HOLLYOAKS legend Jennifer Metcalfe will be remaining on the soap – despite a number of her cast mates getting the axe.
The 40-year-old has played Mercedes McQueen on the Channel 4 show since 2006, making her one of the longest serving actresses on it.
The Sun previously told how a whopping twenty cast members will be leaving the show, but we can reveal that Jennifer, 40, will be staying.
An insider said: “There has been a lot of speculation about who will be staying on the show and fans will be relieved that Jen is among them.
“She been such a big part of the soap for so long and there are still loads of storylines that could work for her.
“It’s great news for Jen – she really loves being part of the show.”
This summer it will be 18 years since Jen first appeared on Hollyoaks — and she still loves every minute of it.
She previously told The Sun: “I think I must have projected putting my roots down here.
“When I first started, I only signed a six-month contract, but I thought, ‘right, let’s jump right in and buy my first flat here’.
“I didn’t know how long the character would stay for but I’m still here 18 years later. I love living by ‘expect nothing and accept everything’.
“So each year when my contract came round I just thought, ‘well I’m enjoying myself’, so there was never a reason to leave. And honestly, I couldn’t be happier.”
Hollyoaks is undergoing a huge overhaul after seeing its episode count slashed from five to three, being demoted to sister channel E4 and seeing a huge reduction in its budget amid falling ratings and financial concerns.
Bosses have come up with a bizarre “time jump” concept to fast-forward 20 characters out of the soap.
It will see the action permanently move forward by one year, when some families just so happen to have left the village.
The Sun previously told how big names Jamie Lomas, who plays Warren Fox, and Owen Warner, the show’s Romeo Nightingale, have already volunteered to leave.
Last week Steph Waring revealed her devastation after it was revealed she had been axed after playing Cindy Cunningham for 28 years.
Steph was delivered the huge blow from show chiefs two weeks ago with the star admitting she was given the option to reveal she quit in a bid to avoid public “embarrassment” of her being axed after such a lengthy stint.
