Exclusive: 'Hollyoaks' confirms cast departures

Hollyoaks bosses have today cleared up confusion surrounding the fates of the soap's Sharpe family and Anita Roy.

The four-member Sharpe clan - consisting of Gabby (Phina Oruche), Phil (Andonis Anthony), Taylor (Shaun Blackstock) and Amber (Lydia Lloyd-Henry) - were introduced to the show last summer as part of former producer Paul Marquess's rejuvenation of the programme.

However, shortly before Christmas fans saw the family's storylines reach an abrupt end before they departed the village. Since then, the fallout of Amber's teen pregnancy plot has been resolved with the foursome remaining offscreen.

A Hollyoaks spokesperson told DS today: "There are no immediate plans to bring the Sharpe family back into the show following their recent departure."

Meanwhile, it has also been confirmed that next week's drama for Anita Roy (Saira Choudhry) - which sees her old nemesis Gaz return to the village - will result in the character leaving the soap permanently.

The show's representative said: "Sadly Saira Choudhry will be leaving us on screen in the week commencing 17th January and there are no plans for her to return. After two-and-a-half fantastic and action-packed years in the show for Anita, Saira felt it was time to move on and we wish her the very best of luck."

Additionally, Anita's outrageous mother Eva will be seen leaving the village in the days ahead - but, as reported back in August, a future comeback is possible for her portrayer Sheree Murphy.

"Because of family commitments, Sheree sadly had to inform the writers that she wouldn't be able to renew her contract with Hollyoaks when it came to an end and her exit was storylined," the spokesperson said. "However, the door has been left open for Eva to return to the village and now that Sheree's personal circumstances have changed, the team will consider the feasibility of bringing Eva back at a later date."

Finally, DS can also confirm that Hollyoaks High headteacher Rob O'Connor (Gary Cargill) will remain offscreen "for the time being" following his split from wife Diane (Alex Fletcher) in this week's episodes.