HOLLYOAKS fans have been left furious after the show brutally killed off a fan-favourite character despite him admitting he wanted to work on the show “forever”.
Viewers of the Channel 4 soap opera were left reeling when Ethan Williams appeared to fall to his death shortly after tying the knot with Sienna Blake.
Ethan was brutally killed off the programme[/caption]
He met his end after a fall on his wedding day[/caption]
Matthew James Bailey’s character’s lifeless body was seen atop a vehicle outside of the wedding venue after falling from a balcony above.
The actor was axed from the show as part of the recent cast cull owing to budget cuts at the soap and its home, Channel 4.
However, it appeared that it was not a fall that Ethan had and it was more than likely that he was pushed from the height by an as-yet unidentified assailant.
With his death now confirmed, furious fans have already begun to hit out at the soap and the major loss.
Writing on X – formerly Twitter – after the scenes played out, one fan said: “I will forgive the show. But I am also absolutely fuming. It’s abhorrent how badly the show is treating the previous cast. They have to pull something major out because a lot of the good will is gone.”
Another added: “Love seeing how many fans are angry over Ethan’s axing. Can’t we start a petition to bring him back or something?”
A third penned: “It was actually so cruel of Hollyoaks to get a popular couple back together, have them get married and kill one of them all in the same episode, absolute savagery from #Hollyoaks there.”
Before somebody else echoed: “I hope the actor who played Ethan knows that most of the viewers was raging he’s killed off, same goes for the actor who played James too.”
In an interview with the Metro after his exit, Matthew appeared to take a swipe at Hollyoaks as he let his feelings of disappointment be known about his axing.
He said to the publication: “I’m absolutely devastated to be leaving the show.
“I’ve made it clear that this is my home and I never thought it would end the way that it did.
“I feel like Ethan had a lot more potential and growth in him. I would openly say when I thought it was time for him to step away but, to be honest, I don’t think it was the right time.
“I don’t think we were finished. So no, it wasn’t my choice. I would never walk away from the show.
“As long as the fans wanted me here and were enjoying what I did, I would always give absolutely everything to this show.”
Hollyoaks – cast member cull
HOLLYOAKS beauty Chelsee Healey has dropped the biggest hint yet she’s been axed from the soap – yet what’s happening at the Channel 4 show?
Earlier this year, the Channel 4 soap was forced to address the cull of cast members.
It came after The Sun was first to report Hollyoaks bosses plan to kill off a whopping 20 cast members.
Now Chelsee, who recently took time away from her role as Goldie McQueen to give birth to her second daughter, has now made a cryptic move on X.
The Manchester lass, 36, re-posted a picture of her character crying to her page.
It came after Stephanie Waring, famed for her 28-year-long role as Cindy Cunningham, confirmed that soap bosses had axed her as part of the 20-person strong cast cull.
Another big name set to quit for good is popstar turned soap star Jamelia.
The soap’s resident hunk and TV favourite Owen Warner has also left the show amid the cuts with fans left devastated to say goodbye to his character Romeo Nightingale.
Jamie Lomas has also quit the show and will depart his Warren Fox role soon.
Haiesha Mistry famed for her role as Yasmine Maalik has also left after seven years.
He further added that he was left “surprised and shocked” by the decision to kill him off the show given fan excitement surrounding his marriage to Sienna.
Matthew added: “I was surprised. I do understand that sacrifices need to be made – it’s unfortunately part of the job and if they thought that was the right decision then I can’t really argue with that.
“I remember going into the meeting and seeing the expression change and just being gutted.
“You can tell what’s coming from the tone of someone’s voice and the sentence: ‘Unfortunately, we won’t be continuing with Ethan’ will stay with me for a while.
“Hearing those words was heartbreaking. I didn’t think it was his time to leave and I was really shocked by the decision.”
The actor admitted he had no plans to leave before he was axed[/caption]
