TV legend Gemma Bissix reprising iconic soap role for anniversary year

2 months ago 8

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Clare Devine in Hollyoaks
Gemma Bissix is reprising her Hollyoaks role (Picture: Lime Pictures)

Hollyoaks legend Gemma Bissix is reportedly returning to the Channel 4 soap after 12 years – despite her character Clare Devine being dead.

The actress, 41, took over the villainous role from originator Samantha Rowley in 2006.

Samantha only appeared in 25 episodes, though Gemma went on to make Clare an ‘Oaks icon. She continued to appear regularly until 2007, before returning for another two stints in 2009 and 2013.

The character was brutally killed off when Mercedes McQueen (Jennifer Metcalfe) pushed her in front of Dr Browning’s (Joseph Thompson) car.

Just how she will make a comeback on this occasion – given viewers saw her dead body wheeled into an ambulance – remains to be seen.

Some of Clare’s biggest storylines included manipulating Max Cunningham (Matt Littler) in a bid to get her hands on his money, and psychologically torturing his younger brother Tom (Ellis Hollins).

She also fell from the balcony of The Loft, and was presumed dead when she drove into a quarry. Clare was then seen in the first class lounge of an airport two days later.

Clare Devine behind a wheel of a car in EastEnders
Gemma played Clare between 2006 and 2007, with returns in 2009 and 2013 (Picture: Lime Pictures)
Gemma Bissix in Hollyoaks
The character was killed off – with details of her comeback currently unknown (Picture: Lime Pictures)

Subsequent plots included her revenge on Warren Fox (Jamie Lomas), which involved burning down the nightclub. Several years later she decided to detonate a bomb in the building.

In the aftermath of her death, Clare’s sister Grace Black (Tamara Wall) arrived, and she is currently embroiled in a huge human trafficking story.

According to The Sun, Gemma is reprising her role to coincide with Hollyoaks’ 30th anniversary in October, though will be on our screens next month.

A source told the publication: ‘Gemma’s much anticipated return to Hollyoaks has been kept top secret and her character is set to stir up plenty of on-screen drama as the soap kicks into gear around it’s 30th birthday.

‘She is delighted to be asked back, especially as she’s rising from the dead.

Actress Gemma Bissix in character as Clare Tyler in television soap Eastenders, circa 1994.
EastEnders fans were hoping she would return as Clare Bates (Picture: Mike Lawn/TV Times via Getty Images)

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‘The scenes will be explosive.’

Many EastEnders fans were hopeful that Gemma would be coming back to the BBC One soap as part of Nigel Bates’ dementia storyline.

The character, played by Paul Bradley, returned in December with a young-onset dementia diagnosis. He has suffered a number of memory lapses, including mistaking two Walford youngsters as Gemma’s character – who was also called Clare.

The news of her grand soap return comes just days after actor Charlie Clapham reportedly stepped down from his Freddie Roscoe role.

Charlie staged a spectacular return just 12 months ago, but has already filmed his final scenes.

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