The actress is returning as Sinead three years after being publicly fired and undergoing a turbulent time in her career and personal life.
But The Sun Online can reveal that Sinead is back with a vengeance and better than ever as she stages her comeback to the village.
Stephanie said: “It’s amazing, it’s been one big journey and then to come back after so long because it feels like I’ve been away for ages but it also feels like I’ve never left.”
Sinead’s return sees her discover ex Ste Hay is about to marry his boyfriend Harry Thompson and return to ruin it, but on her way back she's struck by Storm Belinda.
Stranded in the rain, she's found by Sami Malik and it doesn't take long for the pair to trade verbal blows, and then much more as the argument turns to passion and they romp in the back of his car.
But trouble will be coming for Sinead as The Sun Online can reveal she is married to Hollyoaks High's new deputy head teacher Laurie, who will be played by New Zealand actor Kyle Pryor.
Steph added: "Well there’s a little twist – she’s married.
"So my husband, Kyle Pryor plays Laurie, comes in with my daughter Hannah so bit of a twist. Especially because Sinead’s been getting on with Sami and then it all kicks off."
And it's going to set the stage for an interesting year for Sinead as her relationship with her husband is laid bare for the viewers to see.
The actress added: "I love my character. There’s a lot to her, she’s trying her hardest to be this new wife, everything’s together, but obviously she’s still got this fire inside of her.
“You’ll see more of that when Kyle, who plays Lorrie, comes into it. He’s great and there’s a good dynamic between those two.
“The reason why she was like that with Sami plays out in the next episodes coming up.”
And Steph revealed it was an easy decision to come back, she said she “snapped their hands off” when they offered it to her.
“Snapped it yeah. It was weird because I was sat there one day and I was like, ‘I’m missing doing what I love’.
“I thought you know what, I’m going to text Bryan and I did, and I didn’t know he was speaking to my agent and he asked me back.
“I was made up, it was quite emotional actually. It’s been a long journey, I’ve been there since I was 16, 17, so I’ve grown up on the show so to go back now I’m made up, it’s amazing.
“I appreciate it a lot more now. I realise what I’ve got and how amazing it is. The scripts and everyone I’m working with, my family in the show, Nick and Alex and how amazing they’ve been.
“It’s just been like a big family.”
And Steph revealed how she's dying to bring her son Caben onto the set to meet all her friends and colleagues and see her at work.
She said: "He’s not been on set yet. To be honest, it’s not been easy, it’s hard but I’m starting to get into a routine now and balance.
"It was because of the long hours and putting him in nursery obviously because I’m on my own with him.
"My mum’s been a great help, I don’t know what I’d do without her. She has him on the days he’s not in nursery to help me out.
"I want to bring him on the set because loads of people haven’t met him yet so they’re dying to see him. It’s great because me, Jen, Kieron, Chelsea, Alex, we’re all parents now and we’ve all got that in common. We just talk about babies all day.”
But while behind the scenes it's all sweetness and light, on screen the drama doesn't stop and there's death, destruction and even a tornado in the huge stunt week starting Friday on E4.
Hollyoaks boss Bryan Kirkwood explained: “It was inspired by climate change but I thought we’d been very serious for the last couple of months so it was time for some good old fashioned Hollyoaks fun.
"Disaster, death and destruction and we wanted to throw a tornado in there as well."
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