Ste’s determination to discover who killed Rex takes a dramatic turn in Hollyoaks when his suspicions land firmly on James.

Still struggling with Rex’s death, Ste becomes increasingly overwhelmed as grief and unanswered questions continue to dominate his life. Matters become even worse after he starts drinking again, leaving his emotions much harder to control.

Ste eventually becomes convinced that James could have been responsible for Rex’s murder. He confronts his former husband with the accusation, turning an already complicated relationship into something even more volatile.

The accusation is significant because James is hardly a stranger to Ste. Their long history means Ste is not simply pointing the finger at another villager, but at someone who knows him extremely well and has previously been one of the most important people in his life.

Ste’s theory has not been confirmed, however, and there is currently nothing to establish that James killed Rex. Instead, the confrontation shows just how consumed Ste has become by his need to understand what happened.

His drinking also leaves those suspicions unfolding at a moment when he is emotionally vulnerable. The more Ste searches for answers, the harder it appears to be for him to separate his grief from his determination to identify Rex’s killer.

James initially reacts badly to the accusation, but events between the former couple soon take another unexpected turn when he becomes protective of Ste.

With Ste refusing to let Rex’s death go unanswered, James has now been pulled directly into his search for the truth. Whether Ste’s suspicions lead anywhere remains to be seen, but accusing his former husband of murder could have lasting consequences.

Hollyoaks streams on Channel 4. Follow all the latest Hollyoaks news on SoapLandTV. Images: Lime Pictures.