Hollyoaks is hit by a HUGE shake-up as Channel 4 cut the soap to just three episodes per week - leading to 'very difficult' job losses

Channel 4 has announced that Hollyoaks will have fewer episodes airing each week from September. The channel said that they were making the change because it is the 'optimum pattern to keep heartland audiences hooked and attract new ones in a highly saturated content market' based on Channel 4 data. However, the production company for the soap, Lime Pictures, says the decision will lead to 'very difficult' job losses among the cast and crew. Channel 4 has announced that Hollyoaks will have fewer episodes airing each week from September The soap, which airs on streaming, E4 and YouTube will go down from five episodes per week to three MDs of Lime Pictures, Kate Little and Claire Poyser, said: 'Given the success of the new streaming-first model, we are delighted that Hollyoaks remains at the forefront of Channel 4’s digital first strategy, bringing authentic, unexpected and untold stories that inspire younger audiences in a way that they want to consume them. The channel said that they were making the change because it is the 'optimum pattern to keep heartland audiences hooked and attract new ones in a highly saturated content market' based on Channel 4 data However, the production company for the soap, Lime Pictures, says the decision will lead to 'very difficult' job losses among the cast and crew It comes after Channel 4 pulled the plug on the soap being aired on its main channel, in a digital strategy to freshen up viewing experiences with the state-owned broadcaster.