an actor has exposed the devastating reason why the Hollyoaks cast were sacked. What are those causes and their terrible consequences?

Jennifer Metcalfe, who has graced our screens as Mercedes McQueen in Hollyoaks since 2006, has revealed the recent shake-up of Hollyoaks has put her under “some financial pressure”.

The changes included the show cutting from five episodes a week to three and the axing of over 20 cast members. Jennifer only recently shared her heartbreak over Jamie Lomas leaving the long-running soap in a dramatic exit. The duo had worked together for over 20 years and have “such a solid friendship” and “know each other inside and out”.

And now, Jennifer admitted it’s been “really sad” seeing her friends “leaving each week” and the mood on set has been low. The 41-year-old actress and single mum said: “The show changing has brought some financial pressure. I’m a single parent looking after a little boy. It’s been a tricky time.”

She said that the changes on the show “have been tough” and that it has been “really sad at work”. Jennifer continued: “I’ve been on the show for 20 years and the reason I’ve signed every year is because it’s like a family. There has always been such a buzz around on set.”

The star told the Daily Star’s Hot TV column: “It’s full of best mates. But recently people have been leaving each week. It’s been really heavy. It’s sad the amount of people that have gone.”

Ellis Hollins, who has played Tom Cunningham since he was three years old, is happy he left the show with his on-screen sister Stephanie Waring when they were seen fleeing the village following a run-in with a gangster.

The 24-year-old actor explained in an interview with Digital Spy: “It was a bit of a whirlwind, although a lot of my scenes were spaced out in terms of the schedule. It wasn’t that busy towards the end of my filming days, but I knew what was coming so I was still anticipating my last day.”