| Character Profile | List of appearances |
Clare Devine-Banks (née Black, previously Cunningham and Devine) is the daughter of Fraser and Tracey Black, the gold-digging ex-wife of Max Cunningham, and widow of the corrupt detective Alistair Banks.
Clare was the favoured daughter of Fraser and grew up with special treatment. However, she fell out with her father when he discovered her pregnancy by his henchman Trevor Royle and pushed her down a flight of stairs, causing a miscarriage. Clare arrived in Hollyoaks in 2005 after being hired over the internet as an events supervisor at The Loft. Club managers Max Cunningham and O.B. fought over her, with Clare choosing to embark on a relationship with Max.
However, Clare's discovery that Max was incredibly wealthy led her on a long plot to try con him out of his money. She successfully took control over his life and isolated him from his friends and family. After Max suffered a heart attack, Clare began a plan to let Max die to claim his £500,000 life insurance as his widow. Max discovered the truth and O.B. rescued him, but Clare escaped legal repercussions for her crimes.
Upon her return, Clare made several enemies - one of which attempted to kill her by pushing her over The Loft balcony. She initially accused Warren Fox, but Warren was found not guilty at trial due to his alibi. Justin Burton confessed to Clare and she kidnapped Warren's sister Katy so Warren would kill Justin. Warren refused and a car chase led to Clare crashing into a lake. Clare managed to fake her death and fled the country with a businessman named Miles.
In 2009, Clare returned for revenge by burning down The Loft with Warren inside. Warren used the fire to fake his death to avoid the repercussions of his own crimes, and Clare was imprisoned for his murder until he turned up alive in 2010. In 2013, Clare returned with a plot to con Paul Browning, assisted by Mercedes McQueen. However, Mercedes changed her mind and Clare ended up back in prison until Fraser's barrister secured her release. Swearing revenge, Clare planted a bomb in The Loft during Mercedes's birthday party, but it was moved to and detonated at 28a Fern Street. Mercedes then supposedly killed Clare during a fight.
To the village's astonishment, Clare was revealed as the mysterious wife of corrupt detective Alistair Banks in 2026. When the Banks' human trafficking ring fell apart, Clare was forced out of hiding.
Biography[]
1982-2005: Life Before Hollyoaks[]
Clare was born in 1982. Her father Fraser was a gangster feared by many, and her mother Tracey was a timid alcoholic. Clare was favoured by her father over her older sister Grace, as Grace had witnessed Fraser kill a gang member in 1989 and suppressed her trauma from the ordeal. During her late teens/early twenties, Clare slept with Fraser's associate Trevor Royle and fell pregnant. Fraser found out (unaware that Trevor was the father) and pushed her down the stairs, causing her to miscarry.
2005-2006: Arrival[]
Clare arrived in Hollyoaks after being hired as an events supervisor at The Loft by Max Cunningham and O.B. The best friends were left smitten by her and battled to win her over. Clare enjoyed being fought over and went on dates with both of them, but later chose Max when he tried to fire her. However, she made him break the news to a devastated O.B. Clare also befriended Max's step-sister Mandy Hutchinson - the wife of the club's owner Tony Hutchinson, and Louise Summers.
Clare begins an affair with Sean.
In March 2006, O.B. began developing concerns over Clare and Max's relationship. However, Max ignored him and asked Clare to move in, making things very awkward. After Max's brother Tom Cunningham drank O.B.'s girlfriend Mel Burton's vodka-spiked cola can, Clare exposed her as an alcoholic and had Max evict her from the flat. Clare began getting involved with Louise's estranged husband, businessman Sean Kennedy, but their short-lived affair was quickly discovered by Mel. O.B. believed Mel but Max didn't so O.B. decided to help her expose Clare.
Max proposed marriage to Clare, but she rejected him. However, after the funeral of baby Grace Hutchinson, Clare changed her mind and the pair got engaged. She began trying to distance Max and O.B. by taking offence to his remarks and setting him up to fail a health and safety inspection. After falling out with O.B., Max became determined to marry Clare as soon as possible. After Tom caught her on the phone with her father, who she had claimed was dead, Clare began mentally abusing him. Max refused to have a joint bank account so Clare tried to steal money from his to flee to Málaga but was caught by O.B. However, Clare prevented him from warning Max by planting drugs on him at the SU Bar, getting him arrested.
2006-2007: Conning Max[]
Clare destroys the incriminating DVD.
O.B. was released in time on the morning of Clare and Max's wedding, but Max turned on O.B. for good. Marital bliss didn't last long for Clare as she began hiding money given to her by Max, and discovered that she had feelings for The Loft's security manager - Max's new friend Warren Fox. Clare's order of dodgy vodka bottles poisoned Zak Ramsey, and her cover-up attempts left Max furious with her. Things took a turn for the worse when Mel uncovered CCTV footage of Clare and Warren having sex and burned it onto a disk. However, Mel was killed in The Dog in the Pond Explosion and Clare managed to sneak into the site and destroy the disk. O.B. violently confronted Clare before giving up on Max for good, to Clare's delight.
Warren saw through Clare's ruse with Max and the pair bonded. After catching Warren snorting cocaine confiscated at the door, Clare began using with him. Max soon found out and convinced her to stop. When Max began wanting to try for a baby, Clare told him that her father's abuse left her infertile and broke up with him. As Clare predicted, Max eventually came chasing after her and promised to change. Max discovered that Clare had lied about stopping her cocaine usage and decided to snort a line to teach her a lesson, but suffered a heart attack. Clare was left shaken but formulated a plan when she learned that Max had a heart condition and would need medication.
Clare is arrested for attempting to kill Max.
Clare's plot unravelled when Max's friends became concerned about his slow recovery, and she struggled in her attempts to isolate him. For Christmas, Clare decided to take Max and Tom on holiday to a secluded cottage in Cumbria. Whilst there, Max discovered that Clare had been tampering with his medication and everything became obvious to him. He confronted Clare, who staged a plot to have Max drown in the lake by pretending that Tom had fallen in. The arrival of O.B. thwarted her plot, but to Clare's own amazement, the police released her without charge. She returned in January 2007, changing the locks on the flat, threatening to sell it from under him, and having Max charged with assault unless he signed over The Loft to her, which he agreed to.
2007: Making Enemies and Escape[]
Satisfied with her new acquisition, Clare was faced with her next problem: Warren. He began cutting her out of the profits from selling off the confiscated contraband at The Loft and hired Justin Burton, ordering his young employee to ignore Clare and only report to him. A frustrated Clare took revenge by embarking on a secret relationship, then - after it had ended - set him up with Warren's beloved sister Katy Fox. She ended up making a range of other enemies: she fell out with Louise after convincing her to secretly abort her boyfriend's baby and fake a miscarriage, reported Warren to the police when Justin told her that he had murdered Sean, and falsely reported Max to social services for abusing Tom.
Clare is pushed over The Loft's balcony.
With threats to kill her flooding in from all sources, one nemesis in particular took action and shoved Clare over The Loft's fire escape in June 2007, leaving her comatose. She initially told the police that Warren pushed her, resulting in his arrest. After being tortured by Max and forced to retract her report to social services, Clare left the village. She returned for Warren's trial, but he was found not guilty when Mercedes McQueen confessed to having sex with Warren at the time. Warren threatened to kill Clare and even held her over The Loft's balcony. However, Clare discovered that Warren was truly innocent after all... Justin had pushed her!
Clare took Katy hostage and ordered Warren to kill Justin. Assisted by Max, Warren tried to trick Clare into thinking that Justin was dead but she saw through their ruse. A car chase ensued, resulting in Clare accidentally driving over the edge of a cliff into a lake. Katy was rescued but Max failed to rescue Clare, who sunk into the abyss below. Her body was not recovered, however, as two days later she left Chester by plane.
2007-2013: Return and Imprisonment[]
Clare and Hannah fight as The Loft goes up in flames.
Clare's impact scarred both Max and Tom. Max was reluctant to marry Steph Dean as his marriage to Clare had left him feeling paranoid. After Max died in June 2008, Tom recalled Clare telling him that everyone around him would die. In May 2009, Clare finally returned to effectuate a revenge plot against Warren, kidnapping him and holding him tied up in The Loft. Warren had also made a number of enemies: police officer Calvin Valentine walked in on the situation and - to Clare's astonishment - walked back out. However, it was Hannah Ashworth who tried to save Warren by attacking Clare. Clare dropped the matches and the bar went up in smoke.
Justin was initially blamed for the fire and went on the run. However, Hannah cleared his name by giving a witness statement to D.I. Mark Gascoyne, naming Clare as the arsonist. Sasha Valentine found Clare in Warren's flat with his foster brother Spencer Gray and alerted the police. Clare was arrested and charged with Warren's murder until he returned to the village alive in 2010.
2013: Return and 'Death'[]
Clare returned in March 2013, issuing Paul Browning a ransom note regarding the disappearance of his wife Mercedes in Las Vegas. When Browning refused to pay the ransom, she met with him - under the name 'Cassandra Knight' - and attempted to convince him to purchase Chez Chez with her. This also failed and Clare went to a posh hotel where Mercedes was being kept, free and in on the plan, to attack her and raise the stakes. After sleeping with Clare, Browning realised that she was involved in Mercedes's disappearance and attempted to strangle her, but was interrupted by Jim McGinn. Mercedes discovered that Clare had been lying to her and attempted to back out of the plot, but Clare took her hostage.
Clare is exonerated.
A £200,000 ransom was issued towards the McQueen family, but the bag containing the money was accidentally taken by Leanne Holiday. Clare also kidnapped Browning, who claimed that Tom had the money. Clare confronted Tom but was caught by Jack and Darren Osborne, and ultimately apprehended. In September 2013, Clare came face-to-face with Fraser, who planned to get her released. Fraser threatened Jim into forcing Mercedes to admit her part in the scam, allowing Clare to go free.
With revenge on the brain, Clare planted a bag with a bomb inside The Loft during Mercedes's 30th birthday party. However, the bag was accidentally taken by Sinead O'Connor and the bomb was detonated at the Fern Street flats. Leanne, Ash Kane and Doug Carter died as a result of the blast. During a scuffle on Oakdale Drive, Mercedes shoved Clare onto the road. She was mown down intentionally by Browning and declared dead at the scene.
2026-: Back from the Dead; Taking over the Trafficking[]
Grace meets 'Mrs. Banks'.
In May 2026, detective Alistair Banks - the leader of a human trafficking operation - called his wife to reprimand her for being careless in keeping her identity hidden when a video of her was uncovered on a hard drive belonging to murdered 'therapist' Tommy Odenkirk. A week later, Mrs. Banks arranged to meet with Grace Black when she couldn't reach Alistair. Grace went to The Folly and was gobsmacked to find her supposedly-deceased younger sister holding a glass of champagne. Grace discovered that Clare had adopted Victoria Blake. After finding out that Alistair had been killed, Clare confronted Diane Hutchinson - who Alistair had been having an affair with - on the belief that she had her money from the sale of the trafficked teenagers.
Clare's return became public when she defended Grace from an attack by Nancy Osborne, resulting in bitter encounters with both Mercedes and Warren. After Clare hit her as she grieved for Freddie Roscoe, Grace handed Tori over to Victoria's grandfather Dodger Savage, as Tori had been kidnapped whilst in Dodger's cousin's care in 2024. Clare found Tori in The Hutch, but Dodger revealed what Grace had done.
Kill Count[]
Murders[]
- Ash Kane, 17th October 2013 - Died from injuries sustained in explosion caused by Clare.
- Doug Carter, 17th October 2013 - Died from injuries sustained in explosion caused by Clare.
- Leanne Holiday, 21st October 2013 - Died from injuries sustained in explosion caused by Clare.
Attempted Murders[]
- O.B., 12th September 2006 - Attempted to suffocate O.B. with a pillow but was interrupted by Max Cunningham.
- Max Cunningham, 27th December 2006 - Having tampered with his medication since he suffered a heart attack, Clare tricked him into jumping into a lake but he was rescued by O.B.
- Justin Burton, 19th September 2007 - Ordered Warren Fox to kill Justin. Warren tried to fake Justin's death, but Clare saw through their ploy.
- Justin Burton, 29th May 2009 - Lured Justin to The Loft with Warren's phone planning to kill him and Warren, but Hannah Ashworth showed up and Clare attacked her by mistake.
- Warren Fox, 29th May 2009 - Kidnapped and tied Warren up before threatening to set fire to The Loft. Hannah Ashworth attacked her, causing her to drop the match onto the petrol-covered bar. Warren was believed to have died in the blaze but in 2010, it was revealed that he had planted Dale Greer's body in his place.
- Mercedes McQueen, 15th October 2013 - Planted a bomb in The Loft during Mercedes's 30th birthday party in a bid to kill the McQueens. The bomb was accidentally moved to the Fern Street flats by Sinead O'Connor.
- Jim McGinn, 15th October 2013 - Planted a bomb in The Loft during Mercedes's 30th birthday party - for which Jim was in attendance - in a bid to kill the McQueens. The bomb was accidentally moved the Fern Street flats by Sinead O'Connor.
- John Paul McQueen, 15th October 2013 - Planted a bomb in The Loft during Mercedes's 30th birthday party in a bid to kill the McQueens. The bomb was accidentally moved the Fern Street flats by Sinead O'Connor.
- Nana McQueen, 15th October 2013 - Planted a bomb in The Loft during Mercedes's 30th birthday party in a bid to kill the McQueens. The bomb was accidentally moved the Fern Street flats by Sinead O'Connor.
- Phoebe McQueen, 15th October 2013 - Planted a bomb in The Loft during Mercedes's 30th birthday party in a bid to kill the McQueens. The bomb was accidentally moved the Fern Street flats by Sinead O'Connor.
- Theresa McQueen, 15th October 2013 - Planted a bomb in The Loft during Mercedes's 30th birthday party in a bid to kill the McQueens. The bomb was accidentally moved the Fern Street flats by Sinead O'Connor.
- Carmel Valentine, 15th October 2013 - Planted a bomb in The Loft during Mercedes's 30th birthday party in a bid to kill the McQueens. The bomb was accidentally moved the Fern Street flats by Sinead O'Connor.
- Kathleen-Angel McQueen, 15th October 2013 - Planted a bomb in The Loft during Mercedes's 30th birthday party in a bid to kill the McQueens. The bomb was accidentally moved the Fern Street flats by Sinead O'Connor.
- Lindsey Roscoe, 15th October 2013 - Planted a bomb in The Loft during Mercedes's 30th birthday party - for which Lindsey was in attendance - in a bid to kill the McQueens. The bomb was accidentally moved the Fern Street flats by Sinead O'Connor.
- Cindy Cunningham, 15th October 2013 - Planted a bomb in The Loft during Mercedes's 30th birthday party - for which Cindy was in attendance - in a bid to kill the McQueens. The bomb was accidentally moved the Fern Street flats by Sinead O'Connor.
- Grace Black, 11th June 2025 (by proxy) - Ordered Robbie Roscoe to kill Grace.
- Tom Cunningham, 8th July 2025 (by proxy) - Ordered her half brother, Rex Gallagher to kill Tom otherwise she would traffick Bobby Costello and Jacob Omari.
Appendices[]
Residences[]
| Address | Duration |
|---|---|
| 3 Oakdale Drive, Flat 3 | 30th March 2006 to 28th December 2006 |
| Unknown | 28th December 2006 to 22nd January 2007 |
| 3 Oakdale Drive, Flat 3 | 22nd January 2007 to 5th February 2007 |
| Unknown | |
| 3 Oakdale Drive, Flat 3 | Since May 2026 |
Employment History[]
| Job | Duration |
|---|---|
| The Loft events supervisor | 27th December 2005 to 2006 |
| The Loft co-manager | 2006 to 28th December 2006 |
| The Loft owner | 5th February 2007 to 19th September 2007 |
| Gangster | Unknown |
Background Information[]
- Actors who auditioned for the recasted Clare auditioned for a character named "Fiona".
- Jennifer Metcalfe, who went on to play Mercedes McQueen, auditioned for the recasted role of Clare.
Introduction Sequence[]
Despite being a regular character, Clare does not appear in the introduction sequence.
Quotes[]
| “ | I promise I'll never keep anything from you again. | ” |
| “ | What's going on? | ” |
| “ | How do you think baby Grace died, and your mummy and daddy? All your friends have mummies and daddies. It's you, Tom. That's why they died. | ” |
| “ | Tragic that the other one had to die too. Two for the price of one. | ” |
| “ | So where are you travelling to? | ” |
— to Miles (uncredited) before leaving in September 2007.
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| “ | Have you missed me? | ” |
| “ | Argh, get off me. | ” |
— to police officers (uncredited) before leaving in June 2009, after being arrested for Warren's "murder".
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| “ | I've got a doctor's appointment. | ” |
— to a cab driver (uncredited) after returning in March 2013.
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| “ | Dad. | ” |
— to Fraser after returning in September 2013.
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| “ | Yeah, for your murder. | ” |
— to Mercedes, before leaving in October 2013 when she was hit by a car by Paul Browning and was believed to be dead.
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| “ | Well, I was gonna save it for my husband, but what's a family reunion without bubbles. | ” |
| “ | We are the Blacks. Our father's daughters. Everything we learned from him, our children will learn from us. | ” |
— to Grace after slapping her in June 2025.
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| “ | I’ll just have to think of another plan… a Devine one! | ” |
— in July 2025.
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See Also[]
Gallery[]
| Current Characters |
|---|
| Tony Hutchinson • Jack Osborne • Darren Osborne • Tom Cunningham • Nancy Osborne • Clare Devine-Banks • Ste Hay • Myra McQueen • Mercedes McQueen • John Paul McQueen • Theresa McQueen • Lucas Hay • Diane Hutchinson • Liberty Savage • Frankie Osborne • Dodger Savage • Bobby Costello • Joel Dexter • Marie Fielding • Sienna Blake • Robbie Roscoe • Peri Lomax • Leela Lomax • Grace Black • Cleo McQueen • Goldie McQueen • Prince McQueen • Misbah Maalik • Pearl Anderson • Vicky Grant • Dillon Ray • Donny Clark • Martha Blake • Rex Gallagher • Jeremy Blake |