Major Hollyoaks character to be 'killed off' as actor 'exits' soap
Another Hollyoaks actor has called it quits amid a mass exodus of cast members according to The Sun. Theo Graham who plays Hunter McQueen apparently told bosses his decision to leave last year - and has already finished filming.
Hunter originally joined the soap in 2016 alongside his twin brother Prince McQueen (Malique Thompson-Dwyer) - they are the sons of Goldie McQueen (played by Chelsee Healey). Theo left the soap in 2018 when his character’s girlfriend, Neeta Kaur (Amy Maghera) was killed during an explosion at Hollyoaks High. Off-screen, Theo went on to star in the Netflix show, The Winx Saga.
Theo’s character later returned in 2022 to see Prince tie the knot - however just before the wedding, Hunter realised he had slept with his brother’s fiancée.
A source spoke to The Sun about Theo’s departure, they said: “Theo knew when he returned in 2022 that he was only going to stay for a short stint. “He made his decision a while ago and bosses were happy to come up with a fitting and final exit for him and Hunter.”
The insider also confirmed that Hunter will be killed off the show, and that Chelsee returned to the show early from maternity leave to film the funeral scenes.
Original Hollyoaks star Stephanie Waring (who plays Cindy Cunningham) revealed she had been axed from the show on her social media. The actress wrote: "I can’t believe I am writing this and I have taken the last two weeks to process and come to terms with the shock of what I am about to say.
"I am heartbroken to announce that my character of Cindy has been included in the actors reduction of Hollyoaks. As an actress obviously I understand there are no jobs for life but with my 28 years on the show I hoped that Cindy would survive the exciting revamp and continue into its new era, especially as I began playing her in 1996, making me the only original cast member remaining to be included in the cast cull, which I can only describe as gutting.”
Steph went on to say she was given the opportunity to tell the public she had quit rather than ‘axed’ - but chose to not to ‘lie’ to her fans. Ross Adams, who plays Scott Drinkwell, and Jamie Lomas, who plays Warren Fox, have also left the show.
Jamelia (Sharon Bailey) who is currently starring in Drama Queens has also left the soap. In an interview prior to the ITVBe series Jamelia revealed to the Metro why she had left the show: “Due to my mental state, my emotional state I could not accept another year. It was a really difficult decision because I’ve loved playing Sharon, but at the same time I have a lot of work to do emotionally, mentally.”
