Hollyoaks axed after 28 years in huge Channel 4 shake-up

Hollyoaks has been axed by Channel 4 after 28 years and will move permanently over to E4 instead. The move will also see episodes of the soap, which began in 1995, being uploaded to YouTube in the hopes of attracting a younger demographic. According to reports, 64 percent of viewers watched Hollyoaks via streaming service or on E4, which is another reason behind the broadcaster’s decision. The new changes will come into place on September 25, for its big stunt week. The soap will offer fans a first look online, with the episodes airing on E4 half an hour later. Hollyoaks has been axed by Channel 4 and will move to E4 (Image: Channel 4 ) Speaking about the broadcaster’s decision, Channel 4’s Chief Content Officer, Ian Katz said: “Hollyoaks has always been the youngest and most innovative soap so it’s fitting that it should be the first to embrace the changes in the behaviour of younger viewers and switch to a genuinely digital-led release pattern.  “It was the first UK soap to move to a stream-first model last year and this is the next phase of that evolution.” “We hope making Hollyoaks available on YouTube, as well as our own platforms, will introduce a whole new generation to the show.” he added to MailOnline.  Express.co.uk has reached out to Channel 4 for comment. Hollyoaks want to appeal to a younger audience (Image: Channel 4) Following the channel’s announcement, fans of the soap took to Twitter to share their thoughts. @TVAddict2023 wrote: “It’s very sad that for the first time since its launch in 1982 there will be no soaps on C4 – Hollyoaks and especially Brookside were such forces of nature in their prime.” @joegibney15 asked: “If this can happen to Hollyoaks, who’s to say it won’t happen to EastEnders too one day? @LexieAshmore added: “Ffs only just getting over Holby City being axed, Neighbours being axed then rebooted, now Hollyoaks axed from C4, although tbh I usually just watch on E4 these days anyway. Just better not be the beginning of the end like with Brookside (which I still miss) #Hollyoaks.” (sic) As part of the channel’s shake-up, Channel 4 also made the decision not to renew Big Narstie’s chat show. A spokesperson for the channel explained the decision was not due to “cost-saving measures” but as part of as ‘natural evolution’ of its busy schedule. ‘The decision not to recommission a sixth series of The Big Narstie Show is not part of our response to challenges in the advertising market,’ a spokesperson said to Deadline. ‘We are immensely proud of the five series we have made of this innovative BAFTA-winning show but we have to look carefully at what we commission each year to make sure we continue to innovate and offer viewers a varied range of programming. ‘We look forward to working with Dice, Expectation and Big Narstie on other projects in the future.”