Hollyoaks star Stephanie Waring has revealed she was left ‘distraught’ after finding out her character Cindy Cunningham had been axed from the soap.
The actress, 46, has starred in the Cheshire soap for 28 years and is the only original character to be included in a recent cull of 20 cast members.
Steph’s news comes after it was revealed earlier this week that Hollyoaks has become the latest soap to be hit by stringent budget cuts, as it’s reported they are planning to reduce their workforce by 40 per cent.
Speaking about being dropped from the show in an interview with The Sun, Steph confessed she is in utter disbelief over the news as she confessed: ‘I did expect more loyalty after almost three decades.’
The star admitted that while she had a ‘gut feeling’ she was going to be axed, she had also just signed a year-long contract which she thought would save her from the recent cuts.
Hollyoaks star Stephanie Waring has been left ‘distraught’ as her character is AXED from the soap after 28 years as producers amid huge cast cull
She has played Cindy Cunningham (right) in the Cheshire soap since 1998, and is the only original cast member to be axed
She said: ‘In the meeting they read from a script and a tear fell from my eye because I could just feel it in the room.
‘They got to the end and said “And with that, we will be losing Cindy from the show”. I just kept saying “I don’t understand”. I was very distraught, I didn’t take it well – I was probably the most dramatic person they told.’
Steph explained she was left in floods of tears after hearing the news and has been left completely heartbroken.
She even took a week of work to process the decision, but is now back on set working again as she prepares for her character’s departure.
While she admitted she would never have left on her own accord, she is excited for the future and eager to jump straight into something new.
Hinting at what is to come, she teased that two Australian shows have been on the phone, and one in particular would be a dream for her to do.
MailOnline have contacted both Hollyoaks representatives for comment.
Stephanie initially told fans she had been axed earlier this month as she took to Instagram to explain how show bosses had made the decision to axe her from the soap.
She said that she was given the option to reveal she quit in a bid to avoid public ’embarrassment’ of her being axed but insisted she wanted to be honest with her fans.
She said: ‘They got to the end and said “And with that, we will be losing Cindy from the show”. I just kept saying “I don’t understand”. I was very distraught, I didn’t take it well – I was probably the most dramatic person they told.’
Steph explained she was left in floods of tears after hearing the news and has been left completely heartbroken
Posting a selection of snaps from her time on the show, she 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’
She said that she was given the option to reveal she quit in a bid to avoid public ’embarrassment’ of her being axed but insisted she wanted to be honest with her fans
Posting a selection of snaps from her time on the show, she 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.
‘I was given the chance to say I had chosen to quit the show to spare me any embarrassment of revealing that I’ve been axed, which was very kind but I don’t want to lie to the fans who have followed Cindy’s journey for nearly 3 decades as I believe they know she nor I would ever have left the show by choice, Hollyoaks is in my blood and I have loved every minute of walking in Cindy’s heels.
‘I would like to add that I totally understand all shows evolve, so whilst I cannot hide my devastation I can only express my gratitude for my time on the show and respect the producers decision with no anger just sadness.
‘I will relish every last scene I have left to play with the gift of a role that is Cindy Cunningham. I don’t know how or why she exits yet but I have been assured I’m not being killed off, which I’m thankful for as in soap land anything can happen so I’d like to think we’ll see her again but who knows.
‘On a personal note, whilst I currently can’t imagine a life away from my Hollyoaks family or being Cindy, who will always remain a part of me, I know that on my last day I’ll walk out with my head held high, even if my mascara is still running! Love Steph’.
Hinting at what is to come, she teased that two Australian shows have been on the phone, and one in particular would be a dream for her to do
It comes after it was revealed that the soap is planning to reduce its weekly output to just three episodes, sources claim the cuts have left cast and crew reeling.
According to The Sunday Mirror, bosses hope they can ‘maximise impact’ through an episode reduction, and can ‘no longer justify’ the huge and cast and crew.
The episode reduction will begin in September, and sources claim cast and crew are ‘heartbroken’ by the cuts.
A source said: ‘Hollyoaks has been hit very hard lately and like many other soaps, it is losing viewers on a large scale.
‘The bosses will do everything they can to look after people and are putting together generous redundancy packages.
‘But losing people who have been on the soap for years is a body blow.’
As part of recent budget cuts, it was reported that Hollyoaks bosses were planning to axe 20 cast members in a dramatic time jump storyline.
It was reported last month that bosses had decided to axe twenty cast members, but a majority of their identities had not yet been revealed.
The Sun reported that script writers have come up with a bizarre plan to ‘time jump’ the programme by a year, which will fast-forward 20 characters out of the soap permanently.
A source told the publication: ‘Losing 20 cast members in one fell swoop is eye-watering and devastating news for soap land.
‘In the past, Hollyoaks has seen shock stunts claim up to five lives in a single episode. But the days of soaps having a big cast clear-out with a devastating stunt are long gone, especially on Hollyoaks where the budget has been dramatically cut.
Hollyoaks has become the latest soap to be hit by stringent budget cuts, as it’s reported they are planning to reduce their workforce by 40 per cent (Jennifer Metcalfe pictured on the soap)
Following news that the soap is planning to reduce its weekly output to three episodes, sources claim the cuts have left cast and crew reelings (Anna Passey pictured as Sienna Blake)
‘The time jump is a way for Hollyoaks to say goodbye to the characters that need to go and give closure to the fans – but it will be controversial.’
The Sun reported last month that Jamie Lomas (Warren Fox) and Owen Warner (Romeo Nightingale) had volunteered to leave.
Lime Pictures, who makes the soap for Channel 4, opened the consultation period and asked those who want to go to stick their hands up.
Ross Adams also decided to quit Hollyoaks after nine years on the soap, revealing the news in an Instagram update.
The actor, who has starred as Scott Drinkwell since 2015, revealed that while he was offered a new contract the crew were ‘having a pretty rough time’ and he felt it best to leave.
It was reported last month that bosses had decided to axe twenty cast members, but a majority of their identities had not yet been revealed
Channel 4 announced that from September episodes would be cut from five to three, with the loss of 135 jobs
His departure comes after Channel 4 bosses cut budgets and slashed the number of episodes.
The broadcaster announced that from September episodes would be cut from five to three, with the loss of 135 jobs.
A spokesperson said: ‘Channel 4 is a wholly commercially funded and self-reliant broadcaster known for producing iconoclastic programmes and generating enormous value for the UK creative economy.
‘Like every organisation, we are having to deal with an extremely uncertain economy in the short term and the need to accelerate our transformation to become a wholly digital public service broadcaster in the long term.
‘As a result, we need to continue to divest from our linear channels business and simplify our operations to become a leaner organisation.’
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