Hollyoaks star Nick Pickard addresses future of soap

 "We definitely go on until at least the 30th anniversary."

Hollyoaks actor Nick Pickard has revealed that the soap will air until at least 2025.

At the beginning of autumn, Hollyoaks went digital in a bid to remain relevant amongst its core audience of youngsters, but while speaking to The Sun, Pickard suggested there's only a two-year guarantee on its continuation right now.

"It's all about if the money's still coming in and we've been told that we definitely go on until at least the 30th anniversary, so that's as far as I know," the Tony Hutchinson actor said.

"I'm only contracted year to year anyway, so I've always taken each year as it comes," he added.

"There's a few of us in the cast and every time we get a contract we go out and have a little drink and say it's another year in the sunshine."

 has reached out to Lime Pictures for comment.

New episodes of Hollyoaks are now premiering on Channel 4's free streaming service (4OD) every weekday – one episode ahead of the 7pm broadcast on E4. Soap bosses are also aiming to hook in brand-new fans when full episodes begin streaming on YouTube, which will be uploaded one week after the 4OD and E4 airings.

Sienna Blake actress Anna Passey discussed the change at the recent Inside Soap Awards.

"The external response was quite different to what I expected based on what the vibe in our building was," she exclusively told DS.

"I do understand the headlines of 'axed from Channel 4' and the 6.30pm slot, but I honestly think that's a nostalgic point of view. I get that because we've all watched it at 6.30pm for so long and that's where we feel it sits, but the reality of it is that people aren't consuming our show in that way anymore.

"It's probably just an adjustment of perspective on it, but the vibe in the building is that we're really excited for it."

Hollyoaks streams first online via Channel 4 each weekday at 7.30pm. Episodes then air on E4 the following day, before getting their YouTube premiere a week after that.