Hollyoaks airs shock arrest as Leela fights Mercedes

Note: This article contains discussion of drug dependency.

Hollyoaks spoilers follow from Friday's episode on Channel 4 streaming, which doesn't air on E4 until Monday.

Hollyoaks has aired a shock arrest as Leela Lomax attacked Mercedes McQueen.

Earlier this week, Mercedes helped Joel to fake a drug test following his recent relapse. In return, she asked him to provide an alibi for Warren, who was recently arrested under suspicion of murdering his mum Norma.

Norma was actually shot in her own flat by mysterious gangster Blue, aka Dave Williams. Warren discovered her body weeks later, after believing she had left the country.

In yesterday's (August 29) episode, Joel gave in to Mercedes's demands and made a statement to the police, confirming that he was with his dad on the night of Norma's murder.

hollyoaks joel dexter
Channel 4

Related: Best streaming services in 2024

Worried about being caught out, Joel later called his dealer and took a drug overdose, before a distraught Leela discovered him unconscious on the street.

Tonight's episode saw Marie arrive at the hospital to find a worried Leela keeping a vigil over Joel after his overdose.

"I just wanted the thoughts to stop. But every time they did, they'd just come straight back again. This is the only thing that would help," said Joel, with a shocked Leela replying: "What? This wasn't a one off?"

Joel was then forced to tell her about his relapse and admitted to taking heroin in their house. After learning about the extent of his drug use, an angry Leela walked out. "You can stay, but I'm done," she told Marie.

hollyoaks leela lomax
Channel 4

Related: Hollyoaks star reveals Tom danger in Blue storyline

Elsewhere, Mercedes was in good spirits after learning that Warren would be coming home as a result of Joel's false alibi.

However, not everyone was pleased with the news of Warren's return, with Dave secretly messaging Rex: "Mercedes will soon be alone."

Annoyed at Mercedes for faking Joel's drug test, Leela left the hospital to try and confront her. Outside the Love Boat, Leela slapped Mercedes and knocked her to the floor.

"Joel is in hospital because of you," Leela shouted. "I've already lost a son, and now I'm going to lose Joel too."

hollyoaks mercedes mcqueen
Channel 4

Related: Hollyoaks star Iz Hesketh explains show exit in beautiful message

Later, Leela and Mercedes calmly talked things through. Mercedes asked Leela to "fight" for Joel, with the pair soon reconciling.

When Leela headed back to the hospital to be with Joel, she was shocked to see the police arrive. "We've been looking into your recent statement," the officer explained to Joel.

She revealed that new CCTV images from the night of Norma's murder showed that Joel was lying about being with Warren. Joel was therefore arrested for perverting the course of justice.

Back at the Love Boat, Mercedes learnt that her babies had been kidnapped. Viewers then saw Dave and Rex in an abandoned car park, with the gangster saying: "Let's just hope for the twins sake, Mercedes plays along."

What does Dave want from Mercedes?

Hollyoaks streams first online via Channel 4 each weekday at 7.30pm. Episodes then air on E4 the following day, before getting their YouTube premiere a week after that.

From September 9, Hollyoaks will air Mondays - Wednesdays with its Channel 4 streaming premiere at 7am, then an E4 broadcast the same night at 7pm.

Selected omnibus episodes are available via Prime Video.

Read more Hollyoaks spoilers on our dedicated homepage


For more on drug addiction and dependency, including information and support, please visit FRANK or Action on Addiction.

You Might Also Like