Episode 6242 is the 6242th episode of the British soap opera Hollyoaks, which originally aired on 10 November 2023. It is a special LGBTQ+ episode.

Plot

Having learnt that Carter Shepherd ( David Ames) is trying to convert his sexuality, John Paul McQueen ( James Sutton) demands answers. Carter insists that he is helping people find the righteous way in life, which shocks John Paul, and he later claims that John Paul's tragic life has been shaped by him being with other men. Ste Hay ( Kieron Richardson), trying to save his marriage, tries to talk to his husband James Nightingale ( Gregory Finnegan) but he is reluctant to let go of the fact that Ste compared him to his abusive father, Mac Nightingale ( David Easter). Peri Lomax ( Ruby O'Donnell) shows Nadira Valli (Ashling O'Shea) a concert for cancer patients and the two support each other. Scott Drinkwell ( Ross Adams) tells Sally St. Claire ( Annie Wallace) about his her kiss with John Paul, her son. Sally agrees that it is out of character for her son. Carter tells John Paul that when he told his father that he had feelings for men, he was told that being homosexual was the work of the Devil. John Paul tells Carter that he wants to help him.

Peri and Nadira talk about their mutual ex-girlfriend, JULIET, who died of cancer earlier that year. Nadira explains that whilst she is grateful to Juliet for teaching her to not be ashamed of her sexuality, she still caused a lot of pain for her when she outed Nadira on her wedding day. James opens up to Ste and tells him that he helps him fight his demons. John Paul tells Carter that God loves all of his creations and does not make mistakes, and he tells Carter that he wants him to embrace his sexuality and not be afraid. Carter rejects John Paul's help, so he tells Carter that he will let him live his own life on the condition that he leaves him and other gay people alone. Sally gives a speech about the LGBT Solidarity flag and what it means to her and the community. Later, Sally, Ste, James, Scott, Nadira and Peri cross paths and celebrate when they learn that Scott has won a lead role in the Christmas fairy parade. John Paul and Carter end up kissing passionately.

Production

Episode 6242 originally streamed on 10 November 2023 on Channel 4 at 7:30pm, before airing on E4 on 13 November at 7pm. ^[1] The episode explores the LGBTQ+ community and solidarity. ^[1] The episode was written by Alanna Hallum and directed by Tim Courtney. ^[1]

The episode involved the reaching of a "culminating point" of a long-running conversion therapy storyline involving characters John Paul McQueen ( James Sutton) and Carter Shepherd ( David Ames). ^[1] In the episode, John Paul is horrified when he discovers Carter's "true intentions" of practising conversion therapy on him and confronts him, voicing how sexuality is not a choice. ^[1]

The episode also includes Nadira Valli (Ashling O'Shea) confiding to Peri Lomax ( Ruby O'Donnell) about the pain that Juliet Nightingale (Niamh Blackshaw) caused when she outed her. ^[1]

Advanced spoilers showed that the episode would also see character Ste Hay ( Kieron Richardson) fight to make his marriage work and get his husband to accept his children. ^[1] Spoilers also revealed that there would be a "powerful scene" where Sally St. Claire ( Annie Wallace) shares the history of the LGBT Solidarity flag and what it means to her as a trans woman in addition to the wider LGBT community. ^[1]

https://www.channel4.com/press/news/hollyoaks-interview-ashling-oshea-nadira-valli

https://www.attitude.co.uk/culture/hollyoaks-cast-on-conversion-therapy-storyline-451847/

https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/11/07/hollyoaks-david-ames-carter-shepherd-conversion-therapy/

https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/hollyoaks/g45726586/hollyoaks-spoiler-pictures-john-paul-discovery/

Reception

Sarah Ellis from Inside Soap praised the episode, writing, "Shout out to Hollyoaks for that brilliant LGBTQI+ solidarity episode!" ^[2]

Daniel Kilkelly from Digital Spy noted that the episode would "finishes on a high as those within it unite in the village". ^[1] Kilkelly also believed that Sally explaining the history of the solidarity flag was a "powerful" scene. ^[1]

References