Exclusive: Hollyoaks star Alex Fletcher responds to Diane outcome

Hollyoaks spoilers follow from Wednesday's episode (January 11).

Hollyoaks star Alex Fletcher has spoken to Digital Spy about the future for her character Diane Hutchinson following the show's dramatic siege storyline.

Diane was rushed to hospital this week after Eric Foster shot her during the high-stakes hostage situation at the pub, which brought the show's radicalised misogyny story to a head.

The soap's hour-long special left Diane's fate uncertain, but Wednesday's first-look episode confirmed her fate as she regained consciousness after treatment — much to the relief of her husband Tony.

Speaking to Digital Spy about the aftermath, Alex explained: "When Diane wakes up in the hospital, she's got paralysis and she's in shock. She's groggy and she's had stitches, but she's very lucky because Eric hit her side when he fired the crossbow.

"If it had been a couple of inches the other way, she wouldn't have made it."

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She continued: "Diane uses a wheelchair when she's in the hospital, but she manages to get up and about once she's back home.

"When Diane first comes home, Tony creates a little bit of a surprise and everyone's in the flat waiting for her. Nancy, Darren, and Jack are all there.

"Diane comes through the door and she has a panic attack, because she has a flashback to when she got shot. She isn't sure if she can live there anymore. Diane asks for everyone to go home."

diane hutchinson and tony hutchinson in hollyoaks

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Asked whether things will go quiet for Diane once the immediate aftermath is over, Alex replied: "It doesn't seem that way! It doesn't seem to be going quiet at the moment. We're still busy.

"That's partly because Diane and Tony are in the Dog, which is one of the main hubs in the village. We're lucky in that way, because we're usually there or thereabouts.

"I don't want to tease too much, but we've got more family material coming through. There are ups and downs for Tony and Diane."

tony hutchinson, beau ramsey and diane hutchinson in hollyoaks

Lime Pictures

Alex also promised that viewers can expect to see a stronger Diane after her initial doubts over returning to the Dog.

She said: "Diane is pretty stoic afterwards. Tony's not in a great place, but Diane is actually being really strong. There's a women's march in the village, and Diane's got some really good stuff coming up with Maxine.

"Tony tries to bury everything, but Diane's not having that. She wants to make sure this doesn't happen to any other women and she's determined that they're not going to be afraid. It's good — we're seeing a strong Diane at the minute, which I really like.

"I think I've missed that for her. With some of the things that have happened to her lately, there's always been a trauma or a problem. But I feel like Diane has wiped her own slate clean, decided where she's going and nobody's going to get in her way."

Alex then noted: "I think the producers also want a couple that stay together. They want to see a proper marriage with the ups and downs. It's not perfect. Diane and Tony won't split up, but there's going to be a few bumps in the road."

Hollyoaks streams first on All 4, with new episodes dropping each weekday morning. The show airs Mondays to Fridays at 6.30pm on Channel 4, and at 7pm on E4.

Selected omnibus episodes are available via Prime Video.