Hollyoaks' executive producer Bryan Kirkwood has spoken to Digital Spy about Ste Hay's future after his shocking decision to join a far-right extremist group.
Ste was drawn in further by Jonny Baxter and Stuart Sumner in Thursday's E4 first look episode (May 30), as they finally came clean to him about the organisation they're both part of.
Jonny and Stuart were forced to confess to Ste earlier than planned, as Tony Hutchinson had already discovered everything and was planning to intervene.
As Jonny and Stuart managed to talk Ste around with a twisted version of the truth, he decided to join them. Tony and Leela Lomax were later horrified when Ste told them that he was siding with Jonny and Stuart – realising that they'd lost him to the far-right.
Speaking exclusively to Digital Spy about the future of the plot, Bryan explained: "We've worked so closely with charities and government advisers on this storyline. Obviously radicalisation happens on every side of the political and religious landscape, but we're telling one side of it.
"The radicalisers have picked somebody like Ste on purpose, because he's disenfranchised, lost and lonely. We've also worked really hard with the Channel 4 compliance team to make sure that the story we're telling is suitable for the 6.30pm timeslot.
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"I believe the journey we're taking Ste on is plausible and I hope he's redeemable. There's a significant chapter of the story that sees Ste trying to de-radicalise himself, but that's much later on in the year."
Bryan hinted that it may not be easy for Ste to get back to his old life once he realises that he wants to cut ties with Jonny and Stuart.
He added: "The story isn't going in one direction until the end. It will change direction and hopefully take the audience with it.
"There's a very clear point in the story where Ste is confronted by what Stuart and Jonny represent – and we get our boy back.
"It's not going to be easy. We're not going to tie it up with a bow and say 'all's well that ends well'. There's a change of gear in the storyline and where it leads Ste will take a respectful amount of time."
Hollyoaks has been slowly and subtly exploring the radicalisation storyline since the beginning of the year, but this week's episodes mark the first time that Ste is aware of Jonny and Stuart's true motivations.
The show has been working with a number of experts while developing the story, including the Home Office and Exit UK.
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
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