Former Hollyoaks star Jeremy Edwards has accused the soap of having double standards, following its decision to cut ties with actress Sarah Jayne Dunn over her OnlyFans account.
Yesterday (November 3), the Channel 4 show confirmed that Dunn would no longer portray longstanding character Mandy Richardson, having played her since 1996, due to the content she produces for the adult subscription platform.
Today, while appearing on Jeremy Vine on 5, Kurt Benson actor Edwards claimed that it was "wrong" of the producers to axe her, seeing as the series is "constantly [filming] people with their kit off" on screen anyway.
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"There's lots of different things that go on there. There's cooking shows, there's fitness shows, there's all kinds of stuff but it has been renowned for soft porn," he told the eponymous host.
"I don't think it's fair at all, and I will say this openly: I think that Hollyoaks – I love Hollyoaks, I'd bleed Hollyoaks if you cut me, but I think they promote nakedness. I never had clothes on when I was on the show," Edwards continued. "I don't see how it's such a big stretch between what they show and...
"I know Sarah's not doing anything untoward. She may be, I don't know, I've not been on it... but [Hollyoaks] do shoots all the time. They do calendars with girls in their underwear, and boys in their boxers or whatever, so I don't understand why they've got a problem with it.
"They use [the actors'] bodies to promote the show and now they've decided it's not cool. I think it's wrong."
(Hollyoaks last released the calendars in 2012.)
Related: Hollyoaks star Sarah Jayne Dunn addresses show exit over OnlyFans dispute
When news of Dunn's exit broke, Hollyoaks explained that it "is a youth-facing drama with many young viewers, who follow our cast very closely." Due to that reason, it doesn't permit any of its actors to participate in certain 18+ websites.
"We had hoped we could reach a resolution with Sarah that would allow her to remain in her role as Mandy, but we respect her choice to continue to produce content on OnlyFans," its statement added.
"In the past four years since her return to the show her legacy character has been an integral part of some our most important storylines and we will be very sad to see her go."
Digital Spy has reached out to Hollyoaks for comment on Jeremy's remarks.
Hollyoaks airs new episodes from Mondays to Fridays at 6.30pm on Channel 4, with first-look screenings at 7pm on E4. Selected omnibus episodes are available via Amazon Prime Video.
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