Hollyoaks star makes surprise appearance in Waterloo Road as Kym Marsh’s on-screen sister

HOLLYOAKS actress Hollie-Jay Bowes has made an unexpected appearance in BBC show Waterloo Road.

Hollie-Jay, who played Michaela McQueen in the E4 soap, popped up in Wednesday’s episode of the school-set drama.

The 34-year-old has been cast as ‘Aunty Deb’, the sister of catering manager Nicky Walters – played by Kym Marsh.

Nicky’s son Preston had desperately turned to his aunt after he, his mum and sister Tonya were evicted from their home by bailiffs.

But Hollie-Jay’s character refused, telling Preston that his mum would have to apologise first following a fallout.

When he told Nicky, she declared she would “rather sleep on the streets” than move in with her sister Debs.

It is not yet known what the siblings rowed about.

It seems Waterloo Road fans will be seeing more of Hollie-Jay in the coming weeks, after she confirmed she had been signed for the series.

Sharing a snap of herself on set alongside her on-screen daughter, Kelly-Jo (played by Alicia Forde), Hollie wrote: “I’m overwhelmed by your love for our Debs and Kelly-Jo.

“Alicia Forde, remember her name, you’ve seen nothing yet. She is a force to be reckoned with and a shining light to work along side. Being your mum this last year has been a pleasure.”

Hollie also took to her Instagram Stories on Wednesday night after her debut hit BBC1.

She wrote: “Meet my latest character. I love her with all my heart. Deb.”

She also shared a cast picture of Kym and her on-screen kids, Preston (Noah Valentine) and Tonya (Summer Violet Bird), writing: “I wonder where they’re going…”

Hollie-Jay starred in Hollyoaks as Michaela, the youngest of the McQueen sisters, on and off between 2006 and 2012.

• Waterloo Road continues at 8pm, BBC1, Tuesday 24 January, or the entire series can be streamed on BBC iPlayer