Hollyoaks star Tamara Wall has addressed the recent slate of cast axings that were made in order to facilitate the show’s reduction to three episodes a week, branding the whole situation ‘awful’.
The Grace Black star knows better than anyone what it feels like for your character to be suddenly written out, after she was controversially axed from the Channel 4 soap last year.
This major wrong, however, was soon righted, with Grace being brought back by new boss Hannah Cheers less than a year from her final appearance, with the much-loved legend set to take centre stage where she belongs.
Hollyoaks is set to undergo a major change in September, with the long-running serial drama set to reduce its weekly episodes from five to three.
The reduction is a direct result of research which suggests that younger audiences, Hollyoaks’ key demographic, are more inclined to watch an average of three episodes a week due to other forms of content competing for their attention.
According to reports, 130 members of staff will be made redundant, including 20 cast members.
Tamara, who returned to screens this week, noted that – while less episodes will likely prove beneficial for stronger stories and pacing – the fact that a number of much-loved cast members are leaving is ‘awful’.
‘It’s obviously been an emotional time because a lot of people aren’t going to be staying, and I know how that feels and it’s awful, but it’s going to be really exciting to have a smaller cast to work with so you can keep up with the stories a bit better,’ she told Daily Star.
‘When there’s loads of cast it’s kind of difficult to focus on certain characters so it will be nice to get long storylines and longer scenes so I think it’s going to be great.’
Hollyoaks fans were left shocked earlier this month Cindy Cunningham star Steph Waring – a mainstay of the show for 28 years – confirmed earlier this month that her character is one that bosses have axed as part of the new schedule changes.
Warren Fox star Jamie Lomas and Scott Drinkwell legend Ross Adams have also confirmed that they will be leaving this year. Theo Graham will also be leaving, with Hunter McQueen reportedly set to be killed off.
Hollyoaks streams weeknights at 7:30pm on Channel 4’s streaming platform, or catch episodes on TV at 7pm on E4.
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