HOLLYOAKS underwent a wave of departures by cast members last year – and now one of its longest serving stars is stepping down.
Nikki Sanderson, who has played Maxine Miniver since she joined the Channel 4 series in 2012, told soap bosses that she’s keen to step back at the end of her current contract.
It means the actress, who featured in plotlines from domestic abuse to mental illness, will film her emotional exit scenes next month.
Insiders revealed that Nikki, who has been dating Emmerdale actor Anthony Quinlan for three years, had decided to move on to give herself more freedom to try other roles.
A source told me: “She met with bosses and told them of her plans to leave, she’d just turned 40 and felt the time was right to say goodbye to Maxine.
“She’s keen to explore other opportunities and is excited to get back out there.
“Bosses have been plotting Maxine’s exit storyline for months and have promised it will be a fitting tribute to the character, and viewers can expect a lot of drama before she goes.”
The source added: “She will film her final scenes next month, which will go out on-screen in May.”
Earlier this month we revealed how rival soap Coronation Street has signed up Ryan Mulvey, who played JJ Osborne in the Channel 4 soap.
Ryan bagged a part in the ITV programme mere weeks after finally leaving Hollyoaks for good.
Ryan was involved in one of soap's most controversial plots ever when it was revealed that his character JJ had been repeatedly raping and abusing his twin sister, Frankie, and putting her through a terrible ordeal.
JJ was sent to prison after finally confessing to the shocking abuse which led to his exit from the soap.
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