HOLLYOAKS has signed up a Coronation Street villain – and he quickly catches the eye of Mercedes McQueen.

Ryan Clayton, best known for playing rapist Josh Tucker in Corrie, makes his debut as Jenson in the Hollyoaks New Year trailer.

Not only will Jenson have a romance storyline with one of the soap’s biggest names (he’s seen kissing Mercedes), but he’ll also clash with a Brookside legend following the recent crossover episode.

Phillip Olivier is reprising his role of Tim ‘Tinhead’ O’Leary, and Jenson makes it clear he doesn’t like the fact he’s been using Warren’s identity.

And Tinhead’s dodgy behaviour could compromise his burgeoning romance with Liberty after her sister Sienna is convinced he’s up to no good and does her best to intervene.

Tinhead’s not the only Brookside resident returning.

His sister-in-law Nikki Shadwick (Suzanne Collins) is back too, befriending Mercedes at the same rehab centre Jenson is attending.

Mercedes is seeking help for her prescription pill addiction after an intervention from mum Myra, the rest of her McQueen clan, and Warren.

As part of her treatment she opens up to her family in a group therapy session and blames her condition on her mum.

There’s plenty of drama elsewhere too.

Cleo’s postpartum psychosis leaves her not knowing who to trust and fearing that the people around her have it in for her.

However, in a distressing twist, her loved ones worry that she could cause harm to her baby after Joseph is rushed into hospital with suspicious injuries.

New arrival Ryan was at the heart of one of the more harrowing and controversial Corrie storylines in recent years.

His character Josh, who worked as a mechanic at Kevin Webster’s garage, befriended David Platt (Jack P Shepherd), before drugging and raping him on a night out. It was the first time the soap had documented male rape.

The villain was then rendered temporarily blind when he was beaten up by a man he was planning on attacking.

Later, Josh and David were reunited behind bars in a cruel twist of fate, after David was jailed for committing fraud and Josh for assaulting someone else.

David had the chance to enact his revenge by stabbing his tormentor during a riot but in the end other prisoners carried out the attack.

Josh tried to frame David, but the latter’s friend and fellow inmate, Paul Foreman, made him retract it.