A FAN-FAVOURITE soap star is making her permanent return to Hollyoaks.
The actress, 34, played her iconic character for five years before leaving in 2010 and went on to bag a string of roles in Hollywood.
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Emma Rigby will now be making a sensational comeback to the Channel 4 soap as Hannah Ashworth, we can confirm.
It was reported that she would be back for a guest stint but The Sun Online can exclusively reveal that she’s now signed a long-term contract.
A Hollyoaks source said: “Emma agreed to return for a little guest stint but after a few weeks of filming she felt like she was back home.
“She had a number of conversations with bosses and has since signed a year long contract.
“Everyone is over the moon to have her back permanently. Bosses were so happy when she agreed to return for a few weeks so to have her back as a regular cast member again is very exciting.
“She’s got come big things coming up.”
Hollyoaks is currently undergoing a resurgence after three top bosses were axed back in August.
Hannah Cheers, who spent a decade working on Hollyoaks under Bryan Kirkwood before moving to ITV soap Emmerdale, was brought back to overhaul the show by bosses at production company Lime Pictures.
She ripped up boring storylines, got the writers to re-do scripts and has orchestrated one of the biggest stunts the soap has ever seen.
She also got on the phone to persuade a number of legends to return for the stunt.
During tomorrow night’s explosive episodes (Monday) viewers will see the start of the soap’s new era under Hannah.
The source added: “There’s a real buzz around set, it’s a really exciting time for the soap and once the stunt airs there will be repercussions for some of its biggest and most-loved characters.”
Emma appeared in a number of Hollywood films including The Counsellor alongside Brad Pitt and Cameron Diaz, as well as several TV shows including Prisoners Wives, Fresh Meat and Ripper Street.
Viewers will be able to watch her return as Hannah Ashworth later this month when she returns with her mum Suzanne, and the twins she had with popular Darren Osborne, played by Ashley Taylor Dawson, 42.
Last week it was revealed that actor Charlie Clapham, 32, will be reprising his role as Freddie Roscoe this spring.
He was last seen in the village back in 2017 and will reconnect with half-brother Darren whose life has already been thrown into chaos with the return of his teenage twins with Suzanne.
Hollyoaks is on weekdays at 7pm on E4.
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