Joel Dexter (Rory Douglas-Speed) will find himself in grave danger in Hollyoaks next week when Jez Blake (Jeremy Sheffield) sets out to claim his life in order to keep his own secrets hidden.
Crazed killer Jez, as viewers know, has taken countless lives over the decades, keeping track of his victims with mementos belonging to them stored in a little book.
Dilly Harcourt (Emma Johnsey-Smith) and Abe Fielding (Tyler Conti) are among those to have met their demise at Jez’s hands and new spoilers confirm that Joel is in danger of becoming the next.
Fake therapist Tommy Odenkirk (Brandon Fellows), who has been trying to build a brotherly bond with Joel, uncovered Jez’s murderous secrets earlier this month during a therapy session, which he recorded.
Jez was determined to dispose of the threat to his freedom by claiming manipulative Tommy’s life.
Tommy, however, confirmed that recordings of his confessions would be sent to the police if anything were to happen to him, meaning that he has Jez exactly where he wants him.
Determined to use his discovery as leverage, Tommy instructed Jez to murder Leela (Kirsty-Leigh Porter) so that he could have Joel all to himself. Jez’s actions backfired, with Leela surviving the killer’s attempt on her life.
However, the incident did ultimately spell the end of Joel’s marriage, with Leela finding out about her husband’s one night stand with Cleo McQueen (Nadine Mulkerrin), which led to her calling it quits.
Upcoming scenes see Joel hopeful of a reunion with Leela, who admits that she’s struggling with baby Clara on her own. Frustrated at the pair’s closeness, Tommy once again tasks Jez with getting rid of Leela – and this time for good.
Jez doubts Tommy’s threats – that is, until Tommy makes reference to an alter-ego of his, known as The Reaper.
Joel, meanwhile, catches Jez snooping at Tommy’s flat and is left confused. Seeing an opportunity to turn the tables, Jez reveals that Tommy isn’t who he says he is, revealing the fake therapist has plotted to ruin his life and end his relationship with Leela.
He doesn’t stop there, filling Joel in on how it was Tommy who leaked the video of Leela online a few months ago.
The scales well and truly fall from Joel’s eyes and he urges Jez to come with him to the police as they report Tommy. Jez is keen to avoid police involvement for obvious reasons and thus he invites Joel for a drink.
Heartbroken, Joel parties the night away with Jez and ends up taking drugs. Jez, meanwhile, receives a visit from Tommy in the form of The Reaper, who reminds him that his time is running out – and that he must kill Joel, otherwise he will reveal all about him being a serial killer.
Later, Leela spots Joel outside the club and comes to realise that he’s on drugs. She reveals that she vowed to never be with him again if he relapsed.
With Joel high and unable to spot the danger, he later finds himself in a serious situation as killer Jez closes in, ready to kill him.
Will Jez claim another victim? Is Joel’s time up?
That remains to be seen but later in the week Marie (Rita Simons) tells Leela that Joel needs their support, reminding her that he’s a recovering addict and that, despite what he’s done, they cannot abandon him.
Realising Marie is right, Leela sets off with her to find Joel. But will they be successful? Or has the unthinkable transpired?
