Hollyoaks fans were left devastated on Wednesday as beloved character Diane Hutchinson, played by Alex Fletcher, passed away after a battle with ovarian cancer. The actress, who portrayed the iconic landlady for 16 years, has spoken exclusively about her emotional exit and the surreal experience of watching her final scenes air.
An Emotional Farewell
Fletcher described the day her final episode aired as 'surreal' and 'gutted.' She told Metro: 'It's like having an out-of-body experience. I put my heart and soul into that storyline, and I'm sad to leave everyone. I'm gutted for Diane! Every time I did the scenes, I kept thinking: 'Oh my god!' I felt like I was her friend.'
The actress admitted she struggled to stay strong during filming, especially with crew members and co-star Nick Pickard, who plays Tony. 'All that closeness, you think 'oh god, I'll never get to do this again,'' she said.
Why She Decided to Leave
Fletcher made the decision to leave Hollyoaks of her own accord, citing a desire to spend more time with her family and explore new roles. 'I thought: What else can I bring to it? I feel like I've done everything! I wanted to go when I was still enjoying it,' she explained. The actress spent six months deliberating before telling her co-stars and producers.
Reflecting on her time on the show, Fletcher said: 'I've been so lucky. But where have the 16 years gone? I've blinked and they've gone. My kids are growing up, and I want my diary back. With soap, you spend more time being that character than yourself. I thought I need to be myself for a little bit.'
Memorable Storylines and Co-Stars
Over the years, Diane tackled hard-hitting stories including alcoholism, OCD, and a crossbow shooting. Fletcher is particularly proud of the show's work on Lily Drinkwell's self-harm storyline. 'It was powerful and raised a lot of conversations. It feels like you can make a difference,' she said.
She praised long-time co-star Nick Pickard, calling him one of her closest friends. 'The scene where Diane and Tony do shots in the bar – that was memorable. We could just let loose.'
The Final Scenes
Diane's death saw her pass away peacefully while Tony sang their daughter Eva to sleep. Fletcher described filming the scene as 'devastating.' She said: 'I had to close my eyes for the last time. Nick was breaking down. As soon as he finished, I gave him a big hug and said he'll never have to do that again. It affected the crew too – people were getting choked. A massive part of me has died. I'll never play her again.'
What's Next for Alex Fletcher
The actress plans to take time off to enjoy being Alex again. She turns 50 in July and has trips booked to Rome and Cornwall. Professionally, she's open to gritty dramas but also admits she'd be happy if she never worked again. 'I do want to work, but I've had an incredible career,' she said.
Fans have speculated about a possible return as her Brookside character Jacqui Dixon, but Fletcher is cautious. 'Since Jacqui is held in such high regard, there's a part of me that's like: Just leave her where she is.'
Hollyoaks streams Mondays to Wednesdays on Channel 4's streaming platform and airs on E4 at 7pm.
