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The 21-year-old actress has portrayed Michaela McQueen in the Channel 4 soap since 2006.
She tweeted: "This past 4 years have been incredible but I think its time to find myself again! I'm officially leaving hollyoaks in the next 6 months!x (sic)"
Jay Bowes also confirmed tabloid rumours that an alien will join the cast. Responding to a fan who asked whether the plot is true, she said: "cos its an actual story line!x lol"
