Bringing Ste in on their plan, how far will they go?
FOR WEEK COMMENCING 8TH JULY
Ahead of his court sentencing for Ella’s death, James plans a day to remember for Ste, but the day is soon derailed when Ste tells James that he's been working for Warren and is now also a target for the mystery shooter.
Elsewhere, Hannah shows up with a bruised face to meet Robbie, telling him that she is in danger and wants him to flee the village with her, forcing Robbie to tell Freddie that he's changed his mind and Lexi should stay with him as he has to go away and lay low for a while.
And Dave catches up with Hannah, who is at the bus stop waiting to leave after finding out that Robbie has fled the village but without her..
With Ste jumpy about the danger he is in, he reluctantly joins a surprise barbeque and breaks down in front of Tony, Leela and his family. But the moving moment is interrupted by Cindy who is upset by the fanfare.
Sharing his fears of prison with James, Ste takes his ring off as he wants James to have a life without him.
As sentencing day arrives for Ste, James is heartbroken that Ste has ended their relationship. And Ste also takes it out on Leah and Lucas and doesn't want them to visit. And the whole family struggle with what is ahead.
When Leela urges James not to give up Ste, James has a change of heart and leaves him a voicemail to say he's on his way to court to make amends.
In the dock, as Ste awaits his fate, the judge finds issue with the investigation and the conviction is declared unsafe. And despite Ste insisting he was behind her death, he is released.
As Warren and Mercedes return back to the village, Norma is concerned, but Warren insists he won’t miss Ste’s sentencing. And as they wait at the club for news, they're shocked when Ste appears, having not been jailed.
Fearing it is part of the vendetta against him Warren starts to believe the village is unsafe for him, Mercedes and the twins.
Meanwhile, on a burner phone, Ste gets a message from 'Blue', the person who got him off his sentence.
Arriving at the Loft, Zoe asks Warren about a gangster called ‘Blue’, who has been missing since 2017 as they have found coloured paint on the bullet. And Zoe agrees that Warren is in danger as the dates tie in with Freddie’s prison stint.
Meanwhile, Darren urges Freddie to step up and be a good dad to Lexi, who is not very impressed by his attempt at parenting when he accidentally bins her favourite toy.
Telling James about Blue, Ste warns that their problems are far from being over and are just beginning. As he tries mend their marriage, James warns that one more lie will end them and he has to stop working for Warren.
And Cindy tells Ste he needs to leave the village for good, but James insists they stay.
Meanwhile, after her hospital check-up, Mercedes begs Warren to go back to the Lakes and Norma tells Warren that Blue would be no match for her as she sets her sights on Freddie.
Showing up at the Loft, Rex warns Warren, urging them to team up against him. And at the hospital, Mercedes gets fed up and tells Warren if he hurts Freddie he won’t see the twins again.
As he struggles with fatherhood, Freddie still can’t find Lexi’s Unicorn teddy and is yet to tell her he has been in prison. Trying to win Lexi round with a picnic, Freddie narrowly avoids Norma after Warren calls her off. With help from Nancy, Freddie plans to become Lexi’s guardian.
Later, when Ste tells Warren that he can’t kill Freddie and go to prison, Rex and Warren tell him the plan to get Freddie drunk and set it up as an accident.
As Ste and Rex hide out on their mission, Freddie bonds with Lexi at The Love Boat, but he’s being watched.
Hollyoaks continues Mondays to Fridays at 7pm on E4 with first look episodes available weekdays at 7.30pm on Channel 4 streaming