Hollyoaks actress Nikki Sanderson has revealed what lies ahead for her character Maxine Minniver, as the soap's new prostitution storyline begins.
Maxine has lost everything over the past year, after her lies were discovered with her faking being seriously ill.
She was later diagnosed with Munchausen’s syndrome, which the NHS describes as "a psychological disorder where someone pretends to be ill or deliberately produces symptoms of illness in themselves".
Nikki's character Maxine is currently at the centre of a huge new storyline, as Liam Donovan's plan for revenge on her over his brother's death leads her into further money struggles.
Liam's brother Jesse died recently after he suffered alcohol poisoning, before collapsing in the freezing village.
A grieving Liam blames Maxine for his death, as she was the last person to see him alive and also drank with him that night.
Now, Liam has dragged Maxine into a world of dodgy dealings and prostitution, knowing how desperate she is for money.
Speaking exclusively to Mirror Online about the storyline, Nikki explained what has driven Maxine to seek help from Liam.
She said: "Obviously in the last year we've seen Maxine at the centre of the Munchausen’s storyline. She’s lost everyone because of this and the lies and how much she’s hurt everyone.
"With the prostitution storyline, you see Maxine going to absolute depths just to be able to provide for her daughter Minnie, to keep a roof over her head and food in her belly."
On if fans will see a new side to the character, Nikki added: "The audience don’t particularly like what Maxine has done, but I think the audience will change and become sympathetic towards her... and that might tease what's to come in the plot.
"There won't necessarily be a change in her. I think Maxine has had a rough time of it, so it is going to continue to be rough and bad for her.
"The different side of her is that she is consciously and actively tying to do and be better for those around her, and to be a better mother."
Recently, Liam manipulated her into sleeping with his associate Clayton, acting as though he was on her side and trying to help her with her troubles.
Unable to pay her rent yet again, or buy enough food for her daughter, Maxine felt she had no option other than to meet with Clayton for cash.
But her debts to Liam only increased when he told her she owed him for all the furniture he'd bought for her flat, to replace the items taken by the bailiffs.
It's only going to get darker it seems, with Nikki telling us: "I think the audience know that Liam would go as far as he needs to and wants to.
"He can be very, very dark. They’ve had a run-in in the past, she was once part of his family but that wouldn't stop Liam.
"Family or not, if he gets something in his mind he'll go full gusto and get the revenge he wants and needs."
Hollyoaks airs weeknights at 6:30pm on Channel 4, with the next episode at 7pm on E4.
