Hollyoaks legend turns to flogging video messages to fans after revealing shock exit from Channel 4 soap amid cast cull
HOLLYOAKS star Jamie Lomas has started selling personalised video messages to fans online after filming his final scenes.
The 49-year-old actor, who plays gangster Warren Fox on the Channel 4 soap, chose to leave the series as the show faced a 20-person cast cull.
He’s also launched a new business sending personalised messages to fans at a cost of $25 (around £22) on Cameo.
The star has previously sent messages to fans for birthdays and special occasions.
After Hollyoaks announced it was slashing its run time – only running for three nights a week instead of five from September – bosses decided to streamline the show and cut back on characters.
It is reported Jamie chose to leave the show, with up to 135 jobs lost in the cull, including at least 20 members of its cast.
So far, 10 character exits have been confirmed, with others either rumoured, yet to be announced or being saved as a shock for viewers.
Now, Jamie is spending more time with his daughter – sharing photos with her earlier this week with Polly, his 13-year-old daughter with Waterloo Road star Kym Marsh, 48.
He’s also expecting a new baby with his fianceé, Jessica Bell.
After being on the soap for 18 years, he confirmed he will be leaving Chester for pastures new – with his exit already shaping up to be a grisly one.
Exclusive pictures saw him being gravely injured, but The Sun has confirmed this won’t kill him, and instead he looks set to go out in a blaze of glory going after those that have wronged him.
Jamie teased his exit with fans this week and wrote on social media: “Can’t wait for you all to see warrens exit @hollyoaksofficial it’s definitely worth a watch.”
Other confirmed exits of the soap is Stephanie Waring, who has been on the soap as Cindy Cunningham for 28 years.
While her exit is yet to be shown, other characters have been killed off or simply moved away from Chester.
In tragic scenes, Zain Rizwaan, played by Jonas Blue, suffered a stroke on screen, while Lizzie (Lily Best) died after taking dodgy drugs at her father’s wedding.
Who's leaving Hollyoaks?
Hollyoaks is going to lose dozens of characters in the next few weeks. Here are the stars already confirmed to be leaving - and who's been rumoured.
CONFIRMED
- Jonas Khan (Zain Rizwaan) – Zain suffered a stroke on screen with actor Jonas confirming he’s shot his last scenes.
- Jamelia (Sharon Bailey) – Sharon left for a new life in Dubai
- Lily Best (Lizzie Chen-Williams) – Lizzie died on screen after taking dodgy drugs at her father’s wedding.
- Ross Adams (Scott Drinkwell)
- Stephanie Waring (Cindy Cunningham) – After 28 years on the soap, Stephanie confirmed she would be leaving.
- Jamie Lomas (Warren Fox) – Volunteered to leave the show
- Owen Warner (Romeo Nightingale) – Volunteered to leave the show
- Theo Graham (Hunter McQueen) – Exit was confirmed in mid-April, with final scenes already shot.
- Glynis Barber (Norma Crow) – Confirmed she left in an Instagram post
- Jon-Paul Bell (Beau) – Sources confirmed the news to The Sun.
RUMOURED
- Emma Rigby (Hannah Ashworth) – Following a string of deleted social media posts hinting she was ‘ready for movies and TV’
- Richard Blackwood (Felix Westwood) – called a Liverpool stand-up gig a ‘homecoming and a farewell’ causing concern
- Sally St Claire (Annie Wallace) – Sparked after on-screen son James Sutton, who plays John-Paul, was seen in a suit you would wear to a funeral, alongside concerning spoilers
- Alex Fletcher (Diane Hutchison) – Removed mention of Hollyoaks from her social media.
- Gregory Finneran (James Nightingale) – shared new headshots online prompting fears he was looking for work