Steph Waring admits 'I lost my s**t' as she recounts 'hysterically crying, shaking and begging' as she got sacked from Hollyoaks after 28 years in 'frantic' meeting
Stephanie Waring has recalled 'hysterically crying, shaking and begging' when she was sacked from Hollyoaks.
The actress, 47, starred in the Cheshire soap on Channel 4 for 28 years from 1996 to 2024.
Hollyoaks was hit by stringent budget cuts last year and cut down from five to three instalments a week, letting go of staff too.
Stephanie's character, Cindy Cunningham, was axed by bosses and the star has delved into how she reacted in her book, Breaking The Script.
She recalled how she had a meeting with two producers who broke the news to her by reading a written statement.
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The star described how she struggled to process what was being said to her and as it sank in, she felt emotional at the departure of her beloved character.
She wrote, 'But as the statement neared its close, before the final words were even spoken, I felt a tear roll down my cheek. I was shaking as I looked at the two of them.'
'Then it happened. 'And with that said, we will be losing Cindy from the show. I'm so sorry, Steph.' The world stopped for a second as I replayed those words in my head. Then… I lost my s***.'
She was particularly heartbroken that her staple character would not be featuring in the big anniversary special.
Stephanie went on to write, 'What? No! You mean you're not taking me to the 30th?' I blurted out, referencing the upcoming anniversary of the show – a milestone that meant so much to the long-standing cast.
'I don't understand. No, I don't understand. I don't understand!' I was frantic. 'But I've been so loyal. Please, no. This is my life. I love my job – please, no!'
She described how she was 'hysterically crying' and added: 'I repeated myself, hoping one of them would see my distress and take it all back. Had they made a mistake? My world felt like it was imploding.'
She signed her new contract which started from April 27 and her character departed in July.
However, the short notice made her feel like she 'had swallowed a grenade' and she admitted to 'a few expletives rolling off my tongue like bullets'.
Afterwards, she ran out of the room and found comfort from Kirsty Leigh Porter and Jennifer Metcalfe, who starred as Leela Dexter and Mercedes McQueen in the show.
Since leaving the soap, Stephanie has gone on to become a 'certified mind-body coach', according to her social media.
Her new book, Breaking The Script, was released earlier this week.
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