Yet another Hollyoaks death confirmed as star makes unexpected exit

| Deputy Soaps Editor Published August 26, 2026 11:28am Updated August 26, 2026 11:29am Another Hollyoaks death has been confirmed (Picture: Lime Pictures) Hollyoaks spoilers follow for Wednesday’s (August 26) episode that is now available to view on Channel 4 streaming. The episode in question will air on E4 on at 7pm. Cindy Cunningham (Stephanie Waring) and Beth Keane (Rebecca Ryan) were left reeling to discover that Martin Frost (Darren Tighe), the man who framed Cindy for Rex Gallagher’s (Jonny Labey) demise, was dead. Rex, as viewers will recall, was shot dead by an unknown assailant last month during a late-night shift at the garage. James Nightingale (Gregory Finnegan) was swiftly considered prime suspect given that he and Ste Hay (Kieron Richardson) had recently reconnected – but the lawyer professed his innocence time and again. Cindy, meanwhile, was subsequently framed from the crime after James paid Martin cash to claim that the beloved village legend was the one who pulled the trigger. Viewers will recall that Cindy was in a relationship with Dave ‘Blue’ Williams (Dominic Power), which led to her departing the village two years ago. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Blue’s associate and right-hand person was none other than Rex so with Rex’s demise lining up with Cindy’s comeback, it didn’t take too much effort for the police to join the dots after Martin’s claims. Matin subsequently recanted his claim and accepted sole responsibility for Rex’s demise but Cindy was utterly baffled by the accusations and made it her mission to find out why he would accuse her of something she didn’t do. It turned out that Beth asked James for help in framing Cindy for the crime, which is why James paid Martin to make such allegations. Beth, as viewers know, is fearful that Cindy will reveal that she is Maddox’s (Sam Meyer) biological mother and thus came up with this plan to get her out of the picture. Martin is dead, according to son Xander (Picture: Lime Pictures) Ask Metro Use AI to go deeper into the stories you care about – powered by Metro and trusted publications. Beth, however, soon regretted her antics and was afraid Cindy would work out the truth. As a result, she accompanied her nemesis on a trip to find out more about Martin. Cindy encountered Martin’s son Xander (Indigo Kamal-Poole) and demanded answers relating to why his dad attempted to frame her. Xander, however, dropped a big bombshell, confirming that Martin is dead. Xander revealed that his dad never fully recovered from the death of his daughter, who had been trafficked by Rex’s gang. ‘My dad spent his last moments heartbroken over her!’, he said. As the showdown got heated, Beth interjected and revealed to Cindy that she was the one responsible for framing her, which led to Cindy retaliating with a slap. Later, Xander was seen at a flat talking to his friend – who was revealed to be none other than Lucas Hay (Oscar Curtis), who is back on screens following a stint in prison. Deals of the Day Shop MySweetSmile's biggest Bank Holiday offers before they end Back-to-school shopping just got a lot cheaper thanks to Primark The back-to-school essential parents forget every year – and it could cost them Simba's cooling mattresses are now up to 30% off ahead of the bank holiday The best hosepipe ban-friendly products to protect your garden this summer Hollyoaks streams Mondays to Wednesdays from 6am on Channel 4’s streaming platform, or catch episodes on TV at 7pm on E4. If you’ve got a soap or TV story, video or pictures get in touch by emailing us soaps@metro.co.uk – we’d love to hear from you. Join the community by leaving a comment below and stay updated on all things soaps on our homepage. Arrow MORE: Ste and Leah set out to expose James over Rex’s death in Hollyoaks – but he has a surprise ally Arrow MORE: Stephanie Waring accidentally leaks huge Hollyoaks spoiler as three icons disappear Arrow MORE: James and Ste plot to flee Hollyoaks as truth of Rex’s murder unravels The Soaps Newsletter – Weekly Sign up for exclusive spoilers and interviews, handpicked by our Soaps Editor.