Clare Devine (also Cunningham and Devine-Banks) is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Gemma Bissix and Samantha Rowley. Bissix reprised the role in 2009 for the culmination of Warren Fox (Jamie Lomas) and Justin Burton's (Chris Fountain) storylines. She later returned to the show in 2013. Clare was killed-off in October 2013, and Bissix said that it would allow Hollyoaks to develop other villainous characters. In April 2025, it was announced that Bissix had reprised the role, despite the character previously being killed-off and returned again from 28 May 2025 until she departed again on 29 October 2025 during the soaps 30th anniversary celebrations. Bissix has won three British Soap Awards for her portrayal of Clare, and has been named one of the best British soap opera characters. On 22 October 2025 Clare was heavily involved in Hollyoaks' 30th anniversary one of the events was a crossover episode with former soap Brookside. On 10 February 2026, it was announced that Bissix had reprised her role of Clare again, and would appear for another stint, her return aired on 1 April. She left again on 7 April.
Casting The character was first introduced to Hollyoaks in December 2005, by series producer David Hanson portrayed by Samantha Rowley. The character was introduced as an events manager for The Loft nightclub, and as the story progressed, the new girlfriend of Max Cunningham, and appeared initially from 2005 to 2006, when new series producer Bryan Kirkwood decided to recast the role to Gemma Bissix after wanting to take the character in a new direction. Speaking on the Hollyoaks Podcast in 2020: Bissix recalled "[Samantha] came from a model show of some kind, and that's when Hollyoaks were criticised for bringing people in that were models and weren't acting. That's when Hollyoaks was downgraded and it was all about what you look like. When Bryan came in, he took it upon himself – it was literally like Pippa from Home and Away. She went upstairs with Max one night, then the next morning, I came down. I think they liked the press of it – it was an impact." Bissix had previously auditioned for five other roles on the show, and was reluctant to audition for the role of Clare.
Development A writer from the official Hollyoaks website described Clare as "uncompromising and direct" and noted that she managed to disrupt other characters private and professional lives after only a few weeks of being on-screen. They noted her self-serving approach to dating "typifies her unashamed approach to life". Another writer described Clare as developing "from bad to even badder", adding that she "wreaked havoc throughout the village." In 2013, another Hollyoaks publicist assessed "who'd have thought she'd soon become a vindictive, nasty piece of work?" They described Clare as possessing "evil eyes" with an "appetite for revenge" which would become her eventual downfall.
One of Clare's notable storylines was a Whodunnit? style plot which focused on Clare being pushed off the balcony at The Loft nightclub and the subsequent mystery regarding her attackers identity. The storyline was called "Who pushed Clare?" in British media sources. It formed one of Hollyoaks main summer storylines. Kris Green from Digital Spy stated it was "expected to be one of summer's most talked about storylines." To promote the storyline, advance spoiler pictures of Clare falling from the balcony and being found by other characters were released. The episodes commencing from 18 June 2007 featured the build up to Clare being pushed. Hollyoaks also released a series of behind the scenes pictures showing how the stunt was filmed. The show released a list of potential suspects complete with promotional photographs of the suspects appearing behind prison cell bars. Max Cunningham (Matt Littler), Sam "O.B." O'Brien (Darren Jeffries), Calvin Valentine (Ricky Whittle), Warren Fox (Jamie Lomas), and Louise Summers (Roxanne McKee). Each character has a different motive for wanting to attack Clare. Max and O.B.'s motives derive from her earlier murder attempt on Max. Louise blames Clare for convincing her to have an abortion. Calvin discovers that Clare convinced Louise to abort his baby, which gives him a motive. Warren had previously been feuding with Clare and believed she told the police he murdered Sean Kennedy (Matthew Jay Lewis).
On 6 August 2007, it was announced that the "Who pushed Clare?" storyline would culminate in a high speed car chase stunt. They revealed that the chase would end with a plummeting off a cliff. A writer from the show's website revealed that Clare's attacker would be identified at the end of September and she takes revenge. It was touted as "the most dramatic episode" Hollyoaks had ever filmed.
Bissix remained in the role from 2006 to 2007, when the character left the show. It was announced in March 2009 that Clare would return for a short stint in May 2009 reintroduced by Bryan Kirkwood. The return was dubbed "stunt week". On 17 March 2009. Kris Green from Digital Spy revealed that Clare could be returning to the show to coincide with Warren and Justin Burton's (Chris Fountain) exit storylines. The return was soon confirmed. Series producer Kirkwood telephoned Bissix in December 2008 with the return offer. The succeeding producer Lucy Allan told Kris Green from Digital Spy that Clare was "pivotal in the culmination" of Justin and Warren's departure stories. She added that it would have been a "disservice" to the show not to feature her. It was revealed that Clare would return seeking revenge and traps Warren and Justin in a fire at The Loft nightclub. Clare returns in an unhinged state of mind. Bissix told the Press Association that "she's come back slightly unhinged and there isn't much that gets in her way and that's what I think is so exciting." Her return storyline features Clare setting fire to The Loft nightclub with her, Warren and Justin inside. She also attacks Justin's girlfriend, Hannah Ashworth (Emma Rigby) and Warren dies in the fire. Justin escapes the village and Clare is arrested for arson. Writers later retconned the storyline and brought Warren back into the series, despite him seemingly dying in the fire. In August 2009, Bissix announced she would like to return to Hollyoaks as Clare Devine, commenting on the role she said, "you really can't get much better than playing a psychotic murderer turning up in her ripped tights and pouring petrol over everything."
In February 2013, it was announced that Bissix had agreed to return to Hollyoaks. Bissix had previously expressed her desire to return in August 2009. The return scenes were scheduled to broadcast in March that year. Bissix expressed excitement to work with Kirkwood again. It was announced that Clare's arrival would cause problems for Mercedes McQueen (Jennifer Metcalfe) and Doctor Browning (Joseph Thompson). While appearing on chat show The Wright Stuff Bissix hyped Clare's behaviour on her return as "extra evil". She told the Press Association that old viewers pledged to watch the show again upon Clare's re-emergence. Bissix added that the drama created by Clare defines the soap opera genre. Clare was only written back into the series for the short storyline as Bissix had other work commitments. The actress later announced that she intended to rejoin the regular cast.
Bissix told a Birmingham Mail reporter that she would resume filming in July with her return airing in September. She said her return storyline was a "top secret" and that "just when I think she can't get any worse, she does." Clare returned on-screen during the show's "first look" episode on 26 September 2013 and was being held in prison. Producers decided to keep details of her reappearance a secret until transmission. Fraser Black (Jesse Birdsall) being revealed as her father was another secret aspect of the storyline. However, Clare was killed-off in another "shock" storyline twist, which sees Doctor Browning run her over with his car following Clare's bomb attempt on The Loft. Bissix described Clare as the best character she had played in her career and thanked her supportive fans. She explained that Clare's departure would ultimately allow other villains to become embroiled in main storylines.
On 23 April 2025, it was announced that Bissix had reprised the role of Clare despite the character previously being killed-off. Hollyoaks declined to release any details about her return storyline. Hollins, who plays Tom, also agreed to reprise his role for her return story. Bissix later revealed that writers had long-term plans for Clare and confirmed she would be a part of the show's 30th anniversary celebrations in October 2025. Upon her return Clare is revealed to be the mystery wife of DI Alistair Banks (Drew Cain). Bissix told Sarah Ellis from Inside Soap that writers had retconned Clare's death via the character of Alistair. She explained that the character appeared in the show when Clare was killed-off. In their backstory, Alistair worked for Clare's father, Fraser. Bissix added that when Clare was run over by Doctor Browning and placed into a bodybag, Alistair was aware she was still alive and helped her. She told Erin Zammitt from Digital Spy that Clare was in a coma for nearly a year. Alistair helped rehabilitate Clare who needed to learn to walk, talk and eat again. She added Clare "depended wholeheartedly on Alistair".
Bissix revealed that Clare had been living under a new name and been running a criminal operation with Alistair. Bissix explained that Clare is in charge of the running of Alistair's operations and assumes the role of "top dog". She noted that Clare never partakes in any murders and forces other people to carry out her orders. Clare meets with her sister Grace who is shocked to discover she is still alive. Bissix revealed that Clare "is quite cold to Grace at first" because she just wants her money back. Grace is "distraught" and cannot understand why Clare did not contact her sooner. Bissix revealed that the story would explore their backstory fully and inform viewers about parts of their history that was previously unknown. Bissix was happy to finally work with Wall, noting she had already left the cast when Wall began filming as Grace in 2013. She added that they became friends and filming their first scenes together was "magic". Wall added that she cried when she learned Bissix was returning. She explained that their off-screen friendship made working on the storyline like "playing best friend dress-up all day, every day." Wall added that she was excited for viewers to witness Grace and Clare's future stories.
Writers also explored Clare's new role as a mother to Tori Blake (Harriet O’Shea), who she has adopted. They told Bissix that Clare would be infertile as a result of the car accident and subsequent IVF treatment failed. In the story, Tori had been in Clare's care for two years. Bissix believed that Tori allowed writers to portray "real emotion" in Clare. She takes her to school and looks after takes on the role of a "normal mother". Bissix told Zammitt that "Clare has more depth now" and is no longer as "stoic" because she cares about someone. Tori is the biological daughter of character Nico Blake (Persephone Swales-Dawson), and appeared as a baby in 2018. Tori's grandmother, Sienna Blake (Anna Passey), is still in the show upon Clare's return, and Bissix revealed writers planned to explore a feud between them. Bissix described it as "a war of minds" as Clare schemes to make Sienna look like a "bad mother".
Storylines
2005–2009