Richard Blackwood reveals he has left Hollyoaks

Richard Blackwood has revealed he has left Hollyoaks after four years.

His character, Felix Westwood, was last seen on screen in February when he made what was assumed to be a temporary exit from the village after feuding with Warren Fox.

Speaking to the Rated 18 podcast, Blackwood has now confirmed that he won’t be reprising his role in the soap.

“Okay, so officially I’ve left Hollyoaks now. If you want to go further, you do three or four [years] tops, after that you are cemented into the show – your name is fixed, so casting people don’t wanna even see you.”

During his time on the E4 soap, Blackwood’s character was involved in a soap first – a bipaternal twin plot with Mercedes McQueen (Jennifer Metcalfe) and Warren Fox. In a twist, Mercedes cheated on Felix with Warren and ended up pregnant with twins. A DNA test revealed that both men were the fathers, each being the biological dad of one twin.

In addition to their mutual romantic attraction towards Mercedes, Felix and Warren clashed over Felix’s supposed involvement in the tragic car accident that took the life of Warren’s daughter, Ella. At that time, Warren mistakenly believed Felix was responsible, not knowing that Ste was the one driving the car, which led to his plan for revenge and ultimately Felix’s exit from the village.

In February, Channel 4 announced that from September episodes of Hollyoaks would be cut from five to three, with the loss of 135 jobs. An earlier blow, in September 2023, saw the show lose its traditional 6.30pm Channel 4 slot.

Channel 4 has played down speculation over the soap’s future, insisting that a ‘simpler and more relevant digital-focused drop pattern’ will help it retain younger viewers.

Blackwood joins a growing list of cast members whose departures from the soap have been announced in recent months, including Jamie Lomas, Ross Adams, Stephanie Waring and Glynis Barber.