Hollyoaks spoilers follow.
Hollyoaks star Rita Simons has teased the future of her character Marie Fielding’s romance with Tony Hutchinson.
The pair are currently seeing each other in secret, having fallen for each other while Tony was still married to Diane.
Ro has found out about his dad’s new relationship when he caught them kissing earlier this month, but Tony persuaded him to keep the secret, keen to tell Diane the truth in his own time.
Related: Best streaming services
Speaking to Inside Soap, actor Simons explained that Marie is feeling a lot of guilt about her budding romance, especially as her character has supported her good friend Diane through her divorce.
“I think she’s 100% feeling guilty,” she said. “Diane and Marie are really good mates, but it’s obvious that Marie and Tony have feelings for each other. It’s a really weird, sticky situation.
“I think as the audience keep watching, they’ll see Marie feels awful. She’s wanted happiness her whole life and had never had a man treating her right. All of a sudden, this guy is treating her right, but he’s her friend’s ex.”
Related: Hollyoaks confirms new evidence in Ste’s James conspiracy
The couple’s secret could be exposed in next week’s episodes, when Diane interrupts their latest tea and cake date, and Marie is forced to hide behind the sofa in the flat.
Diane finds a mysterious earring and wants answers, so Tony makes up a cover story and confesses that he had a drink with a random woman.
As Diane comes to Marie for support after this latest discovery, Simons has teased that could there be a major fallout when the betrayal is revealed.
Related: Hollyoaks‘ Vicky to be hospitalised in Donny’s break-in scam
“I think Diane would be devastated,” she said. “I think she’ll be devastated, whoever it is. But I think the double whammy of it being her best mate… Marie’s really been like a rock for her.”
Although there is bound to be drama when their relationship is out in the open, Simons shared her hopes for Marie and Tony to have a happy future together.
She said: “I think the fact that [Tony] treats her well, feels like a first for Marie. I’d like to say that their feelings will grow, and I’d like to say she won’t mess it up, because she’s used to being treated badly. So much has happened with Marie previously – she’s been abused and she’s been with terrible, terrible men.
Related: Hollyoaks‘ JJ to receive important test results in cancer story
“And then there’s Tony, who’s just the complete opposite. I think they’re a weirdly cute little match. They’re so completely different, but quite similar in other ways.
“So I’m hoping it can be plain sailing for them, but this is Hollyoaks!”
Hollyoaks airs on Mondays-Wednesdays with its Channel 4 streaming premiere at 7am, then an E4 broadcast the same night at 7pm. Full episodes are also released on YouTube a week after their Channel 4 release.
Selected omnibus episodes are available via Prime Video.
Read more Hollyoaks spoilers on our dedicated homepage