Hollyoaks star Jonny Labey has spoken out following the death of his character Rex Gallagher, confirming his departure from the show after two years. The actor thanked fans for their support and reflected on his time in the village.
Rex's Death Shocks Fans
Rex was shot by an unknown assailant while at the garage last week, in a scene that came as a huge shock to viewers. The character had arrived for a late-night callout when he spotted someone lurking in the shadows. 'What's this?' he asked, confused, before the mystery person pulled the trigger. Rex screamed 'No!' but it was too late.
Hollyoaks confirmed his demise in scenes aired on Monday (July 20), with Darren Osborne (Ashley Taylor Dawson) discovering Rex's body at the garage. Donny Clark (Louis Emerick) investigated and broke the news to Rex's husband Ste Hay (Kieron Richardson), who rushed to the scene. Leela Dexter (Kirsty-Leigh Porter) confirmed the body was Rex's.
Jonny Labey's Emotional Farewell
Labey released a video message addressing fans, saying: 'Hello Hollyoaks fans, if you're watching this you're probably six weeks ahead, it's no longer 33 degrees and you've just found out that Rex has unfortunately died.' He recalled memorable moments, including Rex's dancing sequence and sharing scenes with Grace Black star Tamara Wall, who played his on-screen mother. Labey also praised co-star Kieron Richardson as a 'true legend' for their scenes together.
He concluded: 'Thank you for watching. Thank you for loving Rex as much as you have. Thank you for all your comments and all your support. And for all of your rooting for him because he started off as a bit of… he had some questionable things about him! So thank you for seeing this beautifully complex, troubled but all in all loveable character that I'm going to miss so, so, so much!'
Impact and Future Storylines
Rex's death leaves a void in the village, particularly for Ste, who must now cope with the loss of his husband. The murder mystery surrounding the identity of the shooter is set to unfold in upcoming episodes, with several suspects emerging. Hollyoaks streams Mondays to Wednesdays from 6am on Channel 4's streaming platform, or airs on TV at 7pm on E4.
