Claire Cooper is set to return to Hollyoaks as the iconic Jacqui McQueen, as the actress reprises her role ten years after leaving the soap – but there’s a twist.
The actress, 43, played feisty Jacqui on the Channel 4 series from 2006 until 2013 when the character left for Spain after managing to con a local gangster out of £50,000.
She will make a comeback amid the sudden disappearance of her sister Mercedes – played by Jennifer Metcalfe.
As Mercedes McQueen’s scandalous love triangle escalated this winter, it seems her sister is finally returning to offer some words of wisdom.
When Mercedes turns to pray in the hopes of deciding whether she wants to be with her love interests Felix or Warren – she is shocked to find Jacqui there as a nun.
As the two sisters quickly jump back into their bickering ways, they share confessions, cold truths and even a catfight.
Claire Cooper, 43, is set to return to Hollyoaks as the iconic Jacqui McQueen, as the actress reprises her role ten years after leaving the soap
The actress played feisty Jacqui McQueen on the Channel 4 series from 2006 until 2013 but will make a comeback amid the sudden disappearance of her sister Mercedes – played by Jennifer Metcalfe
Hollyoaks favourite Jacqui had her fair share of dramatic storylines during her six years in the village, from being held hostage in an abandoned church, to losing her husband in a tragic bus crash.
Talking about rejoining the Channel 4 soap, Claire Cooper said: ‘It’s been 10 years since I stepped into PVC boots and hoops! I have great memories of my time on the show.’
‘I knew it would be a special day mainly because I got to dance with Jen one last time, we were on location, phenomenal crew, with a director I love, Sean Glynn, so I knew it would be handled with care, professionalism and fun! – I hope the viewers enjoy a little trip down memory lane with Jacqui and Mercy.’
But Claire – who in real life is married to fellow Hollyoaks star Emmett J. Scanlan – will only be making a one-off appearance in the serial.
During her time on the soap, Jacqui embarked on a relationship with Rhys Ashworth, played by Andrew Moss, until he was killed off in a shock wedding day crash in 2012.
Prior to that, she was also at the centre of a highly-publicised rape storyline two years earlier.
Since leaving the show, Claire has starred in Kay Mellor drama In the Club, and appears in the upcoming miniseries The Continental: From the World of John Wick for Amazon Prime.
When Mercedes turns to pray in the hopes of deciding whether she wants to be with her love interests Felix or Warren – she is shocked to find Jacqui there as a nun
As the two sisters quickly jump back into their bickering ways, they share confessions, cold truths and even a catfight
Jacqui was at the centre of a massive rape storyline in 2010 where the viewers were encouraged to become the jury
Jacqui had a relationship with Rhys Ashworth – played by Andrew Moss – from 2010 until he was killed off two years later (pictured in 2011)
The actress (pictured with co-star Andrew Moss in 2011) has been hailed as a classic character
At the time of her exit, Claire explained she had decided to leave the soap – which in 2022 announced its decision to stream episodes before broadcast – but had loved playing someone so different to her.
She told Inside Soap: ‘I handed in my notice over a year ago, but I’ve had to wait for certain things to play out on screen before I could go.
‘I loved every minute of playing Jacqui McQueen – it’s been incredible.
‘Usually when you’re in a soap, you play someone who’s quite similar to yourself. It’s been great for me to play someone who’s completely different from what I’m like in real life.
See Jacqui’s Hollyoaks return on Channel 4 on Friday 8th December, or catch it live on E4 at 7pm on Monday 11th December.
