Hollyoaks Star Nathaniel Dass Announces Departure from E4 Soap
Hollyoaks actor Nathaniel Dass has confirmed his exit from the long-running E4 soap opera, marking the end of his three-year tenure on the show. The star, who portrayed the character Dillon Ray, shared an emotional farewell message on his social media platforms, describing his time on the programme as an 'incredible journey'.
Emotional Farewell Message Shared Online
In a heartfelt post accompanied by numerous photographs from his time on set, Nathaniel wrote: 'Dear Hollyoaks, Thank you for the last 3 years. Which has meant many laughs, tears, cuts and bruises (thanks to our makeup team). It has been an incredible journey and one I will take with me forever.'
The actor continued his emotional tribute by stating: 'There are far too many people to thank for being part of the best few years of my life so to all of you, you are incredible and thank you for making it so special. Also a huge thank you to everyone who has watched and loved this character, your support has meant the world.'
Nathaniel concluded his message with a poignant farewell to his on-screen persona: 'A big goodbye to Dillon Ray, what an honour it's been.'
Final Scenes and Character Exit
The actor's departure was foreshadowed during the Monday, March 16th episode of Hollyoaks, where his character Dillon Ray bid farewell to his on-off boyfriend Lucas Hay, portrayed by Oscar Curtis, to begin a new life in Canada. Nathaniel has now confirmed those were indeed his final scenes, officially marking his exit from the soap.
In his concluding storyline, Dillon was seen attempting to help Lucas escape from prison, where he was serving time for attacking his father Ste Hay after discovering Ste's secret affair with Dillon. Despite initial plans for Lucas to flee with Dillon's assistance, Lucas ultimately decided to remain and serve his sentence, leading to emotional farewell scenes between the couple.
Co-Star Reactions and Fan Response
Nathaniel's announcement prompted an outpouring of support from his fellow cast members, who quickly responded with heartfelt messages in the comments section of his post.
- Oscar Curtis, who plays Lucas Hay, wrote: '3 years flew by like nothing. Better see you on the silver screen soon.'
- Anya Lawrence, portraying Vicky Grant, added: 'Miss you girly pop.'
- Nathaniel's real-life girlfriend, Ruby O'Donnell, also expressed her support, stating she was 'proud' of him.
The romantic storyline between Lucas and Dillon, affectionately known to fans as 'HayRay', captivated viewers throughout its three-year run. The couple faced numerous challenges including cheating scandals, Lucas's brain tumour battle, and Dillon's exploitation by a criminal gang.
In their final emotional scenes together, the popular couple shared a goodbye kiss that left many viewers devastated. Hollyoaks continues to air Monday through Wednesday on E4 at 7pm, with first-look episodes available for streaming on Channel 4 from 7am.
