Poll: Are you happy that Clare Devine's returning?

So last week, I asked 'Are Max and Tanya meant to be together?'

Well, after totting up the thousands of votes (which is as easy as looking at a small graph), I can reveal that the majority of you - 60.7% - think they're a match made in heaven. Meanwhile, 30.7% were swayed to the other end of the spectrum saying that the volatile pair had their day.

The remaining 8.6% of voters didn't commit to an answer and are obviously waiting to see what the storyliners have in store for them.

Well, those voting against Max (Jake Wood) and Tanya (Jo Joyner) being together will be happy when the Square's new doctor Al Jenkins (Adam Croasdell) first appears at the beginning of May. As I mentioned a few weeks ago, Al will serve as a brief distraction for Tanya. But will it turn into something bigger?

One thing's for sure, I think he'll become a semi-regular in no time. He even has new engraved brass name plate fixed on the wall outside the surgery...

Anyway, on to this week's poll, which asks 'Are you happy that Clare Devine's returning to Hollyoaks?'



I'm in two minds about this one.

Gemma Bissix is back on set filming with Hollyoaks as Clare Devine for a storyline which sees Jamie Lomas and Chris Fountain's characters - Warren Fox and Justin Burton - bow out of the show 'in dramatic style'.

From what I hear form the Hollyoaks camp, the stunt scenes which see The Loft go up in flames are looking fantastic and Gemma's slipped back into Clare's shoes so well that it's like she's never been away.

To be fair, though, a lot of her time since her 'Oaks departure was filled by playing a carbon copy character in EastEnders. I digress...

The powers that be at Hollyoaks aren't confirming whether Claire's back for the forseeable future, or whether she's simply making a whistlestop return to act as a catalyst for Warren and Justin's exits.

If it's the former, then great. If it's the latter, however, I'll be sorely disappointed by the decision to use such a fabulous character as a mere plot device - she's worth a lot more than that.

Think back to her incredible departure, which quite rightly won 'Best Exit' at last year's British Soap Awards. Here's that special moment again:



Could such a powerful exit be ruined by her subsequent return? Or are you pleased that producers have capitalised on the fact she's not dead and have decided to bring back a brilliant character?

Let me know by casting your vote below.