Hollyoaks favourite Carmel Valentine is to come face-to-face with the ghost of her late husband Calvin in a forthcoming storyline, it has been announced.
In episodes which air in mid-February, fans will see Ricky Whittle back on screen in the role of Calvin as he returns to support Carmel (Gemma Merna) at a troubled time in her personal life.
The drama begins early next month as bad boy Kyle Ryder (Neil Toon) finally gets his revenge on Carmel's killer cousin Theresa (Jorgie Porter) - still furious that he has been framed for Calvin's murder when the young waitress was the true culprit.
When Kyle kidnaps Theresa and her baby daughter Kathleen-Angel, a violent showdown ensues at a disused bank - leaving lives hanging in the balance.
Theresa is one of the characters left in jeopardy in the aftermath of the dramatic incident and she ends up flatlining in surgery at hospital. Meanwhile, things also look bleak for Kathleen-Angel.
As the situation reaches crisis point, a distraught Carmel makes a heartfelt plea for help from God - which appears to have been answered when Calvin appears before her.
Teasing the surprise storyline, a Hollyoaks statement said: "Calvin's spirit reignites Carmel's love for the man she lost and leads her to make some tough decisions about her future."
Calvin will reappear on screen on Monday February 14 and feature in subsequent episodes throughout the week.
However, Whittle filmed all of the scenes in question while he was still under contract with Hollyoaks last year and he will not be returning to the soap.