Former Hollyoaks star ‘lands new role on rival show Coronation Street’ – after being axed from Channel 4 soap

Jessica Ellis has reportedly bagged herself a role on Coronation Street, six years after she was axed from rival show Hollyoaks.

The actress, 37, previously played Tegan Lomax in the Channel 4 soap from 2013, before she was tragically killed off in 2018.

But now the star is said to be exchanging Chester for Weatherfield, after landing a guest role on Corrie.

According to The Sun, Jessica has been cast as Brie, a fellow prison inmate of Lauren Bolton, played by Cait Fitton.

Lauren recently landed in prison after being convicted of murdering abusive solicitor Joel Deering, played by Calum Lill.

The publication claims that Jessica will not be a main castmember however, and is only expected to appear for a few episodes.

Jessica Ellis has reportedly bagged herself a role on Coronation Street , six years after she was axed from rival show Hollyoaks 

The actress, 37, previously played Tegan Lomax in the Channel 4 soap from 2013, before she was tragically killed off in 2018 (pictured)

Jessica has been cast as Brie, a fellow prison inmate of Lauren Bolton (pictured), played by Cait Fitton, who was recently convicted of murdering abusive solicitor Joel Deering, played by Calum Lill

Jessica first appeared as Tegan in April 2013, starring in several hard-hitting storylines including the murder of Fraser Black and the reveal that her biological daughter was swapped at birth with the child of of Diane Hutchinson.

In October 2018, she was tragically killed off after being caught up in a storm hitting the village and being crushed by a tree branch.

Following her shock departure, Jessica revealed that she had to keep her exit a secret for six months and admitted it was ‘heartbreaking’ to leave the show.

Speaking to The Sun at the time, she said: ‘I’m so sad. It was really sad because we’re actually really good friends and they have become my family.

‘I’ve known about six months. I had to keep it a secret but obviously my family knew but… I think Kieron’s still in denial.’

Discussing filming her emotional final scenes, she said: ‘A lot of it was genuine tears. It was heartbreaking.

‘My mum and dad came in to watch filming and I didn’t know it was that day, it was just because I had a full day filming and they spent the entire day watching me die.’

Jessica added: ‘I don’t really like change. I like routine and being in a place and I’m going to miss that.’

Jessica first appeared as Tegan in April 2013, starring in several hard-hitting storylines including the murder of Fraser Black and the reveal that her biological daughter was swapped at birth with the child of of Diane Hutchinson (pictured in 2018)

In October 2018, she was tragically killed off after being caught up in a storm hitting the village and being crushed by a tree branch (pictured)

As well as starring on Hollyoaks, she has also played roles on episodes of EastEnders, Doctors and ITV crime drama The Bay.

While she has stayed best friends with her former Hollyoaks co-star and fellow Coronation Street actress, Kimberly Hart-Simpson.

It comes after Hollyoaks producers made a huge ‘cast cull’ in 2023, after Channel 4 cut the number of weekly episodes.

Stars including Stephanie Waring, Jamie Lomas, Owen Warner, Jamelia, Gregory Finnegan and Annie Wallace said goodbye to the soap.

A source said at the time: ‘Losing 20 cast members in one fell swoop is eye-watering and devastating news for soapland. In the past, Hollyoaks has seen shock stunts claim up to five lives in a single episode.

‘But the days of soaps having a big cast clear-out with a devastating stunt are long gone, especially on Hollyoaks where the budget has been dramatically cut.

‘The necessary death toll would make almost any stunt idea totally unbelievable.’ 

Following her shock departure, Jessica revealed that she had to keep her exit a secret for six months and admitted it was ‘heartbreaking’ to leave the show

She has stayed best friends with her former Hollyoaks co-star and fellow Coronation Street actress, Kimberly Hart-Simpson (pictured together in November)

Last year, Kieron Richardson, who plays Ste Hay, and Jorgie Porter, who plays Theresa McQueen defended the execs’ decision to cut down the cast. 

Kieron said: ‘I think it must be hard as a show writer to think of two and a half hours of TV each week it’s like a full film, whereas now if you shorten that down a little bit you’re going to get the best of the best in terms of quality.’

He added that with the reduction in air time, it would be ‘all killer and no filler’, adding that whoever gets to stay will have a ‘really exciting time’ ahead of them. 

Meanwhile, Jorgie added: ‘I say we’re still giving the same drama, effort and energy and stuff so I think we’re safe.’