Nikki Sanderson has quit her role of Maxine Minniver on Hollyoaks after 13 years.

But as she prepares to film her final scenes next month,  the actress has confessed to the Mirror that the decision to walk away was an ‘incredibly difficult’ one. 

A combination of turning 40, having the support of actor boyfriend Anthony Quinlan, 39, and spending over 10 years delivering some of the soap’s most harrowing scenes, Nikki knew it was the right time. 

She told the publication: ‘Deciding to leave was an incredibly difficult decision for me because Maxine is a huge, huge part of my life – and a part of my life that I’ve loved.

‘It’s difficult to think, ‘It’s time’, and it wasn’t an instant or overnight decision, it took me a long time to make it and it was something I genuinely fought with myself about, but I’m lucky that I could talk to people around me and get people’s opinions. 

‘I’m grateful that I’ve had the stability for so long, now I’ve just got to embrace the instability of not knowing what’s next.’     

A legendary Hollyoaks actress has quit the show after over a decade on the soap

Nikki Sanderson , 40 – best known for playing Maxine Miniver in the Channel 4 soap – has quit the soap after 13 years

She then confirmed that she is not done with the soap world as she would jump to Coronation Street, where she previously played Candice Stowe, if she had the chance.

Nikki joined the cast of Hollyoaks in 2012 and has become a huge fan favourite over the years. 

Over the years the soap star has appeared in some hard hitting storylines, including domestic abuse in her relationship with Patrick Blake, Sєxual ᴀssault after a night out, and her character getting diagnosed with Munchausen’s syndrome. 

But now she’s decided to step back from her role as Maxine and explore other things.  

A source told The Sun: ‘She met with bosses and told them of her plans to leave, she’d just turned 40 and felt the time was right to say goodbye to Maxine.

‘She’s keen to explore other opportunities and is excited to get back out there. 

‘Bosses have been plotting Maxine’s exit storyline for months and have promised it will be a fitting tribute to the character, and viewers can expect a lot of drama before she goes.’

But as she prepares to film her final scenes next month, she has confessed to the Mirror that the decision to walk away was an ‘incredibly difficult’ one 

A combination of turning 40, having the support of actor boyfriend and spending over 10 years delivering some of the soap’s most harrowing scenes, Nikki knew it was the right time 

They added: ‘She will film her final scenes next month, which will go out on-screen in May.’

Hollyoaks isn’t the only TV show that Nikki has appeared in. 

Between 1999 and 2005, the star took on the role of Candice Stowe in ITV’s Coronation Stret,

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In 2006 she appeared in Holby City as Monica Southworth. 

Then between 2008 and 2009 Nikki played Dawn Bellamy in Heartbeat.  In 2012 she also landed the role of Amy Harris in Casualty. 

Over the years she’s also been nominated for a number of telly awards. 

She won Best Actress at the Inside Soap Awards in 2014. 

The actress has also been nominated for Best Actress at The British Soap Awards, Best Soap Actress at The TV Choice Awards and Serial Drama Performance at the NTAs. 

Reflecting on her character’s journey on the soap back in 2023, Nikki explained that her first big storyline with husband Patrick has shaped her character into who she is today. 

Nikki said: ‘She has been through some incredibly difficult, traumatic, hurtful, painful, frightening situations. 

‘For instance, when she was in the domestic-abuse relationship, and everything that she’s faced throughout the years.

‘Even in her most difficult, darkest times, she’s faced it head on and she’s come out of it stronger — not only wanting to be stronger for herself, but stronger for her daughter and the people around her. 

‘That is why I think she is a strong character, due to the fact that everything that she’s been through, she faces it head on and makes a better, stronger, brighter future for herself afterwards.  

She told the publication: ‘Deciding to leave was an incredibly difficult decision for me because Maxine is a huge, huge part of my life – and a part of my life that I’ve loved

‘I think throughout the years, Maxine has shown many times that she is extremely strong in many different circumstances. 

‘But I think that a couple of the most powerful ones that we’ve seen so far [are] definitely when she exposed Patrick as the abusive partner that he was on their wedding day and finally getting the strength to be able to admit to everybody what she was going through, what she had been through and finally trying to find a way out of that relationship by exposing him.

‘It took extreme strength to be able to do that.

‘To be able to expose an abuser is extremely difficult to do and extremely traumatic to do — and the fact that she did it knowing that she was going to be having a child because she was pregnant at the wedding.

‘Maxine wanted to be able to show strength, not just for herself, but also for her child coming into the world and to give the child a safe, loving, caring environment.’

Nikki has been dating fellow soap star Anthony Quinlan since 2022.  

Hollyoaks airs on Channel 4 and is available to stream on channel4.com