Hollyoaks star sparks rumours he’s QUIT ailing soap as fans spot concerning ‘clue’
HOLLYOAKS favourite Gregory Finnegan sparked panic after dropping a clue that he could be leaving the soap.
The Channel 4 show has recently been culling characters after having its weekly episodes slashed.
It’s believed that up to 20 characters will be exiting and from September the soap will only air three episodes a week instead of five.
With the bloodbath in full swing, lovers of the show are now on high alert, with many wondering who could face the chop next.
Gregory, 43, has played James Nightingale since 2016, and enjoyed a big storyline last year.
His character tied the knot with Ste Hay, where he wore a rainbow-striped tracksuit.
But eagle-eyed fans spotted a potential giveaway on his Instagram which could mean he’s leaving the show.
He shared a selection of fresh headshots, where he looked sternly down the camera lens.
“Aw god is this a sign you are leaving hollyoaks new headshots,” one wrote with a crying emoji.
“If he has had headshots done it means he will be leaving Hollyoaks in September Im not happy about this,” another wrote.
“You and a bunch of others from the Hollyoaks cast getting new headshots are getting me worried, I know Hollyoaks will axe a bunch from the cast for next season, I really hope you are not one of them.”
However some people pointed out that Greg’s last headshots were 12 years old and needed updating.
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.
“New headshots doesn’t always mean a actor is leaving a show,” they wrote.
Soap fans will remember him from his time on BBC One‘s Doctors, where he portrayed Duncan Montague in 2011.
But he also returned the following year as another character – this time playing David Hewitt.
Gregory also made appearances on Casualty, making him no stranger to medical dramas.
His career in medicine appears to have ended following his appearance in EastEnders as Dr Alex Arnott.
Jonas Khan is the latest star of the show to confirm his exit, sharing the news on social media.
He skipped a heartfelt caption and simply wrote: “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).
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.