Hollyoaks star lets slip New Year plot as Channel 4 soap tackles ‘major problem in UK’

Jonny Labey has let slip details about a major storyline set to shake up Hollyoaks in the new year.

The actor, who plays the enigmatic Rex Gallagher, teased that the Channel 4 soap will feature a storyline which is a “a huge problem in the UK” in 2025.

Since making his debut earlier this year, Rex has been at the epicentre of the action from a budding romance with Ste Hay (Kieron Richardson) to the shocking revelation that he’s Grace Black’s (Tamara Wall) long-lost brother. Now, recent episodes reveal Rex embroiled in more intrigue, arriving at a house where newcomers Jacob and Kat are in hiding.

Rex ominously assures them their stay is temporary, but why are they covertly tucked away, and what binds them to Rex? Speaking of what’s coming up, Jonny shared: “We’re introduced to Jacob and Kat and they are little bit of Rex’s past. Before he came to Chester, he was involved in various exploitation avenue and he has a connection with these two people.”

He also disclosed: “This whole time since Rex has fallen in love with Ste, and tried to rewrite his ways, he’s been keeping Jacob and Kat in a safe house, keeping them away from the danger.”, reports the Liverpool Echo.

He continued, “In a way to kind of turn his life around and do something good for a change. There’s been all these small hints and clues which have really gone under the radar about Rex turning around and doing something good and trying to turn a new leaf.”

Jonny played it coy when discussing the future of the two new characters on the show, teasing, “As far as I’m allowed to say, this all links in with a huge, huge storyline. They are kind of planning and aligning quite a lot of things so it all lines up. The writing team are making sure they are steering it in the right way and linking everything together because there’s so many crossovers.”

He hinted at a larger connection to the show’s past, explaining, “Jacob and Kat are a huge link to what Rex was. He’s come from a whole dynasty of danger and crime.

“What happens next really affects a lot of people in the village. It’s really building up to something which Rex is hugely a part of next year which is really quite turbulent but also quite gripping and it’s something that’s a huge problem in the UK and it’s a huge problem with how people are treated.”

Jonny added that the storyline is not often talked about, saying, “It’s not necessarily a story that’s been spoken about a lot so I can tell you that and Rex is kind of being at the forefront. Something massive happens in the New Year and it’s nostalgic in a weird way for fans so it’s really going to set things on fire but what it leads to and the world Kat and Jacob are a part of is a much bigger picture.”

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