UPDATE: |Hollyoaks’ Nikki Sanderson breaks silence as she quits as Maxine Minniver after 12 years News

Nikki Sanderson has officially left Hollyoaks after 12 years on the Channel 4 soap, with the actress having been at the centre of some of the show’s most explosive storylines

Nikki Sanderson has officially bid farewell to Hollyoaks after a 12-year stint as Maxine Miniver.

The 41-year-old actress first graced the Channel 4 soap in November 2012, becoming a central figure in some of its most captivating plots.

However, her final scenes were broadcast on Wednesday (April 16), with viewers witnessing Maxine’s departure from the village by taxi, accompanied by her daughter Minnie Minniver.

In the dramatic episode, it was revealed that Dodger Savage (Danny Mac) and Maxine had faked her death following a shooting incident intended to demonstrate his loyalty to Grace Black (Tamara Wall).

As Dodger set out to “dispose” of his girlfriend’s body, it transpired that Maxine was still alive. Plans were subsequently made for Maxine and Minnie to escape the country, facilitated by Sienna Blake (Anna Passey).

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Before leaving the village, Maxine visited Mercedes McQueen (Jennifer Metcalfe) in prison under an assumed identity, promising to confess to Abe Fielding’s murder to secure her release, on the condition that she seeks revenge on Grace, reports the Liverpool Echo.

Maxine instructed Dodger to remain behind after their departure to complete the undercover operation he had initiated and find the answers he sought.

The episode concluded with heartfelt farewells between Sienna, Dodger, Maxine, and Minnie. Reflecting on her departure from the show, Nikki said: “It’s the weirdest feeling because it’s an end of an era.

“It’s exciting but also really sad. It’s hard to describe how I’m feeling about it. It’s going to be very different and I’m kind of getting used to it I guess. It’s a different normal for me now.

“I’ve been very, very blessed that I’ve been able to do some wonderful things at Hollyoaks but after so many years of incredible storylines I gets to a point where what else can we do with the character.”

Nikki, who also graced the cobbles as Candice Stowe in Coronation Street from 1999 to 2005, shared her sentiments on departing from Maxine’s role.

She expressed: “I thought where can we take her? where can we move forward with her? and I felt it was the right time to say I think Maxine is done.

“I think she’s done everything she can possibly do and I’ve been very fortunate and extremely grateful for the things that I’ve been able to do within the character.

“When I went in for the meeting to say I thought it was my time to exit the show production were wonderful.

“We got discuss how it would work and they had ideas and I had ideas for it and what we ended up with I was really pleased with it.

“I was very lucky I was given a dramatic last week. I will really miss Hollyoaks. It took a lot to make the decision and I will it so much but I’m excited to what the future hold for me.

“For myself, as Nikki, as an actor, I’ve been acting since I was little girl. I don’t know any different, it’s what I love to do and it’s my passion.”

Hollyoaks airs Monday to Wednesday on E4 at 7pm and first look episodes can be streamed Channel 4 from 7am