Hollyoaks airs sinister Eric Foster revenge threat in Christmas cliffhanger

 Following a horrific allegation about Shaq.

Hollyoaks has aired a sinister Eric Foster revenge twist in a Christmas cliffhanger.

Tuesday's (December 20) first-look episode dealt with Eric being consumed with hatred and vengeance in the wake of his sister Verity's murder earlier in the month.

Viewers know that evil Bobby Costello actually was behind the death of Verity to hide evidence, yet Eric has faced suspicion from his sister's friends and loved ones.

In the latest E4 instalment, Shaq and Peri tried to figure out where they stood with one another following their Christmas kiss — ultimately agreeing to keep it as a bit of festive fun.

Over at the Dog, Eric was brooding as everyone else celebrated Christmas Day. When Shaq arrived and it came out that he'd kissed Peri, a seething Eric accused him of having killed Verity.

"Did you ask her to marry you and she said 'no'? Is that why you killed her?" Eric demanded to know.

Shaq immediately refuted his allegations: "Of course not!"

When Eric said that Verity's death meant she's now free of Shaq, he was punched in the face. Tony tried to smooth things over by visiting Shaq later on to convince him to keep looking for the joy that Verity would have wanted for him.

Shaq opened up a Christmas present Verity had got for him before her death, revealing a watch with the engraving: "When the time is right the answer will be yes", referring to their engagement.

Eric was left a gift from Verity too, a notebook with a robin on the cover to recall their childhood. Being touched by his sister's gesture, Eric went on the Men's First group to offer a warning.

In a menacing cliffhanger, Eric slipped on his white mask and recorded a message saying "time was up" for all of those who'd wronged him.

"Merry Christmas," he seethed.