ONE of the stars of Hollyoaks is set to make a surprise comeback after the soap's game-changing time jump.
The Channel 4 serial drama previously axed 20 cast members as well as a number of production jobs behind the scenes.
Bosses decided to jump forward a whole year as the budget and number of weekly episodes were cut back.
Lucas Hay (Oscar Curtis) was previously sent to the Young Offenders after he assaulted JJ Osbourne (Ryan Mulvey).
This was after he found out that JJ had been sexually abusing his own twin sister (Isabelle Smith), who was also Lucas's best friend.
However, the law-breaking lad is set to return to Hollyoaks next week after a year in prison.
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But of course, much has changed in the village since he's been away and detained.
In forthcoming scenes on Wednesday, Frankie will get emotional as her bestie returns from his stay.
Lucas is reunited with dad Ste (Kieron Richardson) and he will meet his nephew for the first time.
After he meets baby James, he will share how much he missed his father and was scared that he would never get him back after the accident.
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Lucas is also nervous about going to see his boyfriend Dillon, but Leela (Kirsty-Leigh Porter) reassures him that he was missed.
In fact, Leela says that Dillon (Nathaniel Dass) missed him desperately and he looked after her when she was pregnant.
However, Dillon is nervous and he will try to stop Frankie from telling him the truth.
In reality, he is the father of baby James and after her ordeal, Frankie does not want to hide any secrets.
As she witnesses the reunion between Dillon and Lucas, she feels torn about what to do.
Will the adulterous secret be exposed?
Hollyoaks - cast member cull
HOLLYOAKS beauty Chelsee Healey has dropped the biggest hint yet she's been axed from the soap - yet what's happening at the Channel 4 show?
Earlier this year, the Channel 4 soap was forced to address the cull of cast members.
It came after The Sun was first to report Hollyoaks bosses plan to kill off a whopping 20 cast members.
Now Chelsee, who recently took time away from her role as Goldie McQueen to give birth to her second daughter, has now made a cryptic move on X.
The Manchester lass, 36, re-posted a picture of her character crying to her page.
It came after Stephanie Waring, famed for her 28-year-long role as Cindy Cunningham, confirmed that soap bosses had axed her as part of the 20-person strong cast cull.
Another big name set to quit for good is popstar turned soap star Jamelia.
The soap's resident hunk and TV favourite Owen Warner has also left the show amid the cuts with fans left devastated to say goodbye to his character Romeo Nightingale.
Jamie Lomas has also quit the show and will depart his Warren Fox role soon.
Haiesha Mistry famed for her role as Yasmine Maalik has also left after seven years.