I had the same problem, but all is okay now!
Hotpoints are designed to go into test mode when the start button and the on/off button are pressed at the same time. If you are stuck in Test mode, simply hold the start button down until it comes out of test mode, then hold both the start buttons and the on/off button down until you see ‘D:end’ (or similar message). Now try setting up a wash again and hey presto, it's just fine.
[My message was doff)
Shiraz Esat
July 2005