very excited about where that gruesome twosome is going and how they'll work together.
"Elsewhere, with the Lomaxes, we've got Leela back now as well. We'll see the feisty brother and sister at the heart of that family and how they'll pull everyone through."
What's next for the Deveraux family?
"The Deveraux family, as you'll see this week, are really at the heart and centre of the stunt. They're really important and pivotal within that hour-long episode. They've really struck a chord with the audience. Look out for them big-style this week."
Misbah's rape has been another big story – is there more to come from that this year?
"All of the performances throughout the story have just been heartbreaking and fabulous to watch. It's a really important story to have brought to the screen and a real testament to the Maaliks as a family, as we've been able to see every angle.
"It'll be interesting to see where we go with Shaq – Omar Malik in that story has done great work. And what will happen with Misbah, how will she come through this? As a family they will unite and find a way forward, but I'll let you wait and see exactly how it happens."
Luke is another character with a big story at the moment. Is it true that he doesn't have long left?
"Luke is a huge heritage character for us and there's lots of chapters still to go with that story. We'll be looking at how the family pulls together and deals with this situation.
"What's really important is that the story is sad, but we also want to find the joy and the love that is so fundamental to that family. We've got exciting stuff coming up for them."
How much is COVID still affecting what you want to do with the show?
"Of course it has had an impact, as it has meant delivering and creating the show in a different way. But what I would say is – and hands up to all the other long-runners and everyone else out filming – it is extraordinary what you can achieve.
"The cast, crew and everyone working on this show have just done amazing work to deliver a show that feels familiar to the audience as much as it possibly can. The viewers don't see the joins that the edit works so hard to put together.
"It's been hard for everyone, so we continue to keep everything crossed that we'll come to the end of it."
Has the October stunt been moved to January for good now, or will it reclaim its usual place in the calendar later this year?
"We're not ruthlessly tied to anywhere, but we want to do another stunt this year. We're planning for it and we're working towards it."
Would you ever bring back the student and university halls element of Hollyoaks?
"It's funny that you should ask! Whilst we may not go back to a student halls set-up, we'll be looking at a situation of 'friends as family' and house shares. That's definitely on the agenda for 2022."
Will you be revamping the titles?
"There are new opening titles coming very, very soon. What we really wanted to do with them was highlight the optimism of a place like Hollyoaks – in spite of all the murders! It's a place where everybody wants to be and we'll see the real heart and friendship."
Do you have any plans for new sets?
"We've had the new park and the McQueens' new house. Keep looking at the McQueens as there's more from them to come.
"In the aftermath of our stunt, there's an opening for a new environment which we'll be seeing at the back end of 2022."
Hollyoaks airs new episodes from Mondays to Fridays at 6.30pm on Channel 4, with first-look screenings at 7pm on E4. Selected omnibus episodes are available via Amazon Prime Video.
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Daniel has been writing about soaps on Digital Spy since 2004 and took over as Soaps Editor in 2010.
He has interviewed hundreds of soap stars over the years, from Bill Roache to Lacey Turner, and regularly visits the sets of Coronation Street, EastEnders, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks for behind-the-scenes trips and press events.
He has served as an awards judge on numerous occasions for the likes of the BAFTA TV Awards, RTS Programme Awards and British Soap Awards. In 2020, he was Highly Commended for Best Section Editor at the BSME Awards.
