Hollyoaks spoilers follow.
Hollyoaks star Iz Hesketh has shared a beautiful message following her departure from the show.
The actor’s character Kitty Draper departed the village this week following her arrival in January, sharing a touching moment with Ro before getting in a taxi.
Iz has now explained her exit in a new message, saying she tried to create a “flawed, lovable, real and unapologetically trans” character.
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“Kitty has left the village,” she captioned a series of pictures from her time on Hollyoaks, “Thank you @hollyoaksofficial for the best 8 months.
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“Thank you to everyone working on the show for welcoming me with open arms, I’ve had the most incredible time becoming part of the family.
“I really tried to create a character who is flawed, lovable, real and unapologetically trans. I can only hope that certain people have seen glimpses of their lived experience reflected in everything I worked so hard on.
“Thank you to all the fans of the show who’ve supported Kitty’s story. It’s a privilege to have been part of the stories I have told and it isn’t taken for granted for one second.”
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Iz went on to confirm that her exit was unrelated to the recent series of axings as the soap moves to fewer episodes per week from September, saying that she “made the decision not to stay on at Hollyoaks”.
“I need to spend the next year getting surgery, healing and focusing on the future and sadly that has meant leaving the show and moving on,” the star continued.
However, Iz did tease that the door could be open for a return in the future, noting that Kitty “did only get in a taxi though so who knows if she’s really gone for good”.
“But for now at least, Goodbye. All my love Iz,” she concluded, before joking: “Also kind of camp to win best newcomer then leave a month after. VERY me.”
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The actor has since received supportive messages from co-stars in the comments, with Ross Adams (who plays Scott Drinkwell) writing: “One of the most memorable LGBTQ+ characters ever. And in terms of representation - so needed and important too. You were a JOY to work with and I can’t wait to watch you fly high. Sending big love x.”
Lily Best (Lizzie Chen-Williams) added: “And that was how I met my wife. Forever proud. Love you endlessly”, while Alex Fletcher (Diane Hutchinson) said: “Love the bones of ya & you’ve been incredible on the show so glad you got to be in our fambo such a talent & a bit scrappy like me can’t wait to see what u do next xxxx.”
Hollyoaks streams first online via Channel 4 each weekday at 7.30pm. Episodes then air on E4 the following day, before getting their YouTube premiere a week after that.
Selected omnibus episodes are available via Prime Video.
