'Hollyoaks' bosses are reportedly set to axe 20 actors with its unique "time jump".
Hollyoaks is 'axing 20 characters'
The longrunning soap is cutting its weekly output from five episodes to three, and among the jobs being cut are some of the show's beloved characters as some families leave the village when the action moves forward one year.
An insider told The Sun newspaper's TVBiz column: "Losing 20 cast members in one fell swoop is eye-watering and devastating news for soapland. In the past, Hollyoaks has seen shock stunts claim up to five lives in a single episode.
“But the days of soaps having a big cast clear-out with a devastating stunt are long gone, especially on Hollyoaks where the budget has been dramatically cut.
"The necessary death toll would make almost any stunt idea totally unbelievable.”
While Jamie Lomas (Warren Fox) and Owen Warner (Romeo Nightingale) are said to have volunteered to leave, there are a lot more names set to go in the "controversial" move.
The source added: "The time jump is a way for Hollyoaks to say goodbye to the characters that need to go and give closure to the fans - but it will be controversial.
"Bosses are storylining how it will all work now, but as it stands September will be a big reset for the show and a relaunch for its future.”
The show - which moved to a digital first approach last September after moving from Channel 4 to E4 and streaming only - will lose two episodes from September this year, but new executive producer Hannah Cheers is optimistic for the future.
She recently said: "'Hollyoaks' offers a unique proposition: bold, escapist, relatable, youth-skewing and multi-generational stories, told in its innovative and technicolour signature style.
"The show continues to bring people together by making them feel something, and everything. Approaching its 30th anniversary in 2025, 'Hollyoaks' matters just as much now as it did at its trailblazing launch.
“There may be speculation about the future of Continuing Drama, but as someone who was brought up on the nation’s soaps - and remains a true fan - I believe their value must not be underestimated."