Hollyoaks have revealed they've cast one of the first female autistic actresses in a mainstream role on British TV
Hollyoaks have announced they've cast Talia Grant to play Brooke Hathaway.
The newcomer will arrive in the village in June after being fostered by the Osborne family. The teenager will attend Hollyoaks High alongside Imran Maalik and Ollie Morgan.
However, despite being a newbie Hollyoaks bosses have teased she's bring "secrets from the past" to the village.
Eek!
The exciting new arrival comes as Talia, who is high-functioning autistic, will make history as the first female autistic actresses in a mainstream role on British television.
Check out: This week's Hollyoaks spoilers...
Hollyoaks Spoilers April 23-27th 2018 CLOSER - SLIDER
![Hollyoaks Peri Lomax](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5ad7/0bca/373f/2a02/3b68/b6d6/hollyoaks-peri-lomax-returns-village.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Check out all of next week's Hollyoaks spoilers...
![Peri Lomax](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5ad6/464c/bd75/cc7d/2b65/2481/hollyoaks-spoilers-peri-lomax-returns.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Peri Lomax returns to the village
Viewers haven't seen much of Peri Lomax in the village but she's set to return the Oaks next week.After she was kicked out of her family home by her mum Leela, Peri has been pretty MIA. In upcoming scenes we'll finally discover that the youngest has been living homeless for the past couple of months.Next week, Peri will return to her family home alongside her friend Harley but things aren't going to be easy. Leela struggles to get through to her daughter with Harley around every minute and when she tries to find out more about Peri's friend she's caught rummaging through her stuff – how will she explain herself?
![Hollyoaks Darcy Wilde Adam Donovan](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5ad6/4673/bd75/cc7d/2b65/2483/hollyoaks-spoilers-darcy-adam-cheating.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Is it the end for Darcy Wilde?
We've seen Darcy make herself pretty comfortable with the Osborne family but in upcoming scenes it might FINALLY be over for her.Esther and Nancy, who are not fond of Jack's girlfriend, plan to set Darcy up by asking Adam to seduce her while they film it. Adam turns up with wine but ends up having to remove his shirt after spilling wine on it – will Darcy be tempted to cheat?
![Hollyoaks Jack Osborne](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5ad6/466e/bd75/cc7d/2b65/2482/hollyoaks-esther-jack-osborne-.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Hollyoaks Jack Osborne
Jack's later confused when Esther reveals that Darcy booked their wedding venue waaaaaay before he even proposed to her.Is the game up for Darcy?Later on in the week, Jack is in a great mood following his hospital appointment and later reveals that he is healthy enough for a bypass.The big question is, how Darcy react to the news…
![Hollyoaks Sienna Blake](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5ad6/46cd/bd75/cc7d/2b65/2488/hollyoaks-sienna-blake-teddy-bear-blackmail.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Sienna Blake receives a chilling message from her stalker
Sienna Blake's still being terrorised by her stalker and her week doesn't start off well when she receives a teddy bear with a chilling voice messages that say: "I know you are lying about your cancer."Eek!Hell-bent on the idea that Misbah is behind the teddy bear, she lets herself into the Maaliks house and terrifies her by smashing a cup.After demanding answers from Misbah, she denies being behind the teddy bear and tries to encourage Sienna to tell Joel the truth. Her nightmare isn't over as she soon gets an email with a countdown clock. Later on a younger guy in his twenties is watching Sienna from afar – who is he?
![Hollyoaks Yasmine Maalik](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5ad6/471f/bd75/cc7d/2b65/248e/hollyoaks-yasmine-hunter.png?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Yasmine Maalik offers an olive brand to Hunter McQueen
After his brother Prince McQueen married Lily Drinkwell, Hunter has been grieving for ex-girlfriend (and former teacher) Neeta Kaur. He's been confiding in Yasmine Maalik believing that his ex-girlfriend is still living on inside her because of the heart transplant.However, when he discovers the truth he's furious with Yas, even after she apologises and reveals she was trying to help him with his panic attacks.Later on the troubled teen reveals that he isn't having panic attacks however Yas is quick to reassure him that she's there for him, before encouraging him to see someone about grief.
![Hollyoaks Goldie McQueen and Jesse Donovan](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5ad6/4768/bd75/cc7d/2b65/2492/hollyoaks-goldie-mcqueen-jesse-donovan.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Goldie McQueen and Jesse Donovan to reunite?
He's set to be caught out with his two-timing ways but next week it looks like Goldie may forgive him.After he continues to try and make it up to Goldie and Courtney, they refuse to forgive and forget. Even after he buys Goldie a drink at The Bean she pours it over his shoes.However, she has a change of heart when she thinks he's got her a present (that he actually bought for Iona) and falls in love with it. Later, Courtney finds Goldie and Jesse looking pretty cosy in The Dog. Is love on the horizon for Goldie and Jesse?
![Hollyoaks Adam Donovan](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5ad6/4781/bd75/cc7d/2b65/2493/hollyoaks-spoilers-ds-roxy-affair.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Is Adam going to cheat on Maxine?
Adam's already keep his dodgy family business from his partner Maxine but next week's she's set to catch him 'doing a deal' with a client. Thinking quick on his feet he lies to Maxine but will she believe him?After being persuaded to do another job – a robbery – he gets a text off DS Roxy who explains his dad Glenn needs to do the job for them to catch him.As their conversation continues she grabs hold of Adam's hand – is she getting feelings for him? And will he cheat on poor Maxine?
![Hollyoaks Alfie Nightingale](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5ad6/4798/bd75/cc7d/2b65/2494/hollyoaks-spoilers-alfie-nightingale-asteroid-village.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Alfie Nightingale continues to struggle with his mental health
Alfie is still struggling to block out the voices he keeps hearing and continues to get more and more frustrated.He begins to isolate himself after Tom asks him to hang out but later reconsiders and they watch a space conference together. Things take a turn for the worse when Alfie has his mind set on an asteroid heading straight to the village…
Speaking about her role on the Channel 4 soap, Talia admitted she's looking forward to represent "autistic women on colour". She explained: "I am so excited to be joining Hollyoaks. I have met some of the cast and being on set was fun and everyone was super-nice and made me feel welcome.
"For a long while there has been no representation on screen of autistic women especially autistic women of colour so I am really looking forward to developing the character of Brooke and representing something that perhaps people are unaware of."
![Hollyoaks Brooke Hathaway](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5add/c29c/c7fc/0515/b654/0a1a/hollyoaks-talia-grant-brooke-hathaway.png?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Executive producer Bryan Kirkwood also went on to say: "We are delighted that the search for Brooke uncovered brilliant new talent Talia, whose auditions were joyful.
"She will bring a new different voice into the show and we are very excited about her arrival into the Osbornes where she will bring a secret from the past.
"Brooke is a strong, independent character who has a solid handle on what it means to be a teenage girl with autism and we have worked with Talia on developing her character."
![Hollyoaks Nancy Osborne Darren Osborne](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5add/c283/c7fc/0515/b654/0a18/hollyoaks-nancy-osborne-darren-osborne-newcomer-talia.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
He went on to tease what viewers can expect from the new character: "The best way to describe Brooke’s autism is to say that she experiences the world a hundred times more intensely than other people. Every light shines brighter, every smell is stronger – and every word she takes to heart that little bit more.
"Happy times like going out for ice cream with Nancy become cherished experiences for Brooke that she will never stop talking about…but a rude, snappy remark from a teacher will cut Brooke to the core."
![Hollyoaks Obsborne family](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5add/c200/c7fc/0515/b654/0a01/hollyoaks-esther-jack-osborne-.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
For the new character's arrival, Hollyoaks bosses worked alongside The National Autistic Society and Access All Areas to help with the research for the character and the auditioning and casting process.
Are you looking forward to Talia's arrival? Let us know on Facebook or Twitter.
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