Hollyoaks star Nikki Sanderson stepped out in Salford on Monday as she was seen for the first time since announcing she’d quit the Channel 4 soap. 

The soap star, 41, who has played  Maxine Minniver on the show since 2012, turned heads in a bright red co-ord following a radio interview in Media City. 

Nikki wore leggings and a matching hoodie for the outing which she teamed with a pair of polka dot Nike trainers and white socks. 

The beaming actress toted her essentials in a chic £2,500 leopard print YSL cross body handbag.

Following the news of her departure Nikki sent temperatures soaring as she shared a throwback ʙικιɴι snap on her Instagram Stories on Tuesday.

Posing on the beach for the cheeky selfie, she accessorised with gold earrings and shielded her eyes with a pair of aviator sunglᴀsses.

Hollyoaks star Nikki Sanderson, 41, stepped out in Salford on Monday as she was seen for the first time since announcing she’d quit the Channel 4 soap

The soap star,  who has played Maxine Minniver on the show since 2012, turned heads in a bright red co-ord following a radio interview in Media City

Nikki revealed she has quit the soap and prior to filming her final scenes in April, the actress confessed the decision to walk away was an ‘incredibly difficult’ one. (pictured on the show)

‘Can we go back here?’ she penned on the snap along with a tag of her partner Anthony Quinlan.

It comes after Nikki revealed she has quit the soap and prior to filming her final scenes in April, the actress confessed to The Mirror that the decision to walk away was an ‘incredibly difficult’ one.

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.’

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.

Nikki wore leggings and a matching hoodie for the outing which she teamed with a pair of polka dot Nike trainers and white socks

Following the news of her departure Nikki sent temperatures soaring as she shared a throwback ʙικιɴι snap on her Instagram Stories on Tuesday 

She said: ‘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’ (pictured on Hollyoaks) 

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 (pictured 2000) if she had the chance

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.

Read More Legendary Hollyoaks actress quits the soap after over a decade

‘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.’

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 Street.

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.