“He goes down as an absolute legend.”
Hollyoaks actor Ashley Taylor Dawson has shared some warm words for his former co-star Ellis Hollins following his departure from the show.
Ashley, who plays Darren Osborne in the Channel 4 soap, tipped Ellis for a bright future after his unexpected exit earlier this month.
In early September, Ellis’s character Tom Cunningham fled from the village with his half-sister Cindy. They were both fearing for their lives after finding out that Dave Williams was Blue, the ruthless gangster who’d been terrorising the village.
After his final episode aired, Ellis confirmed to Digital Spy that he’d been written out as part of Hollyoaks’ cast reduction following an incredible 21-year run on the show.
The decision was made as Hollyoaks has reduced cast and crew numbers as part of its shift to a new three-episodes-per-week format.
Catching up with Digital Spy for an exclusive chat recently, Ashley commented: “Ellis, well, what can you say? He’s a god! I worked with Ellis when he was three years old.
“I think it’s amazing for him to go off and do other stuff, and find [out] what he is as a human and as an actor. But as part of the show, he goes down as an absolute legend. I can’t explain how much I love that boy, he’s like my own. But I think it’s good for him.”
Ashley continued: “I think Ellis will go off and try other stuff and that’s what it’s all about. I was lucky enough to go and try things and do things for a while myself.
“Who knows – he might be back, he might not. He might not need to come back! But either which way, that kid is an absolute special human being.”
Tom was raised by the Osborne family after the death of Steph Dean in 2010, so Ellis worked closely with Ashley and Jessica Fox – who plays Nancy – over the years.
In his exit chat earlier this month, Ellis told us: “The Osbornes are a family of such amazing, well-mannered people that I look up to and idolise. Ashley Taylor Dawson, Jimmy McKenna (Jack), Jess Fox – they’re some of the most influential people that I’ve ever met.
“There weren’t many mistakes I had to make growing up, because I had people around me telling me the right thing, and those three were definitely some of those people.
“I feel privileged to have shared a set with them. Likewise, I can’t wait to see them again and hopefully work with them in the future if they decide to endeavour anywhere else or if I go back to Hollyoaks.”
For more Hollyoaks gossip, check out our collection of 13 spoiler pictures from this week’s episodes.
Hollyoaks airs on Mondays-Wednesdays with its Channel 4 streaming premiere at 7am, then an E4 broadcast the same night at 7pm. Full episodes are also released on YouTube a week after their Channel 4 release.
