September 11th 2024.
It's always hard to say goodbye to beloved characters on our favorite shows, and the departure of Hollyoaks legend Gregory Finnegan is no exception. After nine years on the soap, The Agency has exclusively revealed that Finnegan's character, the fan-favorite James Nightingale, will meet his demise before the show's upcoming time-jump. To mark the occasion, the actor has released his memoir, "The World According to Grog," which delves into his experiences on the show.
In a recent interview with The Agency, Finnegan expressed his belief that there was still so much more for James to offer as a character on the show. However, due to Channel 4's decision to downsize the workforce, Hollyoaks had to make some tough cuts, with around 20 cast members being let go. As the show transitions to a new digital format, with only three episodes per week and a one-year time-jump, James will not be among the characters we revisit.
The news of Finnegan's departure has caused quite a stir, both on and off-screen, as many other high-profile actors have also been let go. "It's been a huge upheaval, to be honest," the popular actor shared. "It takes a while to come to terms with it, obviously. The show has been such a significant part of my life for so long." With the backdrop of so many people losing their jobs, the process has been a group effort, and the whole company has undergone a period of trauma.
Now, however, Finnegan feels like he's come out the other side. "I feel quite good about it," he shared. "I feel very at peace with the whole thing, which is nice." It wasn't always easy, though. Finnegan describes his time on the show as a "juggernaut," with its fair share of ups and downs. Still, he has nothing but love for the people he worked with, many of whom have become lifelong friends.
His memoir discusses the five stages of "Hollyoaks grief," including anger and denial, and how his mindset was at different points in his journey. "I definitely felt like I had more to give," Finnegan admitted. "It was a shock, there's no doubt about that. I certainly didn't want to be killed off." However, with the Nightingale family being decimated and Finnegan being the last man standing, it's clear that he was one of the high-profile casualties.
"I wasn't surprised," he shared. "I could see what they were going for. To an extent, they wanted a high-profile casualty that would hook people into coming back for their three-episode offering." Finnegan understands the business aspect of the decision, but it doesn't make it any less painful. "It hurts, it's sad," he said. "I wish there was an avenue back, but this is soap. We haven't filmed any scenes where you saw a dead body, so you never know."
Aside from his love for James and the show, Finnegan also has great affection for the fans. He hopes that through his memoir, they will get to know him in a different light. "Thank you for everything," he said, addressing them directly. "The fans made James Nightingale what he was. Your support from day one was off the chart, and I'll always be grateful for it. I'll miss being asked about him, and I'll miss everything to do with James Nightingale. He's one of a kind."
To learn more about Finnegan's journey and his time on Hollyoaks, you can read the full interview with him next week on The Agency. And for fans who want to delve even deeper into his experiences, his memoir, "The World According to Grog," is available for purchase now.
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