Hollyoaks’ Mercedes to face life-threatening health battle next week

Hollyoaks spoilers follow.

Hollyoaks’ Mercedes McQueen will be left fighting for her life next week as her condition suddenly deteriorates.

Mercedes was diagnosed with bowel cancer during the show’s time jump and has undergone intensive chemotherapy treatment that hasn’t worked as the doctors would have liked.

Last year, she briefly stopped her treatment to source the drugs she needed illegally, but this didn’t work, and she was persuaded by Misbah to return to the hospital’s treatment plan.

myra and mercedes mcqueen in hollyoaks
Lime Pictures

Related: Best streaming services

Meanwhile, Mercedes and Freddie fell in love and planned to run away together at Christmas, despite Freddie still being married to her friend Grace.

ADVERTISEMENT

But on Christmas Day, Grace arranged for her brother Rex to shoot her in the village. She made it look like she stepped in to save Freddie’s life, and this made him think twice about leaving her.

Mercedes was heartbroken by Freddie’s decision, but she will soon have much bigger problems to worry about. In scenes that will air next week, Prince arrives home to find her collapsed on the floor.

john paul and myra mcqueen in hollyoaks
Lime Pictures
john paul, myra, cleo and mercedes mcqueen in hollyoaks
Lime Pictures

Related: Hollyoaks star Danny Mac breaks silence on Dodger's dark return plot

After she is rushed to hospital, the McQueens are given the devastating news that Mercedes has contracted an infection, and that her survival will depend on the next 24 hours.

While Myra tries to pretend that everything is okay, Mercedes sees through her lies. As she is growing weaker, she asks her family to take her home from hospital.

ADVERTISEMENT

Meanwhile, Cleo is still recovering from her car accident from before Christmas, and she panics when she hears that John Paul has arrived at the hospital.

mercedes and cleo mcqueen in hollyoaks
Lime Pictures

Related: Hollyoaks star confirms a new love interest for Diane

She thinks that he is here to take her home, so Peri is forced to break the news to her about Mercedes’ serious condition.

While Myra is concerned about Mercedes being discharged from hospital, John Paul wants to respect his cousin’s wishes, so he works together with Peri to make this happen.

Emotional pictures released by Hollyoaks show the McQueens, including Cleo, gathered at Mercedes’ bedside as her life hangs in the balance.

Will Mercedes survive this latest health scare?

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


Hollyoaks has worked with Bowel Cancer UK on Mercedes' story. Further information is also available via the NHS website, Macmillan Cancer Support or Cancer Research UK.

To find out more about Stand Up To Cancer and how you can support, visit their website.

You Might Also Like