Ste Hay (Kieron Richardson) is feared dead in Hollyoaks after vanishing during a trip to a spa day, leaving James Nightingale (Gregory Finnegan) and Sienna Blake (Anna Passey) as the main suspects.
The chef has been struggling following the murder of his husband Rex Gallagher (Jonny Labey) and the return of his 'dead' ex James, whom he blames for Rex's demise. In a bid to cheer him up, Mercedes McQueen (Jennifer Metcalfe) and Leela Dexter (Kirsty-Leigh Porter) take him out for a spa day, but things take a turn on the way there.
Ste's Disappearance
Ste convinces Leela and Mercedes to stop for a bathroom break, but he has ulterior motives as he heads to a nearby shopping centre. He wanders around the unfamiliar centre, trying to get his bearings, while Mercedes and Leela remain in the car, unaware that they have been followed by Gemma Johnson's (Tisha Merry) heavies.
Gemma is keen to get Mercedes out of the way so she can win the affection of Warren Fox (Jamie Lomas), and she sees this as the perfect day to get rid of her love rival. As tension brews, Ste struggles to find his way out of the shopping centre and crosses paths with several characters, including a fleeting interaction with Phoenix Gulzar Brown.
Filming and Aftermath
In the special episode, set to air on Wednesday September 2, Ste ultimately vanishes into the crowd, leaving no trace. Kieron Richardson said: 'I loved filming Ste vanishing in Runcorn Shopping City with real-life shoppers, over 70 supporting artists and an amazing crew. People will see how busy the shopping centre was on the day, it really is like searching for a needle in a Ste Hay-stack.'
'Predominantly all shot in one take. It felt very different and quite unexpected…which is quite apt for this missing story. Just when you think you know what is going on, expect more of the unexpected.'
Subsequent episodes will see Leela and Mercedes, confused by his disappearance, return to the village in search of answers. Ste is considered a vulnerable person following his recent relapse, and the village bands together to find out the truth. In typical Hollyoaks fashion, pretty much everyone is a suspect.
Suspects and Future Storyline
James is at the top of the suspect list, but he is not alone, with Sienna Blake – who has just been released from prison following her arrest in May – also a person of interest. The storyline will take centre stage throughout Autumn, with a notable peak in October, centred in Chester city centre.
A brand new Autumn trailer will drop on Monday (September 7), giving viewers a closer look at the drama to come. Hollyoaks streams Mondays to Wednesdays from 6am on Channel 4's streaming platform, or catch episodes on TV at 7pm on E4.
