HOLLYOAKS star Ela-May Demircan has quit the soap after 13 years.
The actress – who plays Leah Barnes in the Channel 4 soap – will depart on-screen in the coming weeks, The Sun can exclusively reveal.
Ela-May joined the soap in 2011 as the four-year-old daughter of Amy Barnes and ex Billy Parker, but she has been raised by legal guardian Ste Hay.
But now she has chosen to leave the soap.
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.”
Her exit comes as a host of other stars are leaving the Channel 4 soap over the next few months.
The Sun has previously revealed how actors Jamie Lomas, Stephanie Waring and Ross Adams have all left the show.
Actor Jonas Khan will also be bowing out from the show as Zain Rizwaan after two years in the role.
And Glynis Barber has left after Norma Crow was killed off by mystery gangster Blue.
New boss Hannah Cheers was forced to make tough cuts to the cast and crew after Channel 4 cut the soap’s episode order down to three per week.
The new three episodes per week structure will begin in September with show bosses going all out to relaunch the show with a big time jump.
Beginning in September, the first week of the new episodes will see a dramatic stunt with the following week bringing the time jump.
However sadly with the extent of the cuts, not all characters will get an on-screen goodbye.
Producer Hannah said: “Not everybody will, because we’ll now have shorter episodes, so there isn’t as much room and we can’t facilitate it for all.
“Of course, some will get on-screen exits because you can’t not for certain characters.
“But physically – with the time we have to tell stories – it would be four strands of every episode being characters leaving for different reasons. How many job offers can people get in far-flung corners of the world and decide they’re leaving?”
She added to DigitalSpy: “So there’s a balance and it’s very story-led. It’s whether it fits with a story that we’re telling going forward, or if it’s something that’s going to impact on other characters.
“The most important thing is that it’s the strongest, best version of the show possible and we’re focusing on stories that are hooking everybody in.
James Corden played a caretaker in the early days of the soap.
The former American TV host doesn’t have much positive to say about his time on the soap, claiming it was “hell on earth.”
Since his short-lived time on the show he has gone on to bigger things including smash hit comedy Gavin and Stacey.
Rachel Shenton joined the soap as aspiring glamour model Mitzeee Minniver in 2010.
Over two years her character was sent to prison, got pregnant and had a number of romantic affairs.
Since leaving Hollyoaks she has won an Oscar for best live action short film, The Silent Child.
Rachel has also starred in White Gold and All Creatures Great and Small
Emmett J. Scanlan played gangster turned anti-hero Brendan Brady.
Emmett played the love interest of Steve Hayes, with their romance delighting fans until it turned violent.
Since his departure Emmett has appeared in Peaky Blinders, The Fall, Gangs of London and even appeared in Guardians of the Galaxy
Emma Rigby joined Hollyoaks when she was 15 as Hannah Ahsworth.
Hannah’s eating disorder storyline was the first of it’s kind on TV while other plots included being caught in a fire, gangland drug dealing and running away.
Since leaving the soap in 2010 Emma has gone on to star in ABCs Once Upon a Time in Wonderland as the Red Queen. Other roles include guest appearances in Death In Paradise, Ripper Street and Fresh Meat
Nico Mirallegro got his big break with Hollyoaks starring as emo Barry ‘Newt’ Newton.
Nico’s main storyline in the soap was developing schizophrenia which culminated in a suicide pact.
He left the soap in 2010 and went on to star in My Mad Fat Diary, Our Girl, Rillington Place, The Ark and Common, Penance, as well as the Mike Leigh movie Peterloo and was nominated for a Bafta for his role in period drama The Village.
Ricky Whittle used Hollyoaks as a stepping stone to break America.
He played one of the soap’s resident hunks, Calvin Valentine, from 2006 to 2011 – when he was killed off at his wedding.
After leaving the soap Ricky cracked America starring in teen drama The 100 and America Gods.
He also appeared in Strictly Come Dancing in 2009.
Warren Brown joined Hollyoaks in 2005 for a year as evil Andy Holt.
His stint on the show consisted of date rape storylines and a crime spree, before eventually being killed off.
After leaving Hollyoaks, Warren became a big hitter in TV playing DS Justin Ripley in Luther, as well as major roles in a number of dramas including Liar, The Responder, Homefront and Good Cop.
Wallis Day played Holly Cunningham in the soap for years before leaving.
In 2021 Wallis won the role of Batwoman in DC’s series, taking over from Ruby Rose.
“The characters need to have stories that exemplify and showcase the best of Hollyoaks and that has to be the number one priority.”
A Hollyoaks spokeswoman has been contacted for comment.
