Jennifer Metcalfe Quits Hollyoaks: 'Mercedes is Leaving the Village'

Hollyoaks its set to lose its favourite barmaid after Jennifer Metcalfe announced she is leaving the Channel 4 soap.

The 30-year-old actress, who plays sexy maneater Mercedes McQueen, took to Twitter to break the news to fans.

"Mercedes is leaving the village, she needs to give her high heels a rest - my feet are knackered," she told her 308,000 followers.

She went on to urge viewers to stay tuned for some interesting storylines involving her dysfunctional on-screen family.

Metcalfe has been a regular on the show ever since she hit TV screens as feisty Mercedes in 2006.

During her tenure, her character has been at the centre of a number of controversial plots including being kidnapped by serial killer Silas Blissett and venturing into prostitution. She has also been romantically involved with a number of men.

Off-screen, she took part in the sixth series of Dancing on Ice in 2010, where she was the seventh celebrity eliminated from the competition.

Her departure comes as Nicole Barber-Lane, who plays Myra McQueen, prepares to make her highly anticipated return to the show.