Hollyoaks winter trailer confirms Cleo's escape, double exit and Darren's whereabouts

Hollyoaks have finally dropped its Winter trailer and fans of the Channel 4 soap can expect plenty of drama over the festive period. Santa Jez (Jeremy Sheffield) helps bring the Ho Ho Holiday spirit to the Chester village this year whilst Tony Hutchinson (Nick Pickard) hosts a slap-up Christmas meal at The Dog, with Donny Clark (Louis Emerick) leading the toast and the McQueens win best dressed in their sparkling festive outfits.

However, Christmas can’t plaster over the sinister happenings of Hollyoaks village as an escape plan is set in motion, a friend turns threatening foe, and a killer confession is in store for this festive period.

Cleo McQueen (Nadine Mulkerrin) has been trapped in a flat for over a year by her abuser Abe Fielding (Tyler Conti), who has convinced her that she was responsible for his mum’s Marie Fielding's (Rita Simons) death and that by staying hidden she is safe from harm - when he is really the threat. However,after discovering his lies she makes a plan to get out.

READ MORE: Hollyoaks regular returns after Channel 4 soap exit sparked fan fury

READ MORE: Hollyoaks J's real identity finally confirmed - and it's not James Nightingale

Inspired by the crime books gifted by her captor, she comes up with a plan. Convincing Abe she's dying, he agrees to marry her in the folly the night before. The Winter trailer cuts to Mercedes McQueen (Jennifer Metcalfe) slamming on the police counter demanding handcuffs on Abe, but has Cleo’s plan worked?

After banishing her family to the McQueens believing they suspect her of murdering her husband Ethan Williams, Sienna Blake (Anna Passey) is pleased to have the support of her estranged grandmother as Martha Blake (Sherrie Hewson) returns to the village. However, secrets lie beneath the surface as Martha makes an confession, telling Sienna that she murdered Ethan.

Also, village Lothario Freddie Roscoe (Charlie Clapham) captures the heart of Mercedes, who shows her vulnerable to side to him as she undergoes chemotherapy treatment and the loved-up pair plan to escape for a romantic break. Her McQueen family and mum Myra McQueen (Nicole Barber-Lane) are made up for her. However, he is married to Grace Black (Tamara Wall) and she will not let this slide. A pillar of support for Mercedes during her treatment now turns into her worst nightmare.

If that’s not enough on Freddie’s plate, the trailer also teases a continued romance with his brother’s girlfriend, Vicky Grant (Anya Lawrence). Also, Mercedes’ Christening for the Marias is abruptly interrupted by a spiralling Joel Dexter (Rory Douglas-Speed) who suspects his wife Leela (Kirsty-Leigh Porter) of cheating on him and questions the paternity of their daughter, Clara.

Through tears, she expresses how much she has been through, leaving us wondering what's wrong with Leela and what happened in the "missing year"? Meanwhile, The Osbornes prepare Frankie (Isabelle Smith) for trial the sibling sexual abuse trial taking place in January, but Nancy (Jessica Fox) has too much to handle on her own.

Elsewhere, hiding out in son Charlie’s London uni digs, Darren Osborne (Ashley Taylor Dawson) watches a TV plea hearing of his wife Nancy urging him to return home but things take a distressing turn when they watch Nancy collapse live on TV, pushed to her brink after holding the family together. Will this urge Darren to face the music?

As we approach the New Year, Tony and Diane Hutchinson (Alex Fletcher) are united in fear after finding their son Ro Hutchinson (Ava Webster) unconscious due to alcohol consumption. With Tony still believing that it is his mum Diane is struggling with her recovery, will she risk losing him to protect Ro?

Also, no one forgets their first love and it seems Dillon Ray (Nathanial Dass) is hoping to ring in the New Year with his, but can Lucas Hay (Oscar Cutis) forgive the betrayal and figure out a way for them to move forward?

Hollyoaks airs Monday to Wednesday on E4 at 7pm and first look episodes can be streamed Channel 4 from 7am