Hollyoaks legend leaves fans in tears with emotional goodbye after show exit

HOLLYOAKS star Lucy-Jo Hudson left fans in tears as she posted a heartbreaking farewell message on her last day.

Viewers tuned in last night as her character Donna-Marie Quinn's final scenes aired on the Channel 4 soap.

Lucy-Jo, 40, has played the troubled character for five years.

Donna-Marie has battled drug addiction and grief after losing her daughter.

Lucy paid an emotional farewell to her co-stars who she said she'll miss, but admitted there's parts of the character she can't wait to leave behind.

She said in a reel on Hollyoaks' Instagram: "Hi everybody it’s Lucy-Jo Hudson here. I played Donna-Marie and this is my last day.

";I just wanted to say a massive thank you to all the fans for tuning in week in week out.

"Honestly it’s been an absolute pleasure playing Donna-Marie. I’ve loved the teeth, not so much the greasy hair. I can't wait to get a haircut!

"Thank you so much for having me and enjoying embracing Donna-Marie. It has been a pleasure."

She continued: "I just want to do a massive shout out to my little family which is Kirsty-Leigh Potter, and I’m going to miss Rory so much.

"My Owen! Who is my boy. And Greg who is played my other half is amazing and I love him dearly I’m gonna miss him and Niamh as well, I’m already missing her but we will catch up another time I’m sure."

Reacting to the video, one Hollyoaks fan penned alongside crying emojis: "One of the best female actresses ever in soap. @lucyjo_hudson is absolutely incredible at everything she does. Good luck for the future gonna miss seeing her on screen playing Donna Marie."

Another shared: "Nooooooo - Donna Marie is the best character! @lucyjo_hudson you’ve done a sterling job! Good luck with what’s next."

In recent times Donna-Marie had managed to get herself clean as she attempted to stabilise her life.

However, after losing her daughter Juliet to cancer in heartbreaking scenes, Donna-Marie fell off the wagon and Leela Lomax (Kirsty-Leigh Potter) decided to kick her out.

As Donna-Marie headed through Hollyoaks village for one final time she spoke to her son Romeo.

She promised him the next time she saw her she would be clean and be the mum he deserved.

The emotional scenes last night left viewers at home in tears, with one saying: "I'm sad Donna-Marie is leaving...I hope she'll be back at some point!"

A second said: "Gutted. One of the characters I was hugely invested in and a great actor too."

"We're absolutely gutted to lose Lucy-Jo! Thank you for bringing so much depth and complexity to Donna-Marie over the past few years. You'll be massively missed," said a third.

Futher changes are afoot in the soap, as Hollyoaks is leaving Channel 4 after 28 years in a huge scheduling shake-up.

Bosses at the broadcaster have made the decision to scrap the show from the main channel.

E4 has always offered a First Look at the next day's Channel 4 episode.

But from Monday September 25 new episodes will become available to stream online the day before they premiere on E4 and will also be made available in full via YouTube the following week.

It comes as Hollyoaks embars on a 'special stunts' week.

Fans can expect to see Felix and Mercedes' messy love triangle with Warren come to a climax while a disturbing secret is uncovered about influencer Rayne.