Hollyoaks’ Mercedes McQueen the new owner of The Dog in the Pond with her Nana

MERCEDES McQueen will become the shock new owner of The Dog in the Pond in Hollyoaks tonight.

The village glamazon - who is played by actress Jennifer Metcalfe in the Channel 4 soap - will be given the pub by on/off boyfriend Russ Owen as he tries to win her back.

Viewers watched last night as Mercedes dramatically called off her wedding to Russ after she realised he feared she was a serial killer.

And now Hollyoaks boss Bryan Kirkwood has exclusively revealed that Mercedes and her grandmother will take the helm at the pub as the show re-focuses on comedy and glamour after a dark period of issues-based storylines.

Bryan exclusively told The Sun Online: "As well as the responsibility of telling these big stories, we also have the responsibility to entertain the audience.

"And I think that's something that soaps forget and we can get carried away with the darkness and the bleakness.

"It's crucially important that we're also a place of light, love, colour, fun, mayhem and we've got Mercedes McQueen.

"She and her Nana are taking over the pub.

"Although Mercedes' rightful place in Hollyoaks is to be at the centre of the biggest drama, we've also got that wonderful family of chaotic women as a place where we can go to have big belly laughs as well."

But it won't all be smooth sailing for the McQueens, with drama still following them around but actress Jennifer will be back at her best at the forefront of Hollyoaks life.

Bryan added: "There will be ups and downs.

"With Jen Metcalfe it's such a joy to have her back. She can make you laugh and she can make you cry in the blink of an eye and that's why she's such a superstar for us."

• Hollyoaks airs weeknights on Channel 4 at 6.30pm with a first look episode following at 7pm on E4

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