Hollyoaks exec confirms which fan favourite characters survive cast cull in upcoming time-hop shake-up
HOLLYOAKS commissioning executive Ben Wadey has revealed which fan-favourite characters will make it through the soap’s ongoing casting cull unscathed.
The Channel 4 soap is axing 20 beloved characters as it prepares for a one year time jump next month.
This time jump has been a long time coming, with Hollyoaks ending the contracts of many beloved actors over recent months.
The soap notably killed off Felix Westwood (Richard Blackwood) in a dramatic car crash at the beginning of the year.
In addition, long-serving cast member Stephanie Waring was axed unceremoniously by bosses after 28 years of service.
Meanwhile, a number of other characters will simply vanish from screens after the one year time jump under the guise of having moved away from Chester village during that time.
Speaking on a soap panel at the Edinburgh TV Festival on Wednesday (21 August), Hollyoaks exec Ben revealed that two fan-favourite characters will be safe from the cull, though.
Teasing what’s coming, Ben said: “In September we are blowing a load of stuff up in good Hollyoaks fashion.
“We are then jumping forward a whole year in time, which has never been done before.”
But thankfully, he added: “Mercedes McQueen and Ste [Hay] are still going to be around.”
Ben concluded: “Beyond that, I’m not going to say very much. But it’s a big shake-up to the cast and the genius with the timeline is that you have to watch to find out.”
Ste (Kieron Richardson) is currently embroiled in a steamy storyline with his new love interest, Rex Gallagher (Jonny Labey), and this is set to continue.
Kieron praised the soap’s decision to go ahead with the time jump. “It’s an exciting time for the show in strange circumstances that we’ve been put into. Long term, the excitement’s there, there’s a buzz,” he told Metro.co.uk.
To help get viewers up to speed ahead of the time jump, Channel 4 is airing a special spin-off show on September 6 at 8 pm on E4, right after a double bill of the main series.
The special show is called Rob Beckett’s Big Hollyoaks Catch Up and will prepare fans for the changes ahead.
Viewers can expect to see essential plotlines from the past few months recapped, ahead of the soap jumping forward one year.
Hollyoaks - cast member cull
HOLLYOAKS beauty Chelsee Healey has dropped the biggest hint yet she's been axed from the soap - yet what's happening at the Channel 4 show?
Earlier this year, the Channel 4 soap was forced to address the cull of cast members.
It came after The Sun was first to report Hollyoaks bosses plan to kill off a whopping 20 cast members.
Now Chelsee, who recently took time away from her role as Goldie McQueen to give birth to her second daughter, has now made a cryptic move on X.
The Manchester lass, 36, re-posted a picture of her character crying to her page.
It came after Stephanie Waring, famed for her 28-year-long role as Cindy Cunningham, confirmed that soap bosses had axed her as part of the 20-person strong cast cull.
Another big name set to quit for good is popstar turned soap star Jamelia.
The soap’s resident hunk and TV favourite Owen Warner has also left the show amid the cuts with fans left devastated to say goodbye to his character Romeo Nightingale.
Jamie Lomas has also quit the show and will depart his Warren Fox role soon.
Haiesha Mistry famed for her role as Yasmine Maalik has also left after seven years.
Hollyoaks unprecedented time jump is set to go into effect on September 9 with the soap preparing for a huge stunt week to kick off the action.
The soap schedule will also change, cutting down to three episodes per week instead of the usual five.