  AIMS: The cluster of hot stars observed in orbit around the central black
hole of M31 has been interpreted as a 200 Myr starburst. The formation of a
population of young stars in close proximity to a massive black hole presents a
difficult challenge to star formation theory. We point out that in a high
stellar density environment, the course of stellar evolution is modified by
frequent collisions and mergers. METHODS: Blue stragglers, which are the
results of mergers in globular clusters, occupy the same position in the
color-magnitude diagram as the observed hot stars in M31. For confirmation, the
integrated spectrum of P3 is shown to be compatible with the spectral energy
distribution of a blue horizontal branch field star. RESULTS: We suggest an old
stellar population of evolved blue horizontal-branch stars and of merger
products cannot be ruled out on the basis of the available data. Observations
are suggested that would help distinguish between a ``young'' and ``old''
stellar population interpretation of the observations.

Astrophysics