EastEnders legend Rita Simons ‘axed’ from Hollyoaks in shock death storyline after just months
Former EastEnders star Rita Simons is reportedly the latest to face the Hollyoaks axe following the cast exodus.
Rita, 47, made her debut in the role of Marie Fielding earlier this year but it seems her time in the Chester village hascome to an end after it was revealed she was ‘dead’ ahead of the show’s time jump.
As part of cost-saving measures, Channel 4 was forced to slash Hollyoaks’ budget and cut its episodes down to just three a week.
So far 20 stars had to be given the boot with huge names including Owen Warner, Jamie Lomas, Stephanie Waring, Ellis Hollins and Jamelia all having left the programme.
In the latest dramatic episode, Cleo McQueen (Nadine Mulkerrin) lost control of the bike and it went through the village before hitting the McQueen household.
It saw Marie badly injured as she appeared to be impaled as she limped out of the house, which led to her being lifeless on the ground before being taken away to hospital.
It then seemingly appeared that she had died as her son Abe spoke to Cleo in the hospital as he ranted at her for being responsible for the death of his mum.
Before taking on the role of Marie, who recently discovered the truth behind son Arlo’s ‘kidnapping’, Rita starred as Roxy Mitchell in BBC soap EastEnders for almost ten years.
‘A lot of the time I can’t focus, but if it’s something I enjoy – and I enjoy what I do – I can focus quite easily. If it’s something I don’t enjoy, like school, you can imagine, I was just a nightmare! Couldn’t do it,’ Rita added.
The actress was confirmed to have been cast way back last July, with a source telling Metro.co.uk: ‘There’s a real buzz in the air about Rita joining the show – she’s a great signing!
‘Bosses have big plans for the character, who is going to be at the centre of some really big storylines and make a real impact.
Hollyoaks has received nothing but acclaim this year, with jaw-dropping stunts, groundbreaking storylines – including child trans and conversion therapy stories, plus a sibling sexual abuse narrative – and a return to character-led drama.
The long-running serial drama has faced a reduction in episodes coming into effect this week. In order to facilitate the three-episode pattern, a number of cast members have been let go.
