Ste’s great escape as Hollyoaks wows with soap first event

| Soaps Editor and Editorial Training Manager Published October 1, 2026 7:21pm Updated October 1, 2026 7:21pm Genuinely thought I was looking at Brendan Brady there (Picture: Lime Pictures) Chester has been treated to quite the spectacle courtesy of the Hollyoaks cast and crew, as fans – and probably unsuspecting and confused members of the public – had front row seats to see Ste Hay make a break for it from his mysterious captors. It has been a mySTEry over what has befallen the popular character, with James Nightingale (Gregory Finnegan) finding himself the chief suspect for his ex’s potential fate. But we have now got the biggest development yet. With the backing of a social media event, Hollyoaks encouraged fans to follow the clues to an event in Chester where they could enjoy Kieron Richardson fleeing his kidnappers to leave a big hint to those searching for them, as well as the McQueens caught in a wedding drama and a thoroughly entertaining busking performance from Kathleen-Angel and Maddox. Guttingly, Ste was soon bundled back into a van and it remains to be seen whether or not the clue is picked up by those who love him. The soap first episode will unravel next week on Monday October 5. The story travelled from linear broadcast, into street theatre with multi-platform content extensions across TikTok, YouTube, Instagram and Facebook. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Footage of the event, at the historic Chester Cross at Bridge Street, saw Ste’s story take a surprise turn, as he escaped from his captors – he then passed a note to the onlookers. Wednesday’s episode of Hollyoaks had seen the van that he has been kept in, driven off from its original site, as the net closed in on finding him. It was then revealed in a social clip that the captors had headed into Chester, close to where the fictional village of Hollyoaks is set. Ste was spotted by the crowd, escaping from the van and handing a note to onlookers with a clue to his whereabouts, before being bundled back in. Ask Metro Use AI to go deeper into the stories you care about – powered by Metro and trusted publications. The upcoming episode next week will be blurring the lines between reality, theatre and fiction. Ste’s in a serious situation (Picture: Lime Pictures) Just what has he been up to – and who is out to get him? (Picture: Lime Pictures) Executive producer Hannah Cheers explained creating the idea with series producer Si Wall, after visiting Edinburgh Fringe. She said: ‘We always think and talk about how we can innovate and tell a story differently and, in this instance, take a traditional mystery and bring it to life in a completely different way. ‘We wondered, how we would feel, if we were sat down on a rainy day in our favourite café and one of our most-loved characters stumbled out, emerging into our world. ‘The disappearance grew from there, knowing the live event would be at an intergral point within that story. In 2026 people want connection and Hollyoaks can still do that.’ Deals of the Day Kurt Geiger's new Notting Hill collection is a love letter to London's chaotic weather I’ve found the Hoover gadget that could make cleaning your floors so much easier I tried L'Oréal Paris's new PDRN serum and my skin looked glossier after one use This new Cricut gadget turns your favourite photos into stickers in minutes From kitchen hatches to burgundy walls – the biggest home trends for 2027 Channel 4 commissioner Lucy Raffety added: ‘This was a fabulously creative and ambitious idea, brilliantly executed with zeal and passion by the Hollyoaks team, delivering original, memorable and innovative drama, as only Hollyoaks does.’ Arrow MORE: Kieron Richardson takes on new role away from Hollyoaks as he addresses outcome of missing Ste story Arrow MORE: Leah in serious danger in Hollyoaks as sinister stalker closes in on her Arrow MORE: There’s a breakthrough in the missing Ste case in Hollyoaks – but a twist follows The Soaps Newsletter – Weekly Sign up for exclusive spoilers and interviews, handpicked by our Soaps Editor.