ANOTHER EXIT
Hollyoaks star confirms they’ve QUIT struggling soap and have already filmed final scenes amid cast bloodbath
The soap has already culled a large chunk of its cast in a massive series overhaul.
ANOTHER Hollyoaks cast member has been confirmed to be leaving the soap as the show’s bloodbath continues.
In a mass cull of the soap’s characters, actor Jonas Khan is the latest to confirm his exit.
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He announced the news on social media, simply writing: “Hollyoaks! Done.”
Jonas has played Zain Rizwaan on the soap for the past two years, having been introduced as an Imam there to help the Maalik family in the wake of their torment at the hands of Ali Shahzad (Raji James).
He became an essential shoulder to lean on for Imran (Ijaz Rana) when he began to doubt his faith, and later Imran’s mother, Misbah (Harvey Virdi), who became his wife.
However, married bliss is never on the cards for the residents of the Chester village, and over the past year Misbah has confessed that the spark has gone from their union.
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Jonas later made attempts to save his marriage, but things seem like they may be done for good after Misbah stole a kiss from Donny (Louis Emerick), the pair’s new lodger.
Zain suffered a stroke shortly after he found out the news in mid-April, and he has been in hospital ever since.
The health battle storyline sparked fears among fans he could be leaving the show completely.
It’s not known if any of this will play a role in Zain’s eventual exit, with storylines being kept tight-lipped.
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Jonas’s exit from the soap comes as the show culls cast members in preparation for a shortened weekly schedule.
It's believed up to 20 characters will be exiting in order to streamline the cast and crew for the new scheduling.
From September, Hollyoaks will only air for three episodes a week instead of five.
Last month, Jamelia left her role of Sharon Bailey, despite being offered the opportunity to extend her contract.
Sharon was seen leaving the village for a new life in Dubai, despite protests from her mum Pearl (Dawn Hope) and daughter Zoe (Garcia Brown), whom she left behind.
On Tuesday, Lizzie Chen-Williams (Lily Best) died in the arms of her dad Dave (Dominic Power) after a father-daughter dance on his wedding day.
She had taken dodgy drugs while at The Loft after being pressured by friends it could 'take the edge off' the stressful day.
With fan favourites who have been on the show for decades also being axed, it's clear noone is safe for the next few months.
Who's leaving Hollyoaks?
Hollyoaks is going to lose dozens of characters in the next few months. Here are the stars already confirmed to be leaving - and who's been rumoured.
CONFIRMED
- Jamelia (Sharon Bailey) – Sharon left for a new life in Dubai
- Lily Best (Lizzie Chen-Williams) - Lizzie died on screen after taking dodgy drugs at her father's wedding.
- Ross Adams (Scott Drinkwell)
- Stephanie Waring (Cindy Cunningham) - After 28 years on the soap, Stephanie confirmed she would be leaving.
- Jamie Lomas (Warren Fox) - Volunteered to leave the show
- Owen Warner (Romeo Nightingale) - Volunteered to leave the show
- Theo Graham (Hunter McQueen) - Exit was confirmed in mid-April, with final scenes already shot.
RUMOURED
- Emma Rigby (Hannah Ashworth) - Following a string of deleted social media posts hinting she was 'ready for movies and TV'
- Richard Blackwood (Felix Westwood) - called a Liverpool stand-up gig a 'homecoming and a farewell' causing concern
- Sally St Claire (Annie Wallace) - Sparked after on-screen son James Sutton, who plays John-Paul, was seen in a suit you would wear to a funeral, alongside concerning spoilers
- Alex Fletcher (Diane Hutchison) - Removed mention of Hollyoaks from her social media.
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