Jeremy Sheffield has returned to Hollyoaks eight years after his character Patrick Blake was killed off.
In his new stint the actor will play Jez, the identical twin of evil Patrick and the uncle to Sienna Blake (Anna Passey).
Jez will be joined by his mother Martha - played by former Coronation Street actress Sherrie Hewson - whose sudden arrivals in the village will come as a huge shock to Sienna and her half-sisters Liberty (Jessamy Stoddart) and Dilly (Emma Johnsey-Smith), as well as Patrick's ex-wife Maxine (Nikki Sanderson).
"To be a Blake, you must be clever, captivating and charming on the outside... and calculating, cold and cynical on the inside," said series producer Hannah Cheers. "With a family dynasty so rich in history, it should come as no surprise that there are still many secrets to be uncovered.
"But for Sienna, Dilly, Liberty and Maxine, what happens next is not what anyone could have expected..."
Hewson said: "It's been a rollercoaster joining Hollyoaks! The character is just wonderful to play. Everyone is so lovely, it's such a great atmosphere to work in and so welcoming. We laugh a lot - what more could you ask for?"
Sheffield added: "I'm so excited to be back in the village and have the opportunity to play a great new character. Jez might be Patrick's twin but he couldn't be more different; he's charming, enigmatic, complex and full of mystery.
"Working with the wonderful Sherrie Hewson means we get to explore even more of the famously twisted Blake family secrets..."
Jez and Martha make their on-screen debuts on the soap later this month.
Neil Wilkes
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