Hollyoaks spoilers follow.
Hollyoaks returnee Gemma Bissix has spoken about her role in the show’s 30th anniversary celebrations for the first time.
The star’s character Clare Devine has been named as one of the key players who’ll be taking centre stage in the milestone episodes this October.
Speaking exclusively to us at a photoshoot for the Inside Soap Awards 2025, Gemma responded to the big announcement that Clare and serial killer Jez Blake will soon be going head-to-head.
Executive producer Hannah Cheers previously hailed the villains as “two Hollyoaks titans” and revealed it was no coincidence they were both featuring in the run-up to the 30th anniversary.
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In her new chat, Gemma confirmed: “I’ve been filming some amazing things recently. There’s some more fragile stuff coming for Clare, which I think we’ve seen in recent episodes.
“There’s been some incredible scenes that I’ve filmed coming up. It’s seeing the reason that Clare is the way she is, which I don’t think the audience have ever seen.
“People aren’t born evil, but it is their environment and outside influences that make them like that. It’s really nice to see a depth to Clare that I don’t think we’ve seen before.”
She continued: “I have had a meeting with Hannah and I’ve got a big, big storyline within the 30th celebrations.
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“I’m really excited. I do think there will be some stunt work involved – I can’t say what! But it is positively evil and I think after all this vulnerable stuff that’s coming, the audience are going to get the real Clare Devine back…
“Clare and Jez has been this match that Hannah’s going to do together. Actually, I think that because Jez is in a position where he’s done a lot of things, he’s going to become a bit vulnerable himself. I think Jez should be very, very scared of Clare Devine!”
It’s a very busy time for Clare, as fans are also looking forward to the moment that she comes face-to-face with her nemesis Tom Cunningham again.
Tom, played by returning star Ellis Hollins, has been plotting Clare’s downfall from behind bars. They’ll eventually cross paths in person to continue their feud in the build-up to the 30th anniversary.
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“I was over the moon when they brought Ellis back,” Gemma continued. “A little bit has been on screen, but we haven’t met each other in person.
“I’ve been reading scripts recently, and Tom and Clare are actually going to bump into each other. They’re actually going to meet! It’s the most exciting thing.
“I knew him when he was 6 or 7 years old, so to see him as a full-grown adult is actually very weird! But it’s just incredible and we’ve got some really good stuff coming up towards the 30th. I think the audience are going to get the answers that they want.”
Meanwhile, discussing the ongoing mystery of who Grace Black’s long-lost child could be, Gemma teased: “I know who the character could be, but I’m not going to tell you that! It’s been an incredible thing and it’s something that the audience are not going to guess in a million years.
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“It’s just credit to the writers and the producers to be able to think up something so fantastic as this. You’re going to be shocked and it’s so brilliant.”
Gemma has scored nominations in three categories at the Inside Soap Awards this year – Best Villain, Best Showstopper and Best Partnership (alongside on-screen sister Tamara Wall, who plays Grace).
“It’s such an honour to be up for three awards – I’m over the moon,” Gemma told us. “The one that I’d love to win more than anything is Best Partnership – because Tamara and I are the best partnership in real life! We’ve been best friends for 10 years, even before me coming back on screen.
“To be back on screen and to share the scenes with her, it’s just been a dream come true.
“Soap fans should get behind Hollyoaks as Best Soap because we push the boundaries with storylines. We really go above and beyond to portray storylines that don’t necessarily get talked about, that make people feel seen. I think it’s time to make a change and equal the playing field a little bit – come on Hollyoaks!”
