Hollyoaks bosses 'hope to return to set at end of May'

\'Hollyoaks\' bosses are hoping to return to the set at the end of May.

Nick Pickard - who has portrayed Tony Hutchinson on the Channel 4 soap since the show\'s first episode in October 1995 - cannot wait to get back to work, and has said show boss Bryan Kirkwood has told the cast to "be prepared for some great stuff" upon their return.

He said: "It\'s going to be really exciting when we go back. "Bryan sent out an email the other day saying that they\'re aiming to hopefully be back at the end of May, and to be prepared for some great stuff."

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And Nick has teased \'Oaks\' fans that the cast will come back "with a vengeance" when they return to the village set, after production was paused due to the coronavirus lockdown.

He added to Metro.co.uk: "I suppose it\'s nice, as you don\'t get an opportunity to power down and then power back up again, so I think everyone\'s going to be coming back with a vengeance."

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, \'Hollyoaks\' has reduced its output from five episodes to two a week - on Mondays and Tuesdays.

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But the show is still airing five times a week as \'Hollyoaks Favourites\' - which takes a look back at some classic episodes - is on air from Wednesdays to Fridays.

Jennifer Metcalfe recently admitted she feels "privileged" that \'Hollyoaks Favourites\' kicked off with her character Mercedes McQueen\'s disastrous wedding to Dr. Browning (Joe Thompson).

She said: "I feel so happy that they\'re starting the \'Hollyoaks Favourites\' series with Mercedes and Dr Browning\'s wedding. There\'s been so many amazing episodes from Hollyoaks, so for them to start with that, I feel very privileged and happy.

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"For me, those episodes have everything in it. It\'s got the tears, it\'s got humour, it\'s sexy, and it\'s sassy. It was a great time. I always look back on my favourite moments as the Dr Browning wedding, so to see that again, and show all of our viewers that again, I\'m going to feel very, very proud."