Is Joel dead on Hollyoaks and is actor Rory Douglas-Speed leaving ...

Hollyoaks' Joel Dexter is feared dead after the latest episode, with fans worried the actor who plays him is leaving the Channel 4 and E4 soap.

After a major crash twist, the question on everyones' lips is does Joel die? His fate is yet to be confirmed, but a trailer and some upcoming spoilers may have revealed whether he lives or dies.

On Tuesday night, in an episode that first dropped on Channel 4's streaming site on Monday, firefighter Joel raced to the scene of a car pile-up. After rescuing his ex Cleo McQueen after her shock return to the show, Joel continued helping those injured in the crash as a number of residents were taken to hospital.

But in a moment no one saw coming, Joel was left for dead when he was hit by a truck at full speed at the crash site. The episode ended before we learned of his fate, while a trailer at the end showed him on a ventilator in hospital fighting for his life.

He looked to be in a bad way and one moment saw Cleo battling to save him, but does Joel die? New spoilers have teased his fate with it revealed in upcoming episodes he is yet to wake up from his coma.

As his loved ones including partner Leela Lomax keep a vigil at his bedside, spoilers suggest Joel is not recovering as well as doctors hoped he would. It's not clear what the future for Joel holds, but perhaps the arrival of his mother Marie confirms he will survive his brush with death.

There's also the fact bosses have teased an ongoing love triangle for Joel, Leela and his ex Cleo, heavily hinting he's going nowhere. Fans are also convinced Joel shares a secret link with another newcomer called Abe, who happens to be Cleo's new love interest.

Hollyoaks is available to stream on Channel 4's streaming service now, while it also airs Mondays to Fridays on E4 at 7PM. * Follow Mirror Celebs and TV on Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads.