Hollie-Jay Bowes has announced that she is leaving her role on Hollyoaks.
The actress, who plays the character of Michaela McQueen in the Channel 4 soap, said that she is looking for a new challenge.
Bowes told Inside Soap: "I'm leaving Hollyoaks. I love Michaela and she's absolutely my baby.
"But I'm 23 years old now, and it's time to explore things."
Bowes was previously sacked from the soap in 2010 but was brought back a year later.
The actress joined Hollyoaks in 2006 and has since starred in over 270 episodes of the show.
