A familiar face is reportedly heading back to Hollyoaks, and longtime fans are already buzzing. Hollie-Jay Bowes is said to be reprising her role as Michaela McQueen, 16 years after she was famously sacked from the soap in a dramatic behind-the-scenes fallout.
The actress first burst onto screens back in 2006 as the youngest and loudest member of the McQueen clan, quickly becoming a fan favourite thanks to Michaela’s fiery temper, punky style and tendency to land herself in trouble. At the time, the McQueens were brand new to the village, and Hollie-Jay was the first of the iconic family to make her debut.
Now, according to reports, she’s set to return to the Channel 4 soap as part of James Sutton’s emotional exit storyline, with Michaela appearing once more to say goodbye to her on-screen brother John Paul McQueen.
A source told The Sun: ‘It’s all water under the bridge now, and Michaela’s return to the village will be a treat for fans.
‘James’ exit as John Paul deserves something special and bosses know that bringing back some more of the iconic soap family was the perfect way to say goodbye to him.’
Channel 4 has not yet commented on the reports.
When did Hollie-Jay Bowes leave Hollyoaks?
Hollie-Jay’s history with Hollyoaks hasn’t exactly been smooth sailing.
Despite being hugely popular with viewers, she was sensationally sacked in 2010 after just four years on the show. At the time, bosses reportedly moved quickly to axe the actress after she spoke about future storylines on social media and claimed she had already quit the soap.
Instead of a planned exit, Michaela was hastily written out, with the character abruptly leaving the village for London following her split from Zak Ramsey. It was a humiliating and unexpected departure that shocked fans.
However, the door wasn’t completely closed. Just a year later, Hollie-Jay returned briefly via spin-off series Hollyoaks Later, before being invited back to the main show. In 2012, she confirmed she was leaving again, this time on her own terms.
Michaela’s second exit saw her leave to tour with a band after supporting her best friend Amy Barnes through her breakup with Lee Hunter.
If reports are true, Michaela’s return won’t just be a quick cameo. Her appearance is said to be part of a special storyline imagining what John Paul’s life might have been like if his sisters hadn’t died. Actors Gemma Merna and Leah Hackett are also reportedly reprising their roles as Carmel and Tina McQueen, despite both characters being long dead.
It’s shaping up to be a nostalgic, emotional farewell for John Paul, and a major treat for fans who grew up watching the McQueens dominate the village.
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Since leaving the soap for good, Hollie-Jay has continued acting, popping up in shows including No Offence in 2018 and the BBC’s Waterloo Road in 2023, where she played struggling mum Debs Rafferty. She has also worked as a narrator and stayed connected with fans via social media.
In recent years, she’s been open about her personal journey too. Last year, the actress revealed she had been diagnosed with ADHD and autism, opening up about how overwhelming fame felt when she was younger.
Would you like to see Michaela come back to Hollyoaks?
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Yes, it feels like there’s unfinished business
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No thanks
Responding to a TikTok comment from a fan who labelled her ‘rude’ after a past encounter, Hollie-Jay explained the context behind her behaviour.
She said: ‘I will never apologise for being rude to someone if I felt uneasy.
‘In this particular situation, I’d have been 17-18, an undiagnosed Autistic girl who found “fame” quite overwhelming and hard to deal with. The Mcqueens got a lot of attention.
‘Attention, I never knew we would get when signing up to my dream job.’
Whether it’s for one episode or a longer stint, Michaela McQueen’s comeback feels like the perfect nod to Hollyoaks’ past as it prepares to say goodbye to one of its most beloved characters.
