HOLLYOAKS star Charlie Behan has quit the soap after 13 years.
The actor – who plays Charlie Dean in the Channel 4 soap – has already filmed his final scenes as the son of the late Becca Dean.
Actor Charlie joined the soap in 2011, taking over the role from Joshua McConville.
A source said: “Charlie’s leaving is a big decision but it’s time for him to spread his wings.
“There are big changes at Hollyoaks and he’s going to miss everyone there but he’s excited for the future.”
Hollyoaks has been approached for comment.
Charlie’s has been part of some major storylines including his leukaemia, custody battle and county lines drug dealing.
His exit comes after Hollyoaks bosses axed 20 cast members.
The writers have come up with an inventive and bizarre way to explain why so many people are going to disappear from Chester.
New episodes will feature a dramatic year-long time jump which is meant to provide a reason for why several families have moved away from the village.
Hollyoaks is set to only air three episodes a week starting in September.
Show bosses announced the controversial schedule change back in February, and it is now about to take effect.
The update was announced on social media, where fans were told that they would receive an extra episode of the soap before it gets downsized.
At the moment Hollyoaks airs five days a week, but that will change in the second week of September.
The announcement read: “Hollyoaks will air a bonus SIXTH episode in its final week before cutting down to three episodes a week.
“Currently, a double bill is pencilled into the provisional schedules for Friday, 6th September, 7:00 pm-7:30pm and 7:30pm-8:00pm.”
After the shake up the three weekly episodes will be available on streaming, E4 and YouTube.
There will also be a drama packed hour-long weekly omnibus episode broadcast on Channel 4 and available to stream.
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.
