Hollyoaks icon reveals why character had to die after fan backlash to dark storyline

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Hollyoaks is known for its surprising and exciting stories, and its 30th anniversary week has brought even more drama – especially for characters like Grace Black.

Tamara Wall’s character first appeared on television in 2013 and has been at the center of many dramatic storylines. Recently, she was revealed to be running a human trafficking ring, manipulating and grooming teenagers Frankie Osborne (Isabelle Smith) and Dillon Ray (Nathaniel Dass).

Grace has been a consistent presence on the show for a long time, but the latest plotline essentially sealed her departure.

Okay, so let me tell you, the drama really hit a peak when Gemma was caught in the crossfire between her sister, Clare, and her son, Rex. It was a shocking moment – Gemma was shot, rushed to the hospital, and tragically, flatlined and passed away. It was a genuinely heartbreaking turn of events, and honestly, I didn’t see it coming.

While recent episodes suggested Grace was trying to make amends, actress Wall explains that her character’s chance for a positive change had already passed.

After leaving Hollyoaks, Wall spoke to The Sun about the decision to have her character, Grace, killed off. She said she was heartbroken, but understood it was always a possibility given the storyline they developed. They took a chance with the plot, and she believes she portrayed it effectively.

She admitted she must have done something to upset people, explaining that everyone—or at least, everyone who knows Grace—seems to dislike her. While she’s very upset about it, she understands why, believing it’s justified. She doesn’t think Grace was ever destined to have a happy outcome, and she wondered if the listener understood what she meant.

The storyline was so intense and upsetting that viewers strongly criticized the character. Because of this negative reaction, and after discussions with executive producer Hannah Cheers, the show decided to have the actor playing the character leave and for the character to die.

I felt it looked wrong on screen – like we weren’t acknowledging the seriousness of the character’s actions. I didn’t want to contribute to the show’s failure, which would have been terrible. So, we all agreed on a solution, and it felt like the right thing to do.

The actress shared that while she’s appreciated fans’ love for Grace over the years, the recent surge of negative reactions to the character began to affect her personally.

The actress was disturbed by what she saw on X, realizing it would look wrong to overlook the serious actions and crimes Grace had committed.

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2025-10-23 14:06