Hollyoaks star Nikki Sanderson has played Maxine Minniver on the Channel 4 soap since 2012, but it’s said she’s leaving it and is gearing up to say goodbye to the village
Nikki Sanderson has reportedly quit Hollyoaks.
The 40-year-old actress has played Maxine Minniver on Hollyoaks for over 12 years. She first appeared in the village in 2012 and, last year, confirmed her character would remain in the village after the soap’s one-year time jump.
However, it’s said Nikki is now ready to leave the soap to try new things in her career – and that she’s gearing up to film her final scenes due to air in just a couple of months. “She met with bosses and told them of her plans to leave, she’d just turned 40 and felt the time was right to say goodbye to Maxine,” a source told The Sun.
The source said the ex-Corrie star was excited to “explore other opportunities” away from the show. “Bosses have been plotting Maxine’s exit storyline for months and have promised it will be a fitting tribute to the character,” they alleged.
They said there would be plenty of “drama” during her exit. “She will film her final scenes next month, which will go out on-screen in May,” the source added.
Last summer, Nikki revealed her hopes for Maxine’s future. “I think she’d love to have more children. I think that if we’re thinking where she’d like to go forward, I think she’d like to advance in her career, as much as Maxine is ditsy and I love that about her, she is also very switched on.
“I think that it’d be lovely to see her go really far in her career, and obviously her and Minnie are just an awesome duo and just see them both. I’m trying to think because I don’t want it just to be about finding love, she doesn’t need somebody to complete her, she is full as she is, she would love to find someone to complement her as a couple, but I don’t think she necessarily needs anybody, she’s strong and independent.
She added: “I love the fact that Maxine is always kind and considerate to other people and she’s always wanting to make sure everybody is ok, and she does everything in her power to look after people as well and make sure they’re ok and I love that element of her.”
Hollyoaks has seen a string of cast members leave and the soap reduced the amount of weekly episodes back in September. Now, the show airs on just three days per week instead of five.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk