Alex Fletcher has announced she is leaving Hollyoaks after 16 years, describing her exit as a decision filled with "mixed emotions." The actress, known for her role as Diane Hutchinson, made the choice to depart last year and is now looking toward new opportunities.
Speaking to the BBC, Fletcher said her agent is "working really hard behind the scenes" and expressed a desire to do something "completely different," such as a comedy or a period drama. She explained: "I just thought the character has done everything. Life is really not a rehearsal."
Her final episodes will see Diane diagnosed with ovarian cancer, a storyline developed with advice from the charity Ovarian Cancer Action. Diane will first tell friends Nancy Osborne and Leela Lomax before finding the strength to tell her husband Tony, played by Nick Pickard.
The charity highlights that more than 75% of women with ovarian cancer are diagnosed at an advanced stage. Fletcher hopes the storyline will encourage viewers to "prioritise their health," noting that many families have been touched by cancer, including her own.
Cary Wakefield, chief executive of Ovarian Cancer Action, said the charity is "proud to partner with Hollyoaks" to portray the realities of the disease. Fletcher's uncle John is currently undergoing cancer treatment, with Fletcher saying "thankfully the treatment is working."
