“Hollyoaks” Preview: You Sometimes Hurt The One You Love

NOTE: This article contains SPOILERS so please be warned…

A more intimate moment in Ste and Brendan’s turbulent relationship…

UK soap Hollyoaks has a long history of telling stories about the lives and love of gays and lesbians. In fact, one of the most prominent gay romances in soaps was the love story between Jean Paul McQueen (James Sutton ) and Craig Dean (Guy Burnett), who developed a world wide fanbase. Hollyoaks hasn’t done a prominent gay storyline since then (we don’t count the show’s awful bisexual triangle from last year), but that’s all about to change.

Regular readers know that a few weeks ago actor Kieron Richardson, who plays longtime Hollyoaks resident Ste Hay, publicly came out of the closet on a British talk show, an announcement that coincided with the news that Richardson’s previously straight character would embark on a romantic relationship with his somewhat older and very sinister boss Brendan Brady (Emmett Scanlan). However, this would be no love story, but a disturbing tale of gay domestic abuse, something no other television show has done.

It all begins with a kiss…

Over the past few weeks, Hollyoaks has laid the groundwork for the storyline by developing the relationship between Ste and Brendan. Various scenes have illustrated the obvious attraction between the two men. Viewers have also been shown how manipulative, controlling and obsessive Brendan is about Ste, as well as given hints about Brendan’s previous relationships involving men, which is something Brendan has taken great – and even violent – pains to hide.

But this coming week, as the preview clip reveals, the relationship between Brendan and Ste will take a major turn.

Next page. What's next for Hollyoaks' Ste and Brendan?