Hollyoaks is introducing a brand new regular character in the New Year - and your first look is right here.

Diane Hutchinson's niece Lily Drinkwell will be heading to the village in early January, appearing just as her aunt returns to screens following a six-month break.

Lauren McQueen (this could get confusing!) has been cast in the role of Lily, a schoolgirl who's dedicated to her studies but just as feisty as her family members.

Lily is particularly close to her cousin Scott, who's sure to relish having another familiar face in the village.

Speaking in a behind-the-scenes Hollyoaks video, Lauren revealed: "Lily might look like the typical kind-hearted, butter-wouldn't-melt young teen, but she's actually one serious tough cookie. She's fiercely independent and something of a mini-superhero to the less popular kids at school.

"Lily's relationship with her Hollyoaks family is that she absolutely adores her aunty Di and she admires her for raising two children on her own. She's definitely inherited Diane's sense of fun and mischievousness, and she gets on really well with Tony.

"She's cousins to Scott and they couldn't be any closer - total bessies."

Lauren McQueen as Lily Drinkwell in Hollyoaks
© LIME PICTURES
Revealing Lily's tragic backstory, Lauren added: "Lily comes to Hollyoaks because her mum Babs has been terminally ill and recently passed away. After being her mum's carer, Lily is forced to grow up before her time."

Lauren was previously a regular on the first series of BBC One's Ordinary Lies. Her other acting credits include The Mill and children's series 4 O'Clock Club.

Hollyoaks airs Lily's first scenes on Thursday, January 5 at 7pm on E4 and Friday, January 6 at 6.30pm on Channel 4.