James Nightingale, a character in Hollyoaks, was initially believed to have died in a dramatic car explosion in 2024. However, in a surprising twist revealed in October 2025 during the show's 30th anniversary, James made a return, confirming he is actually alive and had been living in hiding. The explosion that was thought to have killed him was part of a storyline misdirection, and his actor, Gregory Finnegan, has hinted that more surprises related to James' story are to come. Before this twist, Ste Hay, James' husband, spent time believing James might still be alive, but many of his theories were part of his own psychosis following James' presumed death. James' return is a significant moment in the show, reversing the earlier plot where his death was a key event.