Hollyoaks star Nikki Sanderson has revealed that Maxine Minniver's troubles with Patrick Blake are only just beginning.

The actress's bubbly character has been dating Patrick for a few months, but the Hollyoaks High headteacher has shown glimpses of a dark side with his attempts to control her.

Speaking to PA, Sanderson confirmed that the plot is expected to run for another seven months.

She explained: "Everybody loves to get a great storyline like I've been given. We're still in the beginning stages of it. It's going to be a very long-term storyline, probably on screen until next March.

"It's going to be a slow burner, but when you get into it you'll see why it needed to be slow burning. We want to do the storyline justice and do what would actually happen in real life rather than speeding through things.

"I'm very fortunate that they really took their time with this storyline."

Sanderson suggested that feisty Maxine was an ideal character to choose for the story.

She said: "I think that's why it's great they've chosen Maxine, because in real life you don't think strong, independent women can be manipulated, and it just goes to prove that just because you're strong doesn't mean you can't be moulded into something else."