Stephanie Waring, best known for playing Cindy Cunningham on Hollyoaks, has confirmed she is being written out of the soap after 28 years. The actress broke the news to fans in an emotional Instagram post, saying she was 'heartbroken' and 'gutting' to be included in the show's cast reduction.
Waring, 46, first joined Hollyoaks in 1996, replacing Laura Crossley in the role of Cindy. She left after four years but returned for short stints between 2002 and 2004, before becoming a regular again in 2008. Over nearly three decades, her character endured dramatic storylines including the death of her niece Ella Richardson, the loss of husband Luke Morgan and partner Dirk Savage, and a recent engagement to Dave Chen-Williams.
In her post, Waring revealed she was offered the option to say she had chosen to quit to spare embarrassment, but she declined. 'I don’t want to lie to the fans who have followed Cindy’s journey for nearly 30 years,' she wrote. 'Hollyoaks is in my blood and I have loved every minute of walking in Cindy’s heels.'
The actress added that while she understands shows must evolve, she cannot hide her devastation. She was assured her character would not be killed off, leaving the door open for a possible return. 'I will relish every last scene I have left to play with the gift of a role that is Cindy Cunningham,' she said.
Waring's exit is part of a wider cast cull at Hollyoaks as the soap undergoes a 'revamp'. She is the only remaining original cast member from her 1996 debut to be axed. Outside Hollyoaks, Waring has appeared in Doctors, Holby City, Coronation Street, and was a contestant on Dancing on Ice in 2018.
