Hollyoaks spoilers follow.
Hollyoaks' Carter Shepherd will be confronted over his intentions toward Maxine Minniver next week, as John Paul McQueen continues to be suspicious over Carter's true feelings following Carter's attempts to practise 'conversion therapy' on him.
In next week's scenes on the soap, Diane Hutchinson secures a new job as a counsellor at Hollyoaks High. Sally St Claire tells Diane how proud she is of son John Paul, but admits that she wishes he could find a man to settle down with.
While Diane celebrates her new career venture at The Dog, she tries to dig for information on John Paul's feelings towards Scott Drinkwell.
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Meanwhile, back at the high school, Carter is struggling with back pain and he resorts to taking daughter Freya Calder's old painkillers.
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Elsewhere, Diane sets up a blind date for John Paul and Scott, who are both less than enthusiastic when they find out what she's been up to.
When he sees John Paul having fun with Scott, jealous Carter apologises to Maxine for ignoring her following their previous passion. Carter soon invites Maxine to the school's staff Christmas party as his date, but not before he swallows some more painkillers.
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Later in the week, the Hollyoaks High staff let loose at their Christmas party, where Carter takes painkillers once again.
When John Paul tells Carter that he's worried about him, Carter admits that he is still trying to fight his 'demons', meaning that he is still attempting to suppress his true sexuality and his attraction to John Paul - but he adds that he sometimes wants them to win.
Convinced that someone is out to get him, Carter is horrified when he discovers that his office at the school has been trashed. When Beau Ramsey delivers the Secret Santa gifts to the staff and hints that he was the person tasked with buying for Carter, a surprising turn of events follows as Carter makes a scene at the party.
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The next day, a confused Carter wakes up at the McQueen house. John Paul reveals that he found Carter's pills and covered for him at the party, putting off anyone from calling the police over Carter's erratic behaviour.
With Sally at home, Carter is trapped in John Paul's room until she leaves. John Paul soon offers Carter some more advice and support, and Carter agrees to meet John Paul again later.
Carter then tries to speak to Freya, but she pleads with her dad to sort himself out.
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Later, in The Dog, Carter apologises to Maxine for his behaviour and he opens up to her about his struggles, hoping that she will be a shoulder to cry on.
Maxine agrees and the pair share a kiss in the village, which John Paul witnesses. He confronts Carter about his and Maxine's relationship, knowing that Carter is using her to prove a point about his sexuality.
When Carter continues to pursue things with Maxine, John Paul gives him an ultimatum...
Hollyoaks streams first online via Channel 4 each weekday at 7.30pm. Episodes then air on E4 the following day, before getting their YouTube premiere a week after that.
Selected omnibus episodes are available via Prime Video.
