A Hollyoaks star has quit the long-running soap after 13 years on screen. It is said they have already filmed their final scenes
Hollyoaks star Charlie Behan has reportedly quit the long-running soap after 13 years on screen.
The star, who is best known for his role as Charlie Dean in the soap, filmed his final scenes. When he first started out, he was still a child and made small appearances on the show. As he grew up, he gained more prominent storylines. He even falsely took the blame for the fatal stabbing of villain Jordan Price at The Hutch in 2020 in the County Lines drug dealing storyline.
His character even went through a mental health struggle where Charlie tried to kill himself. Fans were in awe over his performance and praised him on social media. However, in recent months, loyal viewers noticed how he appeared in fewer episodes as the show goes through a major haul.
Charlie joined the show in 2011 as he took over from Joshua McConville. He had many huge storylines including his custody battle, county lines drug dealing and leukaemia. Before he landed the major role, he played the guest part of Tre Davenport on Hollyoaks in 2010.
And now, it has been reported that Charlie has made the decision to leave the soap. A source said to The Sun: “Charlie’s leaving is a big decision but it’s time for him to spread his wings. There are big changes at Hollyoaks and he’s going to miss everyone there but he’s excited for the future.”
Speaking about his exit from the show, another show insider told Digital Spy that he will be gone in a few weeks. They said: “It’s a sad time for his co-stars as he was a popular cast member on set and had a great relationship with the other younger cast and his on-screen family, the Osbornes.” The Mirror have contacted Channel 4 for comment.
Charlie’s departure comes after it was reported that Ela-May Demircan quit after 13 years. The 18-year-old had played the role of Leah Barnes since she was a child but it was thought that the TV star was keen to move onto new things. A source said: “Ela-May has loved her time on the soap but it’s time to move on. She’s hugely talented and can’t wait to play new roles after so long playing Leah.”
Leah was born in 2007 as the daughter of established characters Amy Barnes (Ashley Slanina-Davies) and Billy Parker (Daniel Jillings) but following the murder of her mother in 2017, she was left in the care of Amy’s former partner Ste Hay (Kieron Richardson).
Over the years, her storylines have included being kidnapped by her grandmother Kathy (Sarah Jane Buckley) when she was a small child and in more recent years becoming the victim of bullying at the hands of dance teacher Trish Minniver (Denise Welch).
News of Ela’s departure comes just months after Stephanie Waring – who has played Cindy Cunningham since the early days of the soap opera – announced that she had been axed and was shocked at the news because she had been in the part for so long.
