Hollyoaks is facing another major cast departure as John Middleton, best known for playing Emmerdale's vicar Ashley Thomas for 22 years, has quit the soap less than a year after joining. Middleton debuted on Hollyoaks in August as the villainous Fraser Black Senior, also known as Froggy.
According to reports, his exit has left show bosses scrambling to devise an appropriately explosive storyline for the evil patriarch. They are reportedly deciding whether to kill off the character or leave the door open for a potential return.
Upon announcing his role last July, Middleton said: 'From Vicar to villain is quite a leap, but that's why I love this part. Froggy has a very dark history and he could reveal everyone's murky past. He knows where all the bodies are buried; perhaps quite literally…'
Froggy's arrival in the village saw him reunited with granddaughters Grace Black and Clare Devine, shortly before Grace was shot and killed by Clare. Froggy later turned Clare in for the murder, insisting she face justice. Clare swore revenge, and reports suggest she will return as part of Froggy's departure storyline.
The news follows the emotional exit of John Paul McQueen actor James Sutton, who bowed out for a third time. Sutton reflected: 'I accepted the situation for what it was, and thought I'm going to use it in the most positive way I can. I started writing again, launched my own platform and realised just how much I missed being creative.'
Hollyoaks airs Mondays to Wednesdays on Channel 4 at 7am and E4 at 7pm, with episodes also available on YouTube a week later.
