Hollyoaks Discussion Thread

[-Kevin-]

Hollyoaks actor Stuart Manning has decided to quit the soap after five years, DS can confirm.

The 29-year-old, who has played school teacher Russ Owen since August 2004, will bow out of the Channel 4 teen soap in an emotional storyline which sees him attempt to kidnap his baby son Max.

Following Max's mother Tina McQueen's (Leah Hackett) death at the end of last year in the church blast, guardianship was passed to her sister Jacqui (Claire Cooper).

However, Max's biological father Russ finds himself becoming increasingly sidelined in his son's life over the coming weeks and is constantly denied access.

Wanting to play a prominent role in Max's life, Russ is pushed to the edge and resorts to snatching him from Jacqui's care.

Speaking of his decision to leave, Manning said: "I've had a great time at Hollyoaks over the last five years and I've learnt so much. Russ has been a fantastic character and he's had some great storylines which have been great fun to play - but there's also been lots of hard work!"

He added: "I'll obviously be sad to leave as I've worked with some great people but I'm really looking forward to getting stuck into new projects."

Series producer Lucy Allan commented: "Stuart has been a valued member of cast over the last five years. Russ has gone through some pretty rough times and this story sees the straw that breaks the camel's back.

"We feel that this is the just and fitting end to a character that has shown great diversity and been pushed so far. We'd all like to wish Stuart all the best in the future."

Earlier this month, it was announced that Chris Fountain (Justin Burton) and Jamie Lomas (Warren Fox) are to leave the soap in May. Emma Rigby, meanwhile, is also due to leave towards the end of the year.

[DinerLandlord]

^ That news sucks. I'm getting very depressed about the future of the show. We're losing or have already lost a lot of the long-standing characters. I swear, if Darren goes, I won't watch anymore. It's not just

Russ

leaving that I don't like, it's how he supposedly leaves. Kidnapping a child has been done twice already in recent years, both Charlie and Leah were kidnapped, and it looks like Lucas will also be kidnapped by Natty's creepy friends. So this will make it four kidnapped babies - how ridiculous!!! Also, it is completely out of character for him to do this. Jake and Kathy were both mentally ill when they kidnapped Charlie and Leah, respectively.

Russ

is a sane man, and also very intelligent, so what could possibly drive him to do something so drastic? In his family he was always the one with the best morals, so it doesn't make any sense at all. On top of all this,

Jacqui

was never given custody of the baby, she just took custody of it without going through the courts. Realistically,

Russ

, or even

Dom, as Tina's husband,

could go to court and be granted custody on grounds that they are more fit to be parents.

Jacqui

has been in prison twice, and sometimes can't even provide a roof over

Max's

head. I'm so disappointed by this news, because it seemed like for once

Russ

was going to get a storyline, and not be sidelined in favour of dreadful characters like the schoolkids, or any of the newer rubbish characters. They've needed to do something with him for so long, it's a real shame that him leaving is what it took for the writers to take action. I'm also sad that this is the final link to

Sam Owen

leaving Hollyoaks, he was one of my favourite characters ever.

[Slade]

I don’t quite get Sasha. Last week just before the cops were about to swoop in, raid the Loft and find Warren in possession of drugs (where had he been caught, he almost certainly would have gone to jail) she hid them and then gave back to him later on. So not only does she know he’s a drug dealer but she used her loyalty as an excuse to get back with him even thought it’s clear he’s only using her for his own convenience. Again, this week when she found him and Calvin almost killing each other she went to his aid rather than her own brother’s refusing to believe his claims about killing Louise and Sean. She seems so blinded by love that she can’t see what’s right in front of her. All I can say is that she’s got serious tunnel vision and she’s going to get hurt.

I have to say though, Warren was very lucky to get out of this but he’s starting to crack and it looks as though he’s time is almost up...

[-Kevin-]

Its been revealed that

Warren dies in the fire and Justin escapes

[-Kevin-]

Has anyone seen the promo for

Clare's return and the fire at the loft

?

Here it is if you've not seen it yet :

[Slade]

Wow what a week.

I have to say that whole business with the fire was Calvin’s fault. Yes Claire was going to murder him but all he had to do was call the police and that would have been the end to it. He used to be a police officer so you would have thought that instinctively he had a duty to do the right thing. Admittedly though I could understand his reasoning - Warren got away with two murders and as far as Calvin was concerned he didn’t show any real remorse. The police didn’t have any evidence to prosecute him so any conviction without a confession (he wouldn’t have been stupid enough to do it twice) would have been extremely unlikely so in his mind the only way for everyone to be safe from Warren was for him to die. It’s funny because Ste mentioned to Justin in an early episode that the only way he could be free from any debt from Warren was if he was six feet under.

I thought Warren a bit silly when Calvin was calling the police and he started bragging to Claire “I always win”. All he had to do was keep his mouth shut for a few minutes and continue playing the part of the innocent victim. There would have been plenty of time to brag after the police carted her off.

I thought there was really good chemistry between Claire and Warren during those two episodes.

I knew Warren would be leaving a while back but I wish he hadn’t died, namely because I thought he was one of the best characters ever in HollyOaks and I thought after the stuff that happened between them over the last few months it would have been fitting if Calvin had been the one to take him down. Also had he been arrested and sent to jail at least that would have been an opportunity for him to come back in the future.

I’m going to assume that Claire escaped because one minute she was lying unconscious next to Hannah and then we could only see her shoe and I don’t think any part of the building collapsed on her.

I like the way they presented the last few episodes i.e. they all start showing something after the event and the flashback to the sequence of events previously surrounding the characters Warren/Sasha/Justin/Hannah/Ste/Darren etc.

I love Justin and Hannah together. They’re perfect for each other and they’re definitely my favourite couple at the moment in HollyOaks.

Now that Russ caught Nancy in bed with Chris hopefully he will do the sensible thing and finish with her. I don’t understand how she’s managed to bed all three of them (Russ, Ravi, Chris) to be honest. Personality wise I think she’s very unlikeable and aside from the way she is with Charlie (which is obviously because he’s the remaining remnant of Becka) I’m struggling to find any redeeming qualities about her.

Anyway I’m really looking forward to seeing how things progress on the show and in the aftermath of the fire how ultimately other characters involved are affected.

[Slade]

Very disappointed that Justin left without Hannah but at the same time suitably pleased with his actual departure. I liked the scene where he was hiding behind the headstone where Russ saw him, offered him a lift and Justin then saw Max in the car, realised Russ was in the same boat as he and they drove off together. I liked the way they presented the picture in a very grey sort of tone. To me it’s obvious that Justin left Hannah because he loved her. He realised she was better off with her family who could support her rather than living on the run. I was really impressed with Josh throughout the whole thing, the way he stuck by his sister, defended her over Rhys and their entire family and even put his personal differences with Ste aside. And having enough faith in her to make her own decisions. It’s a shame it’s all sort of been for nothing because it appears as though Justin has been cleared now. I know the actor has left the show but I’m hoping one day he’ll come back and reclaim her.

I was very disappointed with Calvin. It was bad enough that he left Warren to die but I personally felt he should have come clean about everything, cleared his conscience and dealt with the consequences. That was probably the last chance he had to save his marriage. And as Carmel said, he’s going to be living a lie with Spencer and Sasha everyday from now on.

I knew Claire escaped from the fire but I’m a bit surprised they brought her back just to arrest her like that. I’m not sure if she’s going to feature in anymore episodes but even watching her at Warren’s place with Spencer and Sasha it was good so see her being evil.

Even though Russ committed a crime and was blatantly in the wrong by taking Max I found it very difficult to sympathise with Jacqui. She was never ever going to let Russ have any contact with him even though he is the baby’s father and wanted to be involved in his life. I was always a bit surprised about that considering she wanted a baby for so long so you would have thought that she of all people would have understood how difficult things were for him.

I’m really not sure what to make of Tony agreeing to give her the money either. I think Dom was quite correct to have reservations. They aren’t going out anymore, the business isn’t doing well so what does he possibly stand to gain by helping her out with no guarantee that they’ll even find Russ? Perhaps he still holds a torch for her.

[Tiammi]

ANOTHER QUITS !!

This is very bad news for Hollyoaks !!

Hollyoaks actress Loui Batley will quit the soap after nearly four years in the role of Sarah Barnes, Digital Spy can exclusively reveal.

The 22-year-old will bow out of the show towards the end of the year in an "explosive" storyline.

Last night, she attended an Avenue Q afterparty at the Haymarket Hotel in London and was overheard confirming her departure from the Channel 4 series.

She remained tight-lipped regarding the details of her exit plot but insisted that it would "shock" viewers.

Those attending the event included Kimberly Walsh, Eddie Izzard, Jodie Prenger and Virgin1's new continuity presenter Red.

Recent Hollyoaks departures have included Chris Fountain (Justin Burton), Jamie Lomas (Warren Fox) and Stuart Manning (Russ Owen).

Those due to leave also include Emma Rigby (Hannah Ashworth) and Zoë Lister (Zoe Carpenter).

[DinerLandlord]

I think it's bad news that an actor is leaving, however I won't miss that particular character. I just hope Nancy doesn't leave now all her friends are going, but I suspect she will go as well. I'm starting to warm to some of the new characters now, which helps ease the pain of all the departures. Cheryl is AMAZING, Anita is very sweet, Archie is becoming less annoying and more funny, Ash is improving as a villain, and hopefully we'll see more of Loretta, who seems like a very nice girl. I eagerly await the day we get an announcement about Sasha leaving - can't stand that moron!

[Zetti]

I love Anita, she is the only one of the Roys that I love. I love Rhys and Hayley and Mercedes and Mal