Nadine Mulkerrin has confirmed that she has left her role as Cleo McQueen on Hollyoaks after seven years.
The actress - currently expecting her second child with co-star Rory Douglas-Speed (Joel Dexter) - was expected to temporarily leave the show on maternity leave but now she has confirmed that her exit will be permanent.
Cleo's exit played out on Monday's first-look All 4 and E4 episode as she was offered a job in India, choosing to leave the village behind her.
"It's been an amazing eight years at Hollyoaks," Mulkerrin told Metro. "I've had the absolute ride and the best journey ever being in the iconic McQueen family.
"I have been blessed with so many incredible storylines, arriving with the Pete and Cleo storyline, the powerful sexual abuse storyline, and then the impactful bulimia storyline which crescendo'd on my wedding day to my real-life fiancé, meeting Rory, and joining at 21 and leaving eight years later it's been an incredibly special job.
"I feel like I will miss everybody so much and it will always have a special place in my heart.
"I'm ready to close the chapter and move on to the next challenge in my career and I'm just grateful for the brilliant time I've had at Hollyoaks."
Hollyoaks continues weekdays on All 4, E4 and Channel 4.
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