A destructive James vows ‘revenge on the McQueens’ in Hollyoaks

Can Ste change his mind?

As he struggles with the aftermath of the homophobic attack, John Paul wants to just move on, but his family want justice for him.

Offering John Paul some advice, Maxine shares the relief she felt when Eric was arrested. With a big decision to make, John Paul meets up with Freya, worried it may seem hypercritical of him going to the police after he got away with the car crash, but the teen reminds him he didn’t intend to cause the accident unlike the men who attacked him who knew exactly what they were doing.

Elsewhere, a shock call for Mercedes soon sees her rush off. After hearing that Bobby has been beaten up in the children’s home, she turns to James for help, who tells her that after what Bobby did to Verity, he refuses to help. Later, Lacey offers Mercedes help, under the condition that James doesn’t find out.

With Lacey off to help Mercedes, Maxine is left covering for her but when James’ bad mood sees him lashing out at Lacey, the truth comes spilling out. Lacey thinks that they might be in with a chance of getting Bobby moved, but when James comes storming into the McQueens, Lacey’s ordered back to work.

With Mercedes determined to get Bobby moved to another home, Goldie thinks she should be putting her energy into helping find John Paul’s attackers. And later, outside Dee Valley law, as Goldie and James have a shout-off, Bronzer goes missing.

As Scott tries to cover up John Paul’s bruises, he continues his stance not to get the police involved and rails against being called a victim and Mercedes opens up more about her feelings.

Following a huge clash ensues between the McQueens, James and Ste connect at last over James’ grief after he keeps being drawn back to watching videos of Juliet. Will it change how James has been acting?

Ste urges James to make things right with the McQueens over their vendetta against him but when he finds his office trashed, James refuses to involve the police but goes to confront them.

Heading to the McQueens, James offers them a chance to make amends but they refuse and Nana offers an alibi for all the McQueen girls.

When Maxine and Lacey hope to save the day by cleaning up the office, James is left distraught to find that the memory stick has been destroyed, erasing his video message from Juliet.

As Ste tries to talk James around, he opens up about how she was making him a better person. And when James refuses to cancel his meeting with Rafe about extending his property portfolio, Ste questions his motives.

Meanwhile, everyone is shaken when Donna Marie relapses and James accuses her of putting herself above Juliet and throws her out of the flat. With James on a path of destruction, he vows ‘revenge on the McQueens’.

Hollyoaks continues Mondays to Fridays at 6.30pm first look episodes available weekday mornings on Channel 4 and weekday evenings at 7pm on E4