Ste Hay (Kieron Richardson) and Dillon Ray’s (Nathaniel Dass) lives have been left hanging in balance in the long-awaited comeback of Hollyoaks Later – just seconds after they shared a scandalous kiss!
Dillon, as viewers know, is currently dating Ste’s son Lucas (Oscar Curtis) – a relationship which has proven to be very popular with fans of the Channel 4 soap.
It’s certainly been a tumultuous year for the couple, with Dillon groomed by Rex Gallagher (Jonny Labey) and Grace Black (Tamara Wall) into a world of exploitation, which led to him developing a drug addiction.
After pulling the trigger and shooting operation leader DI Banks, he’s struggled to come to terms with his ordeal and, being a recovering addict himself, Ste was on hand to help him through his addiction.
But things took quite a turn in the summer when Dillon developing feelings for Ste in a move that proved quite controversial with fans of the show.
Ste was appalled when Dillon confided in him about his feelings, claiming that he was simply confused. The chef urged Dillon to keep his so-called feelings from Lucas, who had become more and more aggressive in recent months.
Lucas, meanwhile, has no clue of his boyfriend’s developing feelings for his dad. The teen, as audiences are aware, has had quite a lot on his plate this past year, having faced one ordeal after another.
To start with, Dillon cheated on him with his sister Leah (Ella-May Demircan), who subsequently gave birth to his son. Dillon subsequently cheated again – and this time it was just weeks after Lucas underwent surgery to remove a brain tumour.
Lucas’ anger has spiralled out of control and he’s been taking his frustrations out on Ste, with Hollyoaks exploring the issue of child-to-parent abuse.
Dillon was less than pleased to discover that Lucas attacked Ste earlier this month, which led him to the conclusion that he must end things with his boyfriend – that is, until he returned home to find Lucas self-harming, which made him reconsider the split.
With everything they’d been through, the couple resolved to take a trip to Liverpool with fellow teens Frankie Osborne (Isabelle Smith), Vicky Grant (Anya Lawrence) and Charlie Dean (Charlie Behan), hoping that a break would prove to be the tonic they needed.
Enter Hollyoaks Later.
in typical soap fashion, the getaway was anything but relaxing. With tension still rife between he and Dillon, Lucas wasn’t in the best place and, with Charlie handing out drugs, Lucas decided to partake.
Dillon, meanwhile, confided in Frankie at the bathroom of a nightclub, telling her that he doesn’t want to be with Lucas anymore – and that he’s going to break up with him.
Lucas was in the stall opposite as the conversation took place.
As Frankie enjoyed a dance with newcomer Esme Dixon (Yasmine Davies), Lucas scaled the stairs in the nightclub and stepped over the balcony.
Dillon spotted his boyfriend from below and, horrified, he made a beeline for the balcony, rescuing him. In Dillon’s arms, Lucas once again pleaded with him not to break things off and he assured him that he wouldn’t.
Wrestling with his inner turmoil, Dillon then headed to a bar, where he contemplated taking drink and drugs. Having been tipped off about the young man’s plans to break things off with Lucas, Ste arrived in Liverpool in the nick of time, urging Dillon to resist temptation.
Dillon was adamant about ending things with Lucas but Ste once again reiterated that he must stay with him – especially now that Peri Lomax (Ruby O’Donnell) has died. Lucas will need him in the weeks and months ahead.
News of Peri’s demise came as a shock to Dillon, who mustered up the courage to admit that he’s in love with Ste. Reeling, Ste made strides to depart, refusing to have this conversation once more.
‘Don’t let Lucas dictate who you can and can’t love’, yelled Dillon. Stopped in his tracks, Ste responded by telling him that, as a parent, one has to make sacrifices for your child’s happiness. Dillon reckoned that such a statement in itself is confirmation that Ste feels the same way.
Left with food for thought, Ste walked the streets of Liverpool and, when alone on a quiet road in the dark of night, he contemplated what to do -before heading back in the direction from which came.
Dillon had given chase and, in intense scenes, Ste confessed that he does, in fact, have feelings for his son’s boyfriend. Dillon smiled with glee and, without giving it another thought, the two men locked lips.
Unbeknown to them, however, their lives would soon be in peril.
Warren Fox (Jamie Lomas) and Donny Clark (Louis Emerick) – who is actually Brookside’s Mick Johnston – were locked in a car chase with gangland members Griff and Sully.
Sully had just hours earlier beaten Donny up while Griff raped Dodger Savage (Danny Mac).
The car chase escalated dramatically, winding up on the very road where Ste and Dillon were kissing. Ste spotted the imminent danger and pulled away from Dillon, pushing him out of the way of the oncoming vehicle.
But it was too late. Ste got hit by the vehicle, while Dillon was also clipped, knocking both men to the ground.
Frankie, who had just minutes before been notified that Nancy’s (Jessica Fox) life is hanging in the balance, was leaving Liverpool with Lucas when they stumbled upon the crash site, spotting Dillon and Ste motionless in the road.
Lucas raced towards his boyfriend and his dad, unaware of what they had been doing just seconds before he crossed the road.
The question is: will Ste and Dillon pull through? And if so, what does this mean for Lucas and Dillon’s future? Dillon was adamant that he and Lucas are no more, which will no doubt devastate the HayRay fans.
Is this really the end for the beloved couple? Even if there is a glimmer of hope, would there truly be a way back for them after kissing your dad and having a baby with your sister?
Just how will Lucas react when he inevitably learns the truth? And will Ste be subjected to more violence?
Hollyoaks streams Mondays to Wednesdays from 6am on Channel 4’s streaming platform, or catch episodes on TV at 7pm on E4. Catch up on Hollyoaks Later on Channel 4 streaming.
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