TEN Hollyoaks stars are facing the axe as bosses plan a big shake-up of the Channel 4 soap.

WHO WILL GO? Jamie's off (top left), but will favourites like Jennifer, Anthony, Zoe, Nick, Ricky, Carley, Gemma, Emma, and Kieron be next?

Some of the show's hottest names such as Jennifer Metcalfe and Gemma Merna, who play strumpet Mercedes and dippy Carmel McQueen, could be under threat.

The ten characters who will go haven't been named yet. But it means no one is safe.

Even Hollyoaks legend Nick Pickard-who has played Tony Hutchinson since the Chester-based soap was launched in 1995-has been told there is a question mark over his role.

One of the worried cast revealed: "It's a nightmare. Everyone's character is under scrutiny and there will be around ten changes so a lot of people are looking over their shoulders."

It means the future of show favourites such as Carley Stenson (Steph Dean), Ricky Whittle (Calvin Valentine), Kieron Richardson (Ste Hay), Zoe Lister (Zoe Carpenter), Anthony Quinlan (Gilly Roach) and Emma Rigby (Hannah Ashworth) could be in doubt.

Heart-throbs Jamie Lomas (bad boy Warren Fox) and last year's Dancing On Ice runner-up Chris Fountain (Justin Burton) have already announced they are quitting the show next month.

Jamie, (pictured top) who is dating Corrie actress Kym Marsh, is planning a stint in Los Angeles to pursue his dream of breaking into US telly. The cull will start in April and continue until October as individual contracts run out.

Our source added: "There are going to be a lot of changes. No one is safe but the last thing you want is to be out of work in the current climate.

"Everyone's keeping their head down and doing their best in the hope they'll be saved from the chop."

The shake-up is being planned by new producer Lucy Allan who took over in January and is planning some radical changes to make the show more gripping.

But our source joked: "A few of us are calling her the Grim Reaper. Obviously she wants to put her stamp on the show and bring in new people."

Last night a Hollyoaks spokesman denied the changes were anything to do with saving cash. He said: "There are no planned cutbacks for Hollyoaks. The nature of the show is that people come and go."

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Corrie Tony killing spree

WEATHERFIELD will become a bloodbath when homicidal Tony Gordon goes on another killing rampage, we can reveal.

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The murderer, played by hunky Gray O'Brien, will arrange the slaughter of his new boss Luke Strong (Craig Kelly) in a dramatic new plotline.

Show bosses have given popular actor Gray another 12-month contract to continue his rampage.

A Corrie source explained: "Tony already hates Luke, who has been given a controlling interest in Underworld by his runaway wife Carla.

"But when he starts lording it over his rival, Tony goes into an all-consuming rage.

"But Luke, still Carla's mysterious confidant, may know a lot more than Tony bargains for. There will be doubts during the coming weeks that he may not be exactly who he says he is, and that there is an unknown agenda for him being at the factory."

Scriptwriters are teeing Tony up for a final confrontation with absent wife Carla when actress Alison King returns from maternity leave this year.

Oaks: Meet Fer-hand-o

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SARAH swoons as rival dance instructor Fernando turns out to be a hunk.

While Steph (Carley Stenson) gets her back up when Fernando (Jeronimo Best) criticises her technique, Sarah (Loui Batley) smiles with delight when he kisses her hand. See it happen on March 24.

Enders: Sexy Syd kiss us

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SYD collars Bradley after he comes clean about his job lies - but then leans in for a snog, in this exclusive Enders photo.

Has Brad (Charlie Clements) finally found the woman to replace his cheating ex Stacey?

Find out if Syd (Nina Toussaint-White) is the one on March 24.

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