Exclusive: 'Hollyoaks' explain missing characters

Speculation over the whereabouts and reasons for the swift departure of two Hollyoaks characters were answered by the programme makers today.

Rumours have been rife on the Digital Spy forums following the exit of both cross-dresser Kris Fisher and troubled teen Sonny Valentine, played by Gerard McCarthy and Devon Anderson respectively.

McCarthy's character was last seen in the Chester-based soap on Friday, May 4 and subsequently mentioned by 'The Dog' manager Darren Osborne (Ashley Taylor-Dawson), who claimed Kris had "gone home for the summer".

Today, a Hollyoaks spokeswoman told DS: "Gerard has taken a break from filming for personal reasons and there was a natural break in the storylines allowing him to do this, but he will definitely be returning later in the year."

The 26-year-old actor is currently a guest judge in The Citybeat Young Star Search in Northern Ireland.

Meanwhile, a deeper mystery has surrounded the 'disappearance' of Devon Anderson (right), whose character's exit was explained by his leaving to stay with his aunt.

While reasons for his departure are unclear, he is understood to have been axed over alleged timekeeping issues. His character's profile on the soap's official website has also been removed.

One DS forum member commented: "Sonny['s] disappearance did look rather odd, like it had been filmed within the last two weeks or so, very rushed and sloppy."

The spokeswoman commented: "Devon has left Hollyoaks and there are no plans for his character to return in the foreseeable future."