Hollyoaks spoilers follow for Monday’s episode (April 7), which is available to watch now on streaming service Channel 4 and hasn’t yet aired on TV.
Note: This article discusses topics including rape and baby loss.
Hollyoaks has finally confirmed Joel Dexter’s horrific secret in a dramatic flashback episode – and the revelation is news to him, as well.
Joel has just found out about Leela’s therapist Tommy’s creepy obsession with him, after accidentally uncovering the secret shrine behind a cupboard in his flat.
It was then that Tommy decided to confess that they already knew each other, leading Joel to the hospital where his brother Billy is lying in a coma.
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But the biggest shock was to come, when Tommy explained that Joel was responsible for "saving him" from his brother by putting Billy in hospital.
In today’s episode, Joel struggled to recall what happened, and as the memories began to flood back, he and the viewers were taken back to a day during the show’s missing year.
At this point, Leela and Joel were at a difficult point in their marriage following the loss of their baby Noah, plus Leela was struggling in silence after she was raped at Theresa’s party.
Joel went out to buy drugs from his dealer, but this was intercepted by his dad Warren, who had unexpectedly returned to the village from Ecuador – and who punched his son in the face!
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After being urged by Warren to stay clean, Joel aimed to work on his marriage, but another reminder of Noah’s death pushed him over the edge and he went out to take drugs.
Under the influence, Joel headed to a nightclub, where he observed Billy being mean to Tommy – calling his brother a “useless, pathetic excuse of a man”.
Joel intervened and defended Tommy by throwing a punch at Billy, who hit his head on the stairs and fell unconscious.
Back in the present day, Joel reflected that he discovered Leela was pregnant the next day and hasn’t taken drugs since, but he couldn’t believe what he did that night.
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But Tommy was thankful for Joel’s act of violence against his bullying brother, explaining that he’d kept his secret as he changed his life for the better.
Tommy compared his situation to that of Joel and his late brother Abe, and outlined his worrying intentions now he had managed to track him down.
"We mightn’t be blood," he said, "but you’re my brother now Joel, and I’m yours. It’s me and you against the world now."
How will Joel react to this shocking secret?
Hollyoaks airs 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
Hollyoaks has been working on Leela’s storyline with guidance from Rape Crisis England and Wales which works towards the elimination of all forms of sexual violence and sexual misconduct. You can access more information on their website or by calling the National Rape Crisis Helpline on 0808 802 9999. Rape Crisis Scotland’s helpline number is 08088 01 03 02.
Readers in the US are encouraged to contact RAINN, or the National Sexual Assault Hotline on 800-656-4673.
Organisations including Sands and Tommy's are able to offer help and support to anyone affected by baby loss.
