Channel 4 has announced they are cutting the number of weekly episodes of Hollyoaks to three a week in a dramatic shake-up. The soap, which first premiered in 1995, is currently aired on E4 but from September, there will be three episodes a week instead of the current five.
A weekly omnibus lasting an hour will also be broadcast on Channel 4 and will be available to stream online. According to Metro, this means up to 135 staff members will reportedly be at risk of losing their jobs, which is said to be a third of staff at Hollyoaks.
Express.co.uk has contacted Channel 4 for a comment. Bosses carried out research into viewers’ watching habits and concluded that a majority of viewers watch an average of three episodes a week.
Chief content officer at Channel 4, Ian Katz, said: “Hollyoaks is on sparkling creative form at the moment and these changes will ensure it remains compulsive viewing for a new generation of fans as viewing habits change.
“The show has always been at the forefront of innovation in all of its forms, including increasing and decreasing episode numbers in response to viewing habits.
Major soap in massive shake-up as episodes cut to three a week and ‘jobs at risk’