Hot on the heels of Blue’s Duncan James signing up to play Ryan on Hollyoaks, actress Ashley Slanina-Davies is set to revive Amy Barnes, one of the Channel 4 soap’s most memorable characters.

Amy, who has been a recurring character for the past four years, was played full-time by Ashley from 2005 until 2012.

She lit up Hollyoaks with storylines including underage pregnancy and domestic abuse. Now the character is back and alongside boyfriend Ryan, they’re set to become one of soap’s hottest couples.

Ashley Slanina-Davies in  Hollyoaks
Ashley Slanina-Davies in Hollyoaks (Lime Pictures)

Fans will recall Amy giving birth to daughter Leah Barnes as a teen mother and few will forget her fraught relationship with Ste Hay (played by Kieron Richardson). Arguably, one of the most unforgettable moments came when Ste cut off Amy’s long hair.

Amy will move Ste’s children Leah and Lucas and boyfriend Ryan to the village where she grew up. But she will be caught between her old life and her new one and this will put a strain on her relationship.

Talking about her return, Ashley said: “I couldn’t be more excited to bring Amy back to Hollyoaks, moving back to Liverpool for such an exciting storyline and working with old friends like Kieron and new ones like Duncan.

Duncan James
Duncan James (John Stillwell/PA)

“I think Amy might find herself stuck between a rock and a hard place with those two.”

Stable, professional Ryan is the opposite of Ste, and he will go up against Amy’s old love in a gripping story about blended family life.

“These much-loved characters will be caught in a universal tug of love which will chime with many of the audience,” a Hollyoaks spokesman said.

Hollyoaks sign (Lime Pictures)
Hollyoaks sign (Lime Pictures)

The insider added: “Ste has made a lot of mistakes, not least his crystal meth addiction and the ghosts of his past will catch up with his current woes. Viewers will be torn between luckless Ste and a man who on paper is a better example for his children – but not their dad.”