Frankie Ashworth Osborne

Hollyoaks will explore sibling sexual abuse with Frankie Osborne and brother JJ.

Viewers have seen Frankie struggling since she was recently reunited with long-lost dad Darren Osborne, as she's accused grandfather Jack of touching her inappropriately.

Jack has strenuously denied doing anything inappropriate with his granddaughter but has moved out of the family home to give Frankie the space she needs.

At the same time, Jack has been getting closer with grandson JJ and will be seen buying him a golden pair of football boots in new scenes.

Next week, it will be revealed that it has actually been JJ who has sexually abused his sister when they were younger. Frankie had repressed these memories but has now started to remember.

The storyline will delve into the Osborne-Ashworth family dynamic, where JJ has always been treated like a 'golden boy' while Frankie was the 'problem child'.

Hollyoaks producers are working with the advocacy group SARSAS to shine a spotlight on the issue of sibling sexual abuse, which has traditionally been under-reported.

A Hollyoaks spokesperson said: ?It remains a hidden, chronically under-estimated and untreated form of child sexual abuse. It continues to be ignored, played down, or denied by parents, professionals, and authorities as harmless or non-threatening childhood sexual experimentation that does not require attention.

?This is despite the known lifetime effects of sexual violence and abuse on the health and happiness of survivors.?

The Hollyoaks team has had access to the results of the largest government-funded research report on sibling sexual abuse, which was recently completed after a two-year process.

Producers have worked with SARSAS to ensure the issue is portrayed realistically, while the cast involved have also been briefed on the new research.

Hollyoaks producer Hannah Cheers has expressed hopes this storyline will shine the spotlight on an issue that "desperately merits attention and recognition".

"It?s one of the most infrequently disclosed forms of sexual abuse, yet the statistics are startling," the producer said. "Hollyoaks is shining a light on this issue for the first time in a long-term soap storyline because we need to get this conversation started amongst our multi-generational audience.

Claire Bloor of SARSAS shared praise for Hollyoaks' approach in dealing with such challenging subject matter.

"Continuing dramas such as Hollyoaks have the potential to reach huge audiences and create change in the national conversation," Bloor said. "This storyline is an opportunity to shine a light on the under-researched and under-discussed topic of sibling sexual abuse. We hope that it will raise awareness of both the prevalence of this issue and the devastating impact it can have on those impacted by it.

?Through the portrayal of Frankie?s story, we can take a step towards removing the shame and stigma so often attached to sexual abuse and the taboo of talking about it that allows it to thrive, in silence.?

Digital Spy