EXCLUSIVE: New 'Hollyoaks' boss shakes up production

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Hollyoaks showrunner Paul Marquess has replaced three of the soap's leading producers in a bid to streamline the programme's creative process, Digital Spy can exclusively reveal.

Marquess, who joined the show last month following Lucy Allan's short stint at the top, took the decision to restructure the top-tier hierarchy at the soap in a bid to create a more effective production team.

Henry Swindell, Caroline Roby and Rachel Hall have all been released from their contracts with show makers Lime Pictures in Liverpool as the position of 'producer' has now been made redundant. Instead, a more streamlined approach has been adopted.

Former head of Hollyoaks' production and ex-Coronation Street producer Trina Fraser returns to the soap as line producer, while once-EastEnders and The Bill story editor Claire Fryer assumes the role of Hollyoaks' series editor.

Speaking exclusively to DS, Marquess said: "I'm delighted that Claire has joined the team as series editor and that Trina has returned to Hollyoaks as my line producer. The editorial changes to the team mark the beginning of the show's reinvigoration and I'm confident that the three of us will form a focused team that can drive Hollyoaks to new heights."

A Hollyoaks source this morning said: "There really is a buzz about the place now. We've a fresh direction and Paul's certainly the man for the job. He's a breath of fresh air and we've every confidence in him."

The changes to the teen soap's production lineup have taken immediate effect and episodes under the new team will begin airing from the middle of the year.

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it needs lots of changes to get it back on track

[Perdita]

Stephanie Waring has admitted that the Hollyoaks cast are "unsettled" by the arrival of a new producer.

Paul Marquess joined the show last month and has already axed three characters.

Waring, who plays Cindy Hutchinson in the soap, signed an 18-month contract in September but revealed that the cast are unsure what will happen next.

"Things are changing as we speak," she told PA. "We are unsettled - you can't say we're not because we don't know what's going to happen yet. We've not had the meetings yet so we don't know what's going on."

Earlier this month, Marquess also changed the soap's production team.

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Hollyoaks boss Paul Marquess has dismissed suggestions that the show could be axed by Channel 4 for poor ratings. Well he would say that

The teen soap's viewing figures have dropped below 1m on a number of occasions this year, with one recent episode pulling in just 640,000. The disappointing numbers have caused some speculation that the serial could be facing an uncertain future.The man is the kiss of death

However, Marquess is currently heading up a period of rejuvenation at the show after taking office at its home at Lime Pictures in Liverpool in January. In recent months, he has axed a number of characters, cast three new families and promised to take the programme back to its roots. Just like he did with Family Affairs, Brookside and The soap formerly known as The Bill

Speaking in a new interview with the Liverpool Echo, the former BrooksideNow a distant memory and The Bill Soon to be a distant memory producer insisted that talk of Hollyoaks coming to an end is "bizarre".Strange that he said the same about the other axed soaps

He commented: "It is important for Lime Pictures and for Liverpool to keep Hollyoaks as strong as it is. I've had no meetings with Channel 4 about ratings."

Discussing the soap's current revamp, Marquess added: "It's all about word of mouth. I knew The Bill was doing well when I heard a group of girls talking about an episode on the Tube.Must have been before you ruined it then mate It is an exciting time for Hollyoaks and there is already a real buzz on site."That will be the one-legged lesbian Al Qaeeda member who has stolen the identity of the new Police Officer after burying the old one under the patio

Marquess's appointment as Hollyoaks' series producer came following the departure of Lucy Allan, who took on the role for just over 12 months.

The man is the Kiss of Death to anything he puts his hands to.(allegedly) He lives his fantasies out in outlandish storyline in the soaps which end up losing viewers and are then scrapped. If I was a member of Hollyoaks I would be seeking new employment.