Hollyoaks confirms shocking new Jonah Keane storyline – and it kicks off soon

Hollyoaks spoilers follow.

Hollyoaks will reveal a shocking new side to Jonah Keane next week, as the soap explores Factitious Disorder Imposed on Another (FDIA). The storyline begins to unfold when Jonah throws a party to celebrate his late wife Debbie’s birthday.

Ahead of the big event, Caleb Keane tries to find ways to feel closer his mum and decides to invite his girlfriend Frankie Osborne to go traveling – something Debbie always dreamed of. But Jonah is horrified to hear the news and shares a huge family secret that leaves his son reeling.

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Having put a hold on Caleb’s plans, Jonah continues his barbeque at the house but is disappointed by his guests’ low energy. He takes it upon himself to liven up the party by secretly adding Beth’s anxiety medication to the tiramisu.

According to Matthew Wolfenden, who plays Jonah, this is only the start of the sinister storyline, which is set to escalate soon. The soap will highlight the impact of the mental health condition, historically known as Munchausen syndrome by proxy – which is also a form of abuse.

“We were called up and told the way that the storyline was going to go, particularly with Jonah and his FDIA story,” Wolfenden told The Mirror. “It was a bit of a shock that it was going to start so soon and he was going to start actually doing it to his guests at this party.”

“No one’s having a good time. He decides to put Beth’s medication, which is a kind of beta-blocker to calm her down, in the tiramisu. He’s hoping everyone starts having a brilliant time.”

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The actor explained that Jonah is surprised by “how well [the drugs] worked on his guests”, leading him to drug his teenage son to stop him from going traveling. He explained that Caleb’s life could be in danger as Jonah’s condition progresses.

“What I know about this condition is that, the kind of perpetrator will push it and push it and push it until really bad things happen,” Wolfenden shared.

“They end up killing people in the end. The condition suggests that you love that person so much that you want to keep looking after them, you want to be the carer, you want them to be ill so you can keep them there under your roof and in your eye line.

“You never want to let them go, you love them so much. And the knock-on effect of what you’re doing to them is actually killing them.”