Hollyoaks - Ste and Brendan affair preview

Hollyoaks viewers are set to be shocked when Ste Hay (Kieron Richardson) embarks on a dangerous love affair with new villain Brendan Brady (Emmett Scanlan).

> Find out the latest Hollyoaks spoilers.

> Read our interview with Emmett Scanlan, who plays Brendan.


How does the storyline begin?

Brendan’s recent arrival sparked trouble for Ste and the other Hollyoaks’ residents whose lives he has affected. The villain has already put a vulnerable Carmel McQueen (Gemma Merna) in serious danger when he used her to smuggle drugs. And his naive little sister Cheryl (Bronagh Waugh) is set for heart ache as Brendan stands accused of being responsible for a vicious attack on her nightclub when he attempts to steal the takings.

Ste thought he had the measure of Brendan from the off-set but when he tried to blackmail the would-be gangster, Brendan soon put Ste in his place with one swift left hook. Ste has remained helpless in stopping Brendan’s manipulation of an unwitting Carmel as Brendan threatened to replace his new drug mule for the mother of Ste’s baby Amy (Ashley Slanina-Davies) if Ste interfered.

But when Brendan’s ex wife Eileen arrives in the Village, desperate for money to pay for private treatment for their sick child, Ste realises that Brendan’s bad boy persona may just be an act. Brendan’s desperation to provide for his family is something that Ste can relate to and when he realises that Brendan’s criminal activity is actually to fund his son’s treatment, Ste sees Brendan in a new light.

Recognising he has gained an admirer, Brendan takes Ste under his wing and the unlikely duo bond, forming an unusual friendship. And while Ste remains intimidated by the dangerous Brendan, he starts to admire him for the control, power and respect he commands and it’s not long before Ste is dangerously captivated by and in awe of a very troubled man.

A wild boys’ night out leads to a drunken kiss when Ste feels the sparks fly between him and Brendan, but Brendan is disgusted and immediately rejects Ste’s advances. The following day, Ste can’t apologise enough for his actions. He admits to having been attracted to another male when he spent time in a young offenders institute, but he never acted on these feelings and is mortified that he has jeopardised their friendship. Brendan is surprisingly cool about the whole drama and promises to keep Ste’s secret.

But now Brendan has Ste exactly where he wants him and the following day he makes a move on a very shocked Ste. But the passion is short lived when soon after their embrace, Brendan beats Ste badly.

What does producer Paul Marquess have to say?

“This is a long running story-line and while it is dark to begin with, the lessons that Ste learns are ultimately positive and life affirming. This story is about not being afraid to be who you are and while this is something Brendan struggles with, Ste is refreshingly accepting of his feelings towards another man. I hope viewers will be glued throughout the twists and turns as we unravel how Brendan came to be the twisted person we have been watching on screen.”

What does Kieron Richardson think of the storyline?

“I was shocked to discover that Ste was to embark on a gay relationship, however, having understood the long-term story-line I am honoured and very excited to have been given this challenge. Brendan is a dangerous character and it will be interesting to see how Ste copes when he himself is the victim of domestic violence.”

And how does Emmett Scanlan feel about it?

“Brendan is a complex character and completely misunderstood. I’m glad he’s not a gratuitous soap villain, but a multi-layered character with depth, a troubled past and an unsure future. I hope that as the story-line develops, viewers will be able to understand why Brendan has become the villain they see today. Brendan is compelled to manipulate and control everyone who crosses his path. At the moment this makes him dangerous but when we identify why he behaves this way, we will discover his vulnerabilities and this is exciting...”

When does the storyline kick off?

Scenes in which Ste and Brendan first get together can be seen on screen in the week commencing Monday 18th October 2010.