Richardson worried about 'Hollyoaks' axe

[Perdita]

Kieron Richardson has admitted that he is scared he will be dropped from Hollyoaks.

The soap's producer Paul Marquess, who joined the show in January, began his role by axing three cast members. Earlier this month, he decided to cull 11 more characters.

Richardson, whose contract ends in November, told The Sun that he has no idea whether he will be allowed to continue at the show.

"I think everybody's worried about their jobs because it's an amazing place to work," he said. "Nobody wants to leave. But if they do leave I'm sure people will work again. My contract isn't due for renewal yet so I don't know what's going on. But word on the street is that I've got a good storyline coming up."

Richardson, who is currently competing in Dancing On Ice, added that he has not met Marquess yet.

However, he continued: "It sounds like his ideas are all for the good of the show and only to make it bigger and better - and hopefully that will be with me in it."

[Katy]

I hope so, i think Keirons great in it.

[alan45]

The cast of Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks fear that the drama will be axed due to poor ratings, a report has claimed.

Over the Easter holidays, the teen serial slumped to 850,000 viewers - a mere 10,000 above the programme's all-time ratings low of 840,000, which occurred on New Year's Eve.

Hollyoaks is currently undergoing a major revamp following the arrival of new series producer Paul Marquess, who has already culled a string of characters, shaken up the show's production team and begun casting for a new family.

However, despite Marquess's attempts to turn the soap's fortunes around, one senior cast member is quoted by the Daily Star as saying: "It's a really worrying time for everyone connected to the show. Not only have we had a new boss come in and cull a load of characters, we've had some of the worst viewing figures in years.

"It doesn't inspire confidence both on screen and off it. Watching The Bill being axed just shows that anything is possible. No-one is sure what the future holds. We're keeping everything crossed that we can pull through this."

Playing down the report, a Channel 4 spokesman insisted: "Hollyoaks remains a strong part of Channel 4's schedule. And as the flagship soap it is still the only long-running nightly drama for young British audiences.

"Fans can look forward to explosive storylines in the coming months when new episodes from Paul Marquess hit the screens."
pEOPLE ON hOLLYOAKS ARE RIGHT TO BE AFRAID OF THEIR JOBS. pAUL mARQUESS IS THE kISSS OF DEATH TO most programmes he puts his finger on. Just have to look at The Bill and Brookside

[Chris_2k11]

Brookie even in its final days was better than the crap this has turned into.

[DaVeyWaVey]

Hollyoaks has become a joke. I've kept watching it after dipping back into it... goodness knows why. The characters are awful, the stories are awful.

[Katy]

It is getting worse!