Hollyoaks bosses have promoted young actor Billy Price to a show regular, Digital Spy can exclusively reveal.

The actor, who plays Stuart Sumner's nasty son Sid, will be appearing in the show on a permanent basis.

Sid was last seen on screen in the summer, but Digital Spy has learned that Hollyoaks bosses have big plans for him in 2020.

Viewers will have to stay tuned to see exactly how and why Sid becomes a more regular fixture in the show, beyond the conclusion of Stuart's far-right extremism storyline with Ste Hay.

However, Digital Spy understands that Sid will be playing a role in the next big issue-based storyline, focusing on County Lines drug dealing.

A show source told us: "The County Lines plot will be one of Hollyoaks' biggest stories of 2020, involving all of the young characters and the much-loved families.

"Alongside familiar faces like Romeo, Tom, Charlie and Ella, we'll see Sid closely involved in the dramatic year-long storyline."

Hollyoaks bosses announced the drugs plot last month, confirming that it will start in a special New Year episode which flashes forward to 12 months ahead.

'County Lines' refers to gangs from big cities, who target young people and vulnerable adults to sell their drugs in smaller towns around the country.

Hollyoaks first introduced the character of Sid in May, when he was racially abusive to Imran Maalik at school. Following in the footsteps of his racist father, Sid tried to cause trouble for the Maalik family by falsely accusing Imran of being a terror threat to Hollyoaks High.

Sid also later subjected Scott Drinkwell to a hateful and prejudiced attack, targeting him because he was dressed as his drag alter ego Anita Tinkle.

Hollyoaks airs weeknights at 6.30pm on Channel 4, with first look screenings at 7pm on E4.


Digital Spy