Hollyoaks casts Neighbours star Jemma Donovan for exciting new character group

 From Ramsay Street to Chester.

Former Neighbours star Jemma Donovan is heading to Hollyoaks as a new regular cast member.

The actress has landed the role of Rayne, who'll make her first appearance on the Channel 4 soap later this year.

Billed as an outgoing party girl, Rayne already has a celebrity status as she's well-known as a social media sensation.

She'll be moving to the village alongside her childhood best friend, who's another new character for the show.

Jemma commented: "I am thrilled to be joining the cast of Hollyoaks! I'm so grateful for this opportunity to be able to bring something unique and fun to a new role and I can't wait to be a part of the Hollyoaks family."

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Digital Spy can reveal that Hollyoaks bosses have brought in Rayne as part of an exciting new character group who'll be taking centre stage on the show next year.

The soap's team are putting a group of 20-somethings under one roof in a share house, reminiscent of student set-ups which used to feature prominently in Hollyoaks.

Rayne, Prince McQueen, Romeo Nightingale and Nadira Valli will be among the characters living together, with strict Tom Cunningham as their landlord, creating exciting new dynamics and storyline possibilities.

A Hollyoaks insider told : "The new house of 20-somethings will be a throwback to the early years of the show, when batches of new students would arrive at Hollyoaks Community College and live in student halls together.

"Fans have often called for a return of this element in the past few years and the new group will have some huge storylines as the soap heads into 2023."

When  asked about the student storylines earlier this year, Hollyoaks' executive producer Lucy Allan replied: "It's funny that you should ask! Whilst we may not go back to a student halls set-up, we'll be looking at a situation of 'friends as family' and house shares. That's definitely on the agenda for 2022."

Jemma is best known for playing Harlow Robinson on Neighbours from 2019. She made her last appearance on the show in July this year, bowing out shortly before the historic finale episode which brought Neighbours to a close.

In real life, Jemma's dad is Neighbours legend Jason Donovan, who reprised his iconic role as Scott Robinson for the finale this year.

Hollyoaks streams first on All 4, with new episodes dropping each weekday morning. The show airs Mondays to Fridays at 6.30pm on Channel 4, and at 7pm on E4.