Helen Pearson and Amrit Maghera bow out of Hollyoaks

Their characters, Frankie Osborne and Neeta Kaur, were killed off in tonight’s E4 episode.

After declining her ex Johnno’s (Colin Wells) offer of a life on the open road; mimicking Cher for a living, Frankie suffered a fatal stroke when the news reached her that her husband Jack (Jimmy McKenna) was fighting for his life following an explosion at Hollyoaks High.

“After 15 years, I’m sad to have left all of my friends from the show, but I’m also excited about the future. It’s a difficult decision to leave and to find the right time for that, but I was really excited to go as part of this week’s big episodes and the timing seemed perfect. When you’ve been part of the show for so long, you spend more time with your fictional family than your real one sometimes. I’m sure we will keep in touch, even if you don’t see each other for months on end, you can meet up and it’s like no time has passed at all.” – Helen Pearson

Pearson joined the show 15 years ago as Frankie, wife to Johnno and mother to Jake, Debbie, Craig and Steph. After breaking up with Johnno, she married Jack in 2005. In tribute to Helen’s time on the show, Carley Stenson, who played Frankie’s daughter Steph, has recorded a special version of Cher’s ‘Turn Back Time’ which was used to close tonight’s E4 episode.

Elsewhere, Neeta’s relationship with Hunter McQueen (Theo Graham) cost her her life when after accidentally causing the explosion at Hollyoaks High, jealous Mac pushed her to her death when the floor collapsed beneath her. Earlier this week, viewers saw Neeta and Hunter steal one last moment together at the school, but seeing Neeta there was a red rag for Mac who hauled her into the school boiler room. After lashing out and damaging one of the boilers in his temper, Mac set fire to a drawing of Neeta and Hunter together prompting the blast.

“I have honestly loved my two years at Hollyoaks and feel so lucky to have been cast as Neeta. After joining with the wonderful Nightingale family, going head-to-head with Mac, getting the opportunity to film in Ibiza and telling the story of Neeta and Hunter, I am so grateful to everyone involved. Thank you to Bryan Kirkwood for his support and belief in me, as well as the entire production team, crew, cast and every department for making me feel truly welcome and making me laugh every day. Also to bow out during such fantastic episodes this week has been an honour. I feel very proud to have been part of this show. Thank you to all the fans for your constant support and hopefully Mac will get his comeuppance…” – Amrit Maghera

Neeta arrived alongside the Nightingale family in 2015 and since then has had two failed wedding days to Mac, found her dream job as a teaching assistant, and been caught up in an illegal romance with her pupil, Hunter.

“Helen Pearson has been a backbone for Hollyoaks for the last 15 and a half years. Her funny, strong and outrageous character has been at the heart of some of the show’s biggest storylines, underpinned by her love-story with Jack.  We are heartbroken to say goodbye to Frankie and to Helen but wish her every success in her future career. Amrit Maghera has been a revelation as quirky, sweet and joyful Neeta. She is a huge talent who we expect to have a sparkling future.” – Bryan Kirkwood, Hollyoaks’ Executive Producer

Channel 4 pace viewers can catch Helen and Amrit’s exits tomorrow (Wednesday 1 November) at 6:30pm.