Mercedes McQueen | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Hollyoaks character | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Portrayed by | Jennifer Metcalfe | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Duration | 2006– | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
First appearance | 19 June 2006 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Created by | Bryan Kirkwood | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Spin-off appearances |
Hollyoaks Later (2008, 2010–2012) |
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Classification | Present; regular | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Profile | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other names |
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Occupation |
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Home | 26 Leigh Road | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Family | McQueen |
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Father | William Alexander |
Mother | Myra McQueen |
Sisters | Jacqui McQueen |
Half-brothers |
Niall Rafferty John Paul McQueen |
Half-sisters | |
Husband |
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Sons |
Bobby Costello Gabriel McQueen |
Grandmothers | Marlena McQueen |
Aunts |
Kathleen McQueen Reenie McQueen |
Nephews |
Max McQueen Matthew McQueen |
Nieces |
Kathleen-Angel McQueen Myra-Pocahontas Savage-McQueen |
First cousins | |
Other relatives |
Mercedes Maria Theresa Immaculata McQueen (also Owen, Fisher and Browning) is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera, Hollyoaks, played by Jennifer Metcalfe. She debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 19 June 2006 as the first character to be introduced to the series by series producer, Bryan Kirkwood. In 2008 Metcalfe feared that the character was to be axed but was later reassured by the series producer that she would not be. Metcalfe later stated her intention to stay with the series. Mercedes is part of the McQueen family and is the longest serving McQueen on the series. On 26 August 2014, it was revealed that Metcalfe had decided to quit the soap. On 18 November 2014, Mercedes was presumably stabbed to death, with her body discarded. However, Metcalfe returned to screens on 17 February 2015 in a surprise, unannounced twist which saw Mercedes revealed as alive and well, living in Nice, France. It was announced that Mercedes would make a full-time return to the show in May 2015, after brief appearances on 18 February, 9 March, and 6 April. Metcalfe took another hiatus from the show beginning 21 January 2016, before reappearing 1 April 2016. Metcalfe announced her pregnancy in 2017 and revealed that she would be taking a year's break from the show.
Mercedes is described as a "savvy, ballsy girl that can't say no and is unapologetic about it". She is played as having moments of happiness which she ruins for herself and as managing to justify "whatever she does that's bad". Throughout her time on the series, Mercedes' storylines have centred on her relationships. These include her marriages to Russ Owen (Stuart Manning), Malachy Fisher (Glen Wallace) and Dr. Paul Browning (Joseph Thompson), with her second marriage involving her in an HIV storyline, an engagement to Riley Costello (Rob Norbury) and a committed relationship with Joe Roscoe (Ayden Callaghan). She has also been central to several affairs which included Calvin Valentine (Ricky Whittle), her sister's husband, and Riley's father Carl (Paul Opacic). Following the revelation of her affair with Carl on her wedding day to Riley, Mercedes was at the centre of a kidnapping storyline when she was held against her will by Riley's grandfather serial killer Silas Blissett (Jeff Rawle) before going into labour, giving birth to a boy as a result of the stress. Following her ordeal Mercedes briefly turned to prostitution. When Mitzeee Minniver (Rachel Shenton) grows close to Riley, Mercedes begins to stalk her. During the culmination of the plot, in "pure desperation" Mercedes stabs herself and Mitzeee is blamed. Mercedes' friend, Lynsey Nolan (Karen Hassan), discovers Mercedes' stalking of Mitzeee and stabbing of herself. Lynsey is later murdered in a "whodunit" storyline with Mercedes becoming a suspect in her murder. It is later revealed Mercedes' partner Doctor Browning killed Lynsey to protect Mercedes and in October 2013, Mercedes, Cindy Cunningham (Stephanie Waring) and Lindsey Butterfield (Sophie Austin) attacked, murdered and covered up the murder of Doctor Browning. In the run-up to her 2014 departure, Mercedes was involved in feuds with Freddie Roscoe (Charlie Clapham) and Grace Black (Tamara Wall) and mourning for her sister Carmel (Gemma Merna) following a train crash, which Mercedes was also involved in. Since her return in February 2015, her storylines have included reuniting with her family, her relationship with Joe and delivering a stillborn son named Gabriel, exposing Lindsey as the Gloved Hand Killer, Silas returning and targeting her again, and her feud with Joanne Cardsley (Rachel Leskovac) over Joe, who later dies during the show's "Halloween Spooktacular" episodes.