James R | On 23, Jul 2020

E4 is counting down the “must-watch weeks from Hollyoaks history as the Channel 4 soap goes off air.

The Chester drama is joining BBC’s EastEnders in having a short break in transmissions, after the coronavirus pandemic disrupted filming and left the programmes running out of episodes to broadcast. Channel 4 has been airing reruns of old episodes under the banner of Hollyoaks Favourites, presented by Kieron Richardson and Jorgie Porter, and now, E4 will be airing Hollyoaks@25, a showcase of the most talked about storylines from the soap’s 25 years.

The series will pick one must-watch week for every five years it has been on air. The first era will be looking at the years 1995-2000, the next will be looking at 2001-2005, and onwards.

The show kicks off with the soap’s first ever huge stunt, and its first ever villain, Rob Hawthorne, as it journeys back to 1999. A young Tony, Lewis, Ruth and Lucy are in serious danger as they are being held captive in a huge water tank. How will they escape Rob’s evil plan of vengeance.

The first week of episodes will be presented by longest-serving cast member, Nick Pickard (Tony Hutchinson) and Jennifer Metcalfe (Mercedes McQueen). Together, they discuss the episodes to come ahead of the Birthday, while socially distancing on the show’s set.

Pickard said: “It is so lovely being back on set, and seeing all of my fellow co-stars, and what better way to return than to host a new special birthday series with the lovely Jennifer Metcalfe? Although it’s been so difficult to remember my scripts after all this time, I’m a bit rusty!”

The good news for fans is that filming resumed from Monday 13th July, with social distancing and temperature checks to ensure as much safety as possible, but after going off air on 21st July, it will not return to our screens properly until September.

EastEnders is in the same position, after going off air on 16th June. Filming at the Elstree studios resumed on 29th June.

Emmerdale, meanwhile, has dropped down to two episodes per work from June, with episodes airing on Mondays and Wednesdays, to help keep the programme on air while it resumes production. Coronation Street, too, has managed to remain on air while phasing back to filming new episodes, although it has also reduced its output to single episodes three days a week.

Hollyoaks@25 will air on E4 at 7pm from Monday 27th July.

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