Hollyoaks spoilers follow.
Note: This article includes discussion of alcoholism.
Hollyoaks’ Ro Hutchinson is to be rushed to hospital at the end of this year, as Diane’s lie spirals out of control.
In recent weeks, Ro was caught with a bottle of wine at school, after he had been drinking it with Arlo – who continues to be unkind to him.
Diane was informed, but when Tony arrived home from a date with Marie, he saw the wine bottle and wrongly assumed that his ex-wife had relapsed. Diane decided not to correct him, as she enjoyed having his support again.
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She will continue to deceive Tony over the festive season, and as New Year approaches, he realises that the stock take is down in The Dog. As Tony gets suspicious, he and Diane are at each other’s throats.
Diane gets jealous watching Tony and Marie’s blossoming relationship and so she lies to get his attention, claiming that she has relapsed again.
But meanwhile, Diane has worked out that it is Ro who is responsible for the missing alcohol, when she finds empty wine bottles in her son’s room.
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The pair argue about Diane’s discovery, and Ro accuses his mum of only caring about getting Tony back. Diane wants to tell Tony the truth, but is enjoying Tony’s attention too much, and decides to keep quiet.
Ro continues drinking in the park, and the situation is made worse when Arlo approaches and makes cruel, transphobic comments. With Tony unable to see that Ro is in trouble, his son later passes out in his room.
On the morning of New Year’s Eve, Tony and Diane are shocked to find Ro unconscious on his bedroom floor, and their son is rushed to hospital.
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Tony doesn’t understand how he didn’t see that anything was wrong with Ro, while Diane feels guilty. The pair are later joined by Marie and Arlo at the hospital, and Arlo asks after Ro – keeping quiet about the role he played in his drinking.
Things soon get too much for Diane and she runs out of the hospital, overwhelmed with guilt over Ro’s current state.
Later, Tony and Diane sit at Ro’s bedside and try to get to the bottom of why he was drinking, wondering if there was a specific event that caused it.
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The Hutchinsons fall apart as a result of further events at the hospital, and on New Year’s Day, Tony gives Diane some bad news.
What is set to unfold in the aftermath of Ro’s collapse?
These scenes will air in the week beginning Monday, December 30, on E4 and streaming service Channel 4.
Hollyoaksairs on Mondays-Wednesdays with its Channel 4 streaming premiere at 7am, then an E4 broadcast the same night at 7pm. Full episodes are also released on YouTube a week after their Channel 4 release.
Selected omnibus episodes are available via Prime Video.
Read more Hollyoaks spoilers on our dedicated homepage
Alcohol Change UK offers information, advice and support with their questions about drinking and the problems that can sometimes be caused by alcohol. For more information, visit Alcohol Change UK's website.
Drinkline also offers free, confidential advice to anyone who is concerned about their own or someone else's drinking on 0300 123 1110 (weekdays 9am–8pm, weekends 11am–4pm).
Readers can also contact Drinkaware.
