After stints on rival soaps, Coronation Street, Casualty, and Waterloo Road, Rebecca Ryan has reportedly signed up for a big role on Hollyoaks.

The actress, 34, who is best known for starring on hit TV series Shameless, is said to be joining the cast as part of a new family alongside Matthew Wolfenden.

And according to reports, the two actors have already started filming scenes for the Channel 4 soap.

'Rebecca and Matthew are going to launch a big new family for Hollyoaks with a major storyline later this year', a source told The Sun.

'They’ve just begun filming and everyone’s really excited about having them on board.'

Rebecca first came to fame at just 11 years old, when she was cast as Debbie Gallagher in comedy-drama Shameless, opposite David Threlfall and Anne-Marie Duff.

She starred in the BAFTA-winning show for six seasons between 2004 and 2009, before going on to play Vicki MacDonald in BBC One series Waterloo Road, until 2011.

She is also known for her two-year stint as Gemma Dean on Casualty and most recently for playing Adam Barlow’s stalker Lydia Chambers on Corrie - for which she was nominated for Best Villain at the Inside Soap Awards.

It comes after it was revealed that Emmerdale star Matthew, 45, was heading to Chester last month, three years after his ITV exit.

Speaking about his new role on Hollyoaks, a source told The Sun: 'This an exciting new chapter for Matthew. He’s a big signing for Hollyoaks and is expected to be a hit with viewers.' 

The actor famously played David Metcalfe in the long-running series for 17 years, but left in late 2023 after being offered the starring role of Buddy in an eight-week run of Elf The Musical in London's West End. 

A strict cast rule meant he was not allowed to take time off over Christmas, so he chose not to renew his contract and his Emmerdale exit played out on screen in April 2024.

Matthew previously revealed that bosses had left the door open for a possible return to Emmerdale, though that now appears unlikely.

He said at the time: 'I'm so nervous about leaving, almost two decades. It feels like the right time, yeah, the door has been left open, they're not killing me off, they promised. 

'Who knows, I might be back, we will see. Not only has it given me 18 years of an amazing job, it's given me family. It's been a big, big part of my life.'

The two new signings to Hollyoaks comes as Alex Fletcher is preparing to leave the soap as Diane Hutchinson after 16 years.

The actress, 49, is going to be leaving the village in a heartbreaking cancer storyline, with her 'emotional' exit bringing an end to her long onscreen partnership with  Nick Pickard, who plays husband Tony. 

In upcoming scenes, Diane will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer and will confide in her pals Nancy Osborne (Jessica Fox) and Leela Lomax (Kirsty-Leigh Porter) about her health. She later tells her husband Tony, but unfortunately, it's too late.  

Alex said that she hoped the storyline would raise awareness of ovarian cancer, as she shared her personal connection to the plot.

She said: 'The storyline is close to my heart as my uncle John, who is like a brother to me, has been undergoing cancer treatment.

'It has been a long and challenging process but thankfully the treatment is working and we are hopeful we will be ringing the bell soon.' 

She added: 'As busy women, we overlook ourselves and we just get on with it. If anything comes from the storyline, I just hope that it does raise awareness.

'We don't want to frighten people either, but that's the nature of the story.' 

Hollyoaks joined forces with charity Ovarian Cancer Action to make sure that they cover the storyline accurately.  

Chief executive of Ovarian Cancer Action, Cary Wakefield, said: 'Our hope is that this powerful storyline prompts more women to recognise the symptoms and be empowered to seek help sooner.'