Hollyoaks boss reveals major character developments and intense new storylines post-time jump

The boss of Hollyoaks has hinted at major plot developments for a character following the soap's time leap. The Channel 4 drama will fast-forward by a year as part of a strategy to decrease the number of episodes and cast members.

Jennifer Metcalfe, who stars in the soap, suggested that the reduction in episodes would allow the remaining actors "more time to attack the storylines", and shake things up on the show.

In an interview with Inside Soap magazine, Hannah Cheers revealed that the time jump would enable Hollyoaks to explore "a bit deeper into who Vicky (Grant) is and what makes her tick". She also hinted at a romantic storyline for the character, played by Anya Lawrence, along with other dramatic plots.

She said: "I absolutely love Vicky, Anya (Lawrence, who plays her) is a huge talent.

"We have the wonderful Louis Emerick as her dad, so we're now delving a bit deeper into who Vicky is and what makes her tick.

"She's ended up at the root of a lot of stories. She'll have a love story, and we'll see her fighting off against some of our long-standing A-listers and holding her own."

"We'll also see her making a lot of the wrong choices. She's like Mercedes from 20 years ago, but there's a difference as Vicky has a background in care and the foster system, whereas Mercedes has always had such a supportive family behind her."

Hannah Cheers also mentioned that one of the soap's most prominent characters, Mercedes, will be involved in a new, intense storyline "early on" after the timeline shift.

"To try to find a new, fresh story is a challenge, but we hit on something quite early on, and all of a sudden it felt like the pieces had fallen into place.

"It's the boldest story that Mercedes has ever told, and certainly will