OAK MY
‘Absolutely devastated’ say Hollyoaks fans as they slam soap for ‘ruining character’ before actor QUIT soap
A number of cast members have been jumping ship
HOLLYOAKS fans have blamed script writers for one of their favourite stars quitting the show.
Today it was revealed that Matthew James Bailey has decided to bow out of the soap after playing Ethan Williams for the last three years.
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Ethan first turned up in Chester when he kidnapped Darren Osborne - after he spotted the man robbing a jewellers with his girlfriend Maya Harkwell.
Things took a dark turn between him and Maya, as Ethan grew increasingly scared of her.
Their partnership ended when Maya tried to kill his step niece and he shot her, leaving the woman with a fatal wound.
But in recent months Matthew's character hasn't been at the centre of any significant storylines, and some think that is why the actor decided to quit.
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One angry viewer took to social media to hit out at soap bosses, saying: "Best new character Hollyoaks have had in years, who becomes a fan favourite in his own right and half of a hugely popular couple.
"So they split them up, give him very little to do in ages now he's going. Gutted."
They are referring to his romance with Sienne Blake, which broke down when she became interested in Rafe instead because he could offer her a more lavish lifestyle.
Audiences were furious with the twist as Ethan and Sienne were one of their favourite couples on the soap, and ever since they split up Matthew's character was left aimless.
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Someone else who had been hoping they still had a chance of getting back together added: "Noooo not Ethan! My Ethenna heart is broken. Sending hugs to Ethan stans."
Another distraught fan wrote: "Gutted it’s been confirmed that Matthew James Bailey is leaving Hollyoaks another one that has been axed. Ethan is a good character, wonder how he is going to exit."
The actor is one of many leaving the E4 soap as they announced some major changed amid dropping ratings.
Fans were dealt a blow when the news came out that the series will be reduced from five weeknight episodes to three from September 2024.
Viewers will also have to wave goodbye to some of their favourite characters as a one-year time jump will push them out of the village.
Executive producer Hannah Cheers announced that 20 cast members would be axed during the transition between the five and three episode format of the show.
In order to facilitate the huge change making sense with the plot of the show, writers will skip through a "lost year" in Chester.
Hannah added this shake-up will sadly involve waving "goodbye to some much-loved Hollyoaks villagers - and some earlier than we would have expected to."
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