HOLLYOAKS has been plunged into crisis after a major star quit the soap amid the massive cast cull.
The Sun can exclusively reveal that actress Emma Rigby has resigned from the Channel 4 soap less than a year after her high profile return.
The actress - who plays Hannah Ashworth in the streaming soap - is said to have walked away over changes to the show.
She originally starred as Hannah between 2005 until 2010 and had huge storylines like her eating disorder and doomed relationship with John Paul McQueen.
This time Hannah has been seen to be working as a sex worker to scam men of their money.
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When she first returned in November, 13 years after originally quitting in 2010, Hollyoaks aired five nights a week on Channel 4 and E4.
But since then budget cuts at the corporation has seen the episode order slashed to just three 20 minute episodes per week and a mass cull of cast and crew.
It will even now feature a dramatic year-long time jump in September to explain the huge changes to the cast and relaunch the show as a three-nights a week soap.
However those changes - as well as storyline changes - mean that Emma has decided to leave the show again.
A source said: “It just wasn’t working out for Emma.
“She agreed a long-term return with certain expectations but that all changed. She’s a professional through and through but the changes were too much so she decided to walk away.”
Emma’s original return was for a short stint but then she returned in March for a much-heralded permanent return.
However, bosses are believed to have agreed to end her contract early and craft a storyline to explain Hannah’s exit.
It will likely plunge the show into a fresh crisis as it recovers from a series of scandals over the last few years.
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An insider added: “There’s a worry other high profile cast members may see this as an opportunity to leave the show.
“While they’re all very supportive of the soap, the reduced budget and seeing friends and colleagues leave after so many years takes its toll.
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“If more go willingly then it may be that the writing is very much on the wall for the show. It will be hard to recover from further blows.”
A Hollyoaks spokeswoman declined to comment.