logo
Hollyoaks Clare Devine star Gemma Bissix's life off-screen 12 years after shock death

Hollyoaks Clare Devine star Gemma Bissix's life off-screen 12 years after shock death

Daily Mirror29-04-2025

Gemma Bissix is reportedly set to make a sensational return to Hollyoaks as bad girl Clare Devine 12 years after her character was killed off by Channel 4 soap bosses
Hollyoaks star Gemma Bissix is reportedly making a comeback to the Channel 4 soap as Clare Devine, 12 years after her character was killed off.
Reports suggest that the actress has agreed to return to her iconic role and could be back on our screens as early as next month despite famously being run over by Doctor Browning's car in 2013.

Clare appeared to die instantly, but her scheming sister Grace Black (played by Tamara Black) was soon introduced to carry on the family legacy.

As speculation mounts about how Clare will be resurrected and return to the village, let's take a look at Gemma's life.
Gemma first graced our screens in EastEnders as Clare Bates when she was just nine years old in 1993, staying with the soap until 1998. After leaving EastEnders, Gemma took a break from acting.
Post-school, she ran a pub for two years, worked for her father's electrical wholesalers and even measured bras at Marks and Spencer. Despite this, her passion for acting remained, and she continued to audition for roles.
In 2000, she guest-starred in Doctor Who and in 2002, she appeared as Roxanne Lloyd in the BBC medical soap Doctors, reports OK!.
She later switched to rival soap Hollyoaks in 2006, taking on the role of Clare Devine for a two-year stint. The actress would return to the Channel 4 show twice - first in 2009 and then again in 2013 for a brief comeback.

Gemma has also had minor roles in other popular TV series such as Doctor Who, where she portrayed a young woman possessed by an evil alien entity, as well as Mongrels and The Crust.
She's graced the stage in a number of pantomimes, including Snow White, Aladdin and Cinderella. In 2009, she ventured into reality TV, competing in Dancing On Ice.

However, her time on the show was short-lived, as she became the second contestant to be eliminated after failing to win over either the judges or the viewers.
Off-screen, Gemma leads a happy life with her husband Kristian Rouse and their two children.
The couple met in 2008 and dated for seven years before getting engaged in 2015. They exchanged vows in July 2018, and have since welcomed daughters - Juliette and Vienna.
Gemma is devoted to raising her two girls and often shares sweet family photos on her social media accounts.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

BBC Radio Two presenter Vernon Kay congratulates wife Tess Daly on MBE
BBC Radio Two presenter Vernon Kay congratulates wife Tess Daly on MBE

North Wales Chronicle

time33 minutes ago

  • North Wales Chronicle

BBC Radio Two presenter Vernon Kay congratulates wife Tess Daly on MBE

The 56-year-old has been recognised alongside her Strictly co-host Claudia Winkleman in the King's Birthday Honours for her services to broadcasting. Kay, who has two children with Daly who he married in 2003, also praised Winkleman and the Strictly team for 'consistently producing the best show every year'. A post shared by Vernon (@vernonkay) 'All the hard work and huge effort you put into everything you do has been recognised by the King. 'Being on Strictly from the start when our babies weren't even born just proves how well you've done. Now they're almost 21 and 16 and we've all enjoyed this journey together!! 'Also, bravo everyone at @bbcstrictly and @claudiawinkle for consistently producing the best show every year!! Time to pop a cork me thinks…' Daly began working as a model and first appeared on screens in 1999 when she hosted The Big Breakfast's Find Me A Model competition on Channel 4. She reached new levels of fame as co-host of the BBC One Saturday night dancing competition Strictly Come Dancing, which she presented alongside the late Sir Bruce Forsyth until 2014, three years before his death at the age of 89. Traitors presenter Winkleman joined Daly as Strictly co-host, with the pair picking up the best entertainment award at the 2024 Bafta TV ceremony. On being made MBE, Daly told the PA News Agency: 'I cried when I opened the letter, because I just I couldn't believe it. 'It feels like the most wonderful honour, because when you work as a broadcaster, you're part of people's viewing habits. 'Broadcasting is without a doubt a collective effort. I've been really fortunate to work with some of the very best production teams that there are in the business. And so my biggest thanks is to them, because you're only as good as your team.' The broadcaster also presented the ITV makeover show, Home On Their Own in 2003, replacing Ulrika Jonsson, and in 2011 fronted the BBC Two documentary TV Greats: Our Favourites From The North where she took a look at Manchester's broadcasting past as BBC North bid farewell to its studios in the city to move to Salford. Across her career she has interviewed stars including Canadian singer-songwriter Alanis Morissette, rock band No Doubt and US musician Lenny Kravitz.

Former EastEnders star Anita Dobson ‘utterly thrilled' after being made OBE
Former EastEnders star Anita Dobson ‘utterly thrilled' after being made OBE

North Wales Chronicle

time33 minutes ago

  • North Wales Chronicle

Former EastEnders star Anita Dobson ‘utterly thrilled' after being made OBE

The 76-year old London-born actress, best known for playing Queen Vic landlady Angie Watts on the BBC soap, was recognised for services to charitable fundraising and philanthropy. Dobson is a patron for several charities including Thames Hospice and Focus Foundation, which provides support for grassroots charities and local organisations. Speaking about the OBE, she told the PA news agency: 'I'm utterly thrilled and completely honoured and a bit bowled over and very excited. And all my friends have been texting and sending support. It's just been wonderful. It's very moving and I'm thrilled. 'It's not like a little one, where a few of people in the world know – everybody knows. And so it feels like you you're having a big hug. 'My face is so stretched you can't believe it. This is a very happy day and I just feel very lucky and people have just been texting in and being so supportive and so lovely. 'I hope everybody that's got an honour from the honours list has the same thing happening to them, that lots of people are making them feel special. Because I sure am.' The actress is an ambassador for the Sick Children's Trust and a former president of Phab, a charity that helps children and adults with and without disabilities to feel independent and confident. Speaking about her motivation to get involved with charities, she said: 'I think it's really important to, particularly in my industry, to pass things on. To pass anything that you've learned along the way, or little hints you can give on to the next generation. 'I've always felt like that you should help people. And there's a lot of people with nothing now, with no hope, no homes to live in, not much food, not much clothing. So if you've got a lot, then it doesn't hurt, does it, to give a bit of it away and share it and make people's lives a little bit better, really? 'I sort of work on a very kind of basic level. I just think, if someone's in trouble, you help them. 'I had nothing when I was younger, and it's been the hard slog getting to anywheresville, and look where I am now. It's a good feeling to pass things on. 'I do lots of phoners where people ring in and they're in trouble and maybe you can't solve their problems, but you can sure as hell help them feel heard and that they matter, and that there is somebody in the world who has got the time to listen to them and maybe give them some advice that might point them in the right direction, or introduce them to somebody else who can help them in a better way than you can.' Dobson recently reprised her role as Angie for EastEnders' 40th anniversary, appearing in the Queen Vic as a ghost while her adopted daughter, Sharon Watts, played by Letitia Dean, was seen fighting for her life after an explosion in the pub. The shock return won the series the scene of the year gong at the 2025 British Soap Awards. She also played mysterious character Mrs Flood in the long-running BBC sci-fi series Doctor Who, having joined the series on Christmas Day 2023. During Ncuti Gatwa's second season as the Time Lord, it was revealed that Mrs Flood was a disguised incarnation of the Rani, a renegade Time Lady and villain. She added: 'I had a lovely message from Russell T Davis (Doctor Who Showrunner) this morning saying congratulations, which is lovely. We'll see what happens in the future, or whenever. 'I just have had a lovely time working for them. It's been a real blast. Russell said to me, come and have some fun. And I did. I just had fun. It was a real gift of a job.' The actress is also known for her stage performances and in 2003 was nominated for the best actress Olivier Award for her role in Bryony Lavery's Frozen at the National Theatre Cottesloe. Dobson was a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing with professional Robin Windsor in 2011, but was voted off after nine weeks. Born in 1949 in the east end of London, the actress has been married to Queen guitarist Sir Brian May since 2000.

EastEnders icon's return 'sealed' as fans 'solve' soap's clue in new trailer
EastEnders icon's return 'sealed' as fans 'solve' soap's clue in new trailer

Daily Mirror

time34 minutes ago

  • Daily Mirror

EastEnders icon's return 'sealed' as fans 'solve' soap's clue in new trailer

EastEnders are dropping even more hints about Monday's big episode - and their latest video has fans convinced they've solved the 'blink and you'll miss it' clue EastEnders fans have been treated to yet another teaser video of Monday night's highly anticipated episode, with a "blink or you'll miss it" clue. Last night, it was announced that the BBC soap will simulcast on BBC One and BBC iPlayer at 7.30pm, as EastEnders ' new executive producer Ben Wadey's first episode airs. That's not all, as Wadey told fans to prepare for something huge. ‌ He said: 'Next week marks the start of something big in Walford that we hope will get everyone talking, and it's only just the beginning. We've got twists, shocks, and plenty of drama lined up for a summer you don't want to miss.' ‌ The soap have now released a new trailer, which appears to show the POV of someone walking out the tube station. Fans are convinced it's a female, as they can hear the clicking of heels. The camera then goes down an empty street, as the soap teased there's a discrete clue in the video, with the caption: "Blink and you'll miss it! #EastEnders, 7:30pm, Monday 16th June on @BBCOn e and @BBCiPlayer." Some fans were already convinced it would be actress Michelle Ryan making her return as Zoe Slater, after reports emerged last month. Now, the clicking of the heels has solidified their theory that it's a female resident entering the Square. Zoe was last seen on the soap leaving Walford in 2005, via the tube, with fans convinced it hinted towards a return as she entered back where she left. However, one eagle-eyed fan has gone one step further - noticing a "secret sign" on the wall. ‌ A poster can be seen on the wall advertising a Jazz Festival in Walford, and one eagle-eyed fan noticed the letters Z-O-E placed in a diagonal line. "you can't convince me it's not Zoe with the tube entrance and all #eastenders," the caption of the screenshot read. A number of fans were in agreement, as another penned: "STOPPP THE POSTER!" Other fans noticed someone had written "Y2K" on a post. "And Y2K = 2000," wrote one. "The year the Slaters, including Zoe were introduced." ‌ It comes weeks after it was rumoured that Michelle would be reprising her role as Zoe. Speaking on Michelle's potential return to the soap last month, a source told The Sun: 'Bosses have repeatedly reached out to Michelle over the years, but the timing has never been quite right. 'People are still talking about her character, so it's a real coup to bring her back. She feels like now is the perfect moment — and there was an exciting script on the table.' A spokesperson for the BBC offered "no comment" when asked about the reports of Michelle's return.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store