McCarthy: 'Hollyoaks exit will be sad'

Gerard McCarthy has admitted that he will be "gutted" when he bows out of Hollyoaks later this year.

The actor is leaving his part as cross-dresser Kris Fisher on the soap in order to take on a West End role in Flashdance - The Musical.

Speaking to Fate magazine about his forthcoming departure, McCarthy commented: "I'll be devastated. Right now I've got another three and half months to go and I'll just be gutted when the time comes to leave. I've begged the producers not to kill me off!

"The only reason why I'm leaving is because, hand on heart, I really miss doing something else. My background is musical theatre and having done four years at Hollyoaks, I'm really missing that.

"I just need to get this out of my system and then next year I'll be banging at the door of Hollyoaks shouting, 'Take me back!'"

Flashdance - The Musical is being choreographed by former Strictly Come Dancing judge Arlene Phillips.