Hollyoaks star Charlie Clapham responds to controversial axing

Hollyoaks' Charlie Clapham has addressed the controversial axing of Grace Black actor Tamara Wall.

In July 2023, Grace's supposed final scenes aired after the gangster was put behind bars for the botched heist job, but in the soap's new spring trailer, she made a blink-and-you'll-miss-it appearance from prison opposite fellow returnee Freddie Roscoe.

Talking to The Daily Star, Freddie actor Clapham shared his thoughts on Wall's original exit.

charlie clapham as freddie roscoe in hollyoaks

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"As far as I'm concerned she should have never have left in the first place," he told the publication.

"She's been a part of the most successful period of Hollyoaks and I can't imagine the show without her. When I heard she was leaving, from a distance, I was quite saddened. She's great and she's that larger than life character and matriarchal figure.

"It's been so fantastic to get to work with her again. It's been electric."

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Back when she was first let go by Hollyoaks, Wall revealed to OK! Magazine: "It's absolutely devastating. When I got told, I bawled my eyes out for three days, I was so upset – it's been the best time of my life.

"It wasn't my decision, but I understand. It's the name of the game, and Grace was going to get her comeuppance at some point. In the end, she probably deserved it. But I'm sure she'll find her way out eventually, she'll be back."

And the moral of that story is: never lose hope.

Hollyoaks streams first online via Channel 4 each weekday at 7.30pm. Episodes then air on E4 the following day, before getting their YouTube premiere a week after that.

Selected omnibus episodes are available via Prime Video.