Note: This article contains spoilers from Wednesday's (March 20) E4 first look episode of Hollyoaks, which some readers may prefer to avoid.
Hollyoaks has ended the reign of another supervillain, as menacing Mac Nightingale has finally been killed off.
The fearsome former pub boss took his last breath in Wednesday's E4 first look episode, becoming the latest victim of serial killer Breda McQueen.
As we'd always expect from that award-winning lot at Hollyoaks, Mac's departure is the end of one storyline but looks likely to set up several more for the next few weeks and beyond.
Here are the biggest questions and theories we've been left with after the latest episode.
1. Is Mac really gone for good this time?
Here's one question we can answer without too much trouble – Mac really is a goner. We'd been starting to fear that the sly schemer was indestructible, especially after miraculously recovering from locked-in syndrome last year, but this time there's really no going back.
What to Read Next
Our soap sources tell us that David Easter filmed his final scenes for Hollyoaks a few weeks ago now. When savvy fans started to suspect that Mac would be killed by Breda, the cheeky actor tried to throw people off the right track by insisting he'd just signed a new three-year contract. Did he have you fooled?
2. Will Romeo get the blame?
Is there a Soap Award for stupidest reaction to being confronted by a crime scene? If so, Romeo will be a sure-fire winner after his behaviour in the show's latest episode.
After turning up to confront Mac in a murderous rage, Romeo was taken aback to find his lifeless body on the stairs. After carelessly getting some of Mac's blood on him, Romeo wiped it on his jumper and fled from the scene without calling an ambulance. This can't end well...
We suspect this is all leading up to the favourite storyline of any self-respecting soap writer – a popular character being accused of a crime they didn't commit. At least having a no-nonsense lawyer for a dad should come in handy for Romeo when corrupt DS Yates comes calling…
3. Will Yasmine reveal all?
Romeo's rage was helpfully witnessed by Yasmine Maalik, who was taken aback to see him in such an angry state.
There's not much love lost between the Maaliks and the Nightingales, so could Yasmine inform the police about James's son now being a possible suspect in Mac's murder? Well, Yasmine's scene had to be in there for a reason, right?
4. Will this send Juliet off the rails?
Juliet is another character who really can't catch a break. The teen's troubled mum Donna-Marie recently did a runner from the village and now she's lost her father just a few weeks after meeting him for the first time.
Okay, so Juliet knew that Mac was bad news before he died, but it's still a pretty sad outcome for her after years of dreaming about who her "perfect" dad might be.
We know that Juliet will go off the rails next week by causing a scene in a Hollyoaks High classroom and threatening to burn down the school. This spoiler seemed fairly random when it was first announced on Tuesday, but it seems we finally know why she's in such a troubled state. Perhaps this meltdown will be what brings Donna-Marie back to the village...
5. Will James and Harry ever be happy?
It's not all doom and gloom, as we imagine that 'Jarry' fans are smiling widely at the moment following the confirmation that James Nightingale isn't being killed off after all.
Hollyoaks has been teasing a possible death for James over the past few weeks, but after all of those worrying spoiler pictures and ominous interviews, he's alive and well after miraculously finding himself in Breda's good graces.
Early in Wednesday's episode, Harry bemoaned the fact that something always seems to get in the way where him and James are concerned. Could there finally be some happiness on the horizon for them, or will James be too busy trying to save his son from a bogus murder charge?
6. Who will Breda's next victim be?
Let's face it, most fans could see Mac's exit at Breda's hands coming a mile off. When Hollyoaks revealed that Breda only targets bad dads, it didn't take a genius to figure out that the most dysfunctional father in the village might become a target.
Now that such an obvious victim has been taken care of, the big question is who'll end up in Breda's sinister sights next. Could Liam's sudden softer side around baby Iona have come too late? Will Breda extend her vendetta towards stepdads and get rid of Laurie? Or maybe Hollyoaks legend Tony has ignored Harry once too often…
7. Who's the other death?
Hollyoaks' cast were recently pictured by paparazzi photographers as they filmed a funeral, but we reckon it wasn't Mac's. The pictures showed Romeo in attendance for the service and he'd hardly be willing to mourn the man he hated. Other attendees like Goldie and Prince also don't have much of a connection to Mac.
It seems like the speculation over this particular death will still rumble on. Another shock exit may be coming...
Hollyoaks airs weeknights at 6.30pm on Channel 4, with first look screenings at 7pm on E4.
Read more news, spoilers and gossip on our Hollyoaks homepage
Digital Spy Soap Scoop video - hit play below for all the latest Hollyoaks spoilers, as the McQueens' double wedding day arrives and Juliet makes a shocking threat.
Want up-to-the-minute soaps news, spoilers and gossip on your social feeds? Just hit 'Like' on our Digital Spy Soaps Facebook page and 'Follow' on our @soapscoop Twitter account.
