Hollyoaks Icon Clare Devine Meets Dramatic End After 20 Years in Cliff Fall
In a stomach-churning twist, the long-running Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks has killed off an iconic character after two decades on screen. The dramatic climax unfolded during Tuesday's episode, which aired on April 7, as Clare Devine, portrayed by actress Gemma Bissix, met her demise in a terrifying fall from a cliff edge.
Confrontation on the Cliff Edge Leads to Fatal Push
The episode built towards a tense confrontation between two familiar faces from the show's history. Clare Devine had recently returned to the village after breaking free from prison, leaving chaos in her wake. Her reign of terror included the murder of her grandfather, Foggy, played by John Middleton. This set the stage for a deadly encounter with fellow killer Sienna Blake, portrayed by Anna Passey.
On the windswept cliff, Clare taunted Sienna, threatening to expose her murderous actions to Sienna's family. This provocation infuriated Sienna, who responded by pushing Clare from the cliff just as Sienna's daughter, Sophie, played by Scarlett Kerr, arrived on the scene. Clare plunged into the icy waters below and was not seen again, with Sophie serving as the sole witness to the tragic event.
Aftermath and Cover-Up Unfold in Subsequent Episode
In the following episode, which aired on April 8 and is available on Channel 4's streaming service, Clare's death was officially confirmed. As news of her demise spread through the community, Sienna maintained that Clare had simply slipped and fallen to her death. She and Cleo McQueen, played by Nadine Mulkerrin, who arrived shortly after the incident, stuck to this story when speaking with the police.
However, not everyone is convinced. When they relayed the same tale to Warren Fox, portrayed by Jamie Lomas, he remained skeptical. With Warren potentially on Sienna's trail, the question now looms: will she be able to keep the truth about Clare's murder under wraps, or will her secret unravel?
Clare Devine's Legacy and Gemma Bissix's Soap Career
Clare Devine first appeared on Hollyoaks in 2005, originally played by Samantha Rowley. Gemma Bissix took over the role in 2006, with the character seemingly killed off in 2013 after various on-and-off stints. Despite this, Clare made a surprise return last year ahead of the soap's 30th anniversary, setting the stage for her final dramatic arc in recent episodes.
Interestingly, Gemma Bissix, now 42, recently reprised another famous soap character who shares the same first name. She reappeared as Clare Bates on EastEnders, as part of her adoptive father Nigel's ongoing dementia storyline, portrayed by Paul Bradley. Gemma originally played Clare Bates from 1993 to 1998, with a brief return to Albert Square in 2008.
Gemma Bissix Reflects on Emotional EastEnders Return
Discussing her return to Walford, Gemma expressed her gratitude for being involved in such a poignant storyline. 'It's been an absolute pleasure to be back, and a privilege to be involved in Nigel's dementia storyline,' she said. 'I think it's a storyline that sadly resonates with so many people and it's been a real full circle moment for me, as EastEnders is where I learnt my craft as I was on the show from the age of 9.'
She highlighted the emotional reunion with Paul Bradley, noting that it felt like no time had passed. 'It was a long time coming, and I was just so chuffed because I haven’t seen Paul Bradley in over 20 years and so to be able to reconnect with him and work with him again felt like time had stood still,' Gemma explained. 'Paul was sort of like a stepfather to me in real life at work, as we spent six years on screen together from 1993 to 1999.'
Gemma also mentioned the joy of working with Steve McFadden again and reflected on her legacy with the show, including connections to the late Barbara Windsor, who helped secure her agent. 'The funniest thing is the people who really haven’t changed to me are Jane Slaughter who plays Tracy, Ulric who plays Winston, and some of the actors in the market as they've been there for the best part of 20 years,' she added, emphasizing the enduring bonds formed during her time on EastEnders.
