EXCLUSIVE: Hollyoaks star ‘fuming’ as she confirms co-star’s exit from soap after 16 years
Hollyoaks actress Jessica Fox has shared her honest reaction to co-star Alex Fletcher's decision to quit the Channel 4 soap, with her character Diane Hutchinson diagnosed with cancer
Hollyoaks actress Jessica Fox has shared her honest reaction to co-star Alex Fletcher’s decision to quit the Channel 4 soap(Image: Lime Pictures)
One Hollyoaks star has shared their response to the news Diane Hutchinson actress Alex Fletcher is leaving the soap.
After 16 years in the role, Alex has decided to leave Hollyoaks village behind. In a heartbreaking twist her character Diane will sadly pass away, after being diagnosed with advanced ovarian cancer.
Speaking exclusively to The Mirror, her friend and co-star Jessica Fox, who plays Nancy Osborne, revealed what was ahead. She also confessed she was “fuming” over the news, not ready to say goodbye to her friend.
She joked: “I was fuming with her to be perfectly honest. I think it’s really rude she’s leaving us. How dare you make a decision about your own life? I adore Alex and I think she is just the most fun.
One Hollyoaks star has shared their response to the news Diane Hutchinson actress Alex Fletcher is leaving the soap(Image: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)
After 16 years in the role, Alex has decided to leave Hollyoaks village behind(Image: LIMEPICTURES)
“She’s so great to have on set because she’s always in a good mood. That energy reflects on other people so on a personal level, I am really sad she’s leaving but I’m also excited to see what she goes and does next.
“It’s bittersweet, that’s the best way to describe it. She did drop me a little text just as the scripts were coming out cos she had to keep it under wraps until then.”
Jess added that Alex will be a huge loss for the cast when her final scenes are filmed. She said: “It’s gonna be very sad. You put it to the back of your mind until that day really, and I’m absolutely rubbish when anyone leaves.
Jessica Fox, who plays Nancy Osborne, revealed what was ahead
“They get flowers and one of the bosses comes down and says really nice things. I have to hide cos I’ll cry. I’m an absolute mess with anything like that so I will be hiding that day.
“You spend years with these people and Ashley [Taylor Dawson] and I always joke that we spend more time with each other than our actual family and partners, so when they leave it’s a big loss.”
On what she hopes fans take from the storyline, Jess said it’s the reminder that life is so short. She shared: “As Alex [Fletcher] has said, life is not a rehearsal, so do all the things and say all the things. Love hard, laugh hard.
“I think that’s really important and to look after each other, and that friendship and family are incredibly important.” Nancy, Jess’ character, will be hit hard by Diane’s news and will vow to be there for her and Diane’s husband Tony, as well as their teenaged children.
She said: “I been doing a lot of scenes with Alex and she’s smashing it out of the park. She’s absolutely fantastic. Through that storyline they’ve formed this best friendship between Nancy and Diane, and they laugh in the face of the most horrific thing.
“It was a lovely experience filming it because it didn’t feel like acting. It felt like I was with someone I have known for 16 years, who I love and respect, having a really nice conversation and in those scenes, it’s easy cos you know that you both want to do your best. Some of the funniest things come out of the darkest of moments.”
