Jorgie Porter on why she quit Hollyoaks: 'I couldn't go through life thinking I never tried anything else'

Jorgie Porter has opened up about quitting Hollyoaks.

The actress, who played Theresa McQueen on the Channel 4 soap, left the show last year, with her final episode airing on the channel on Friday (March 11), and has now said that she wants to pursue new things.

"Leaving Hollyoaks after so long was scary, because when I started I was this chubby cheeked little girl, and I really have grown up there," she told The Sun.

"But I couldn't go through life thinking I never tried anything else. I want to look back and say: 'I was scared, but look what I scared myself into doing.'

"What's the point in being alive if you don't take a chance now and again?"

Porter said that she wanted to pursue more comedy roles, following her casting in the BBC's Are You Being Served? revival.

"I would like to do more comedy roles now, but I think you have to be open to things coming along and not be snobby about parts you're offered.

"I won't stop doing sexy lingerie photo shoots either, because I love doing them. I think it's a crying shame that FHM has closed now.

"I will definitely miss playing Theresa, because I've had lot of fun with her, and the part has given me more confidence in a lot of things."

She added: "Now I want to see what else is out there."

On getting the BBC role, she said: "I'm so glad to be involved, because it is a massive deal, and it has a completely different audience to the one that already knows me.

"I also love the original - it's so camp - and I like the fact we'll be acting in front of a studio audience, because you get to see them laughing."

The new Are You Being Served? will air on BBC One later in 2016, as part of a BBC landmark comedy season to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the TV sitcom.