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Matt Littler to set to leave Channel 4's Hollyoaks

It's the end of an era in Hollyoaks, as Matt Littler, who has played Max Cunningham for more than 10 years, has announced he is leaving the show.

According to the soap's official website, the actor is due to film his final scenes this week, and they will be aired during the summer.

The producers are keeping tight-lipped about his exit storyline, but have promised fans that it will be very dramatic, and tie in with Max's wedding to Steph.

Matt joined the soap in 1997 and has seen his character go from being a cheeky, hapless teen to one of the Chester-based serial's elder statesman.

Max had to grow up fast when his father and stepmother died, leaving him to care for his little half-brother Tom - although he still found time to cook up ill-fated get-rich-quick-schemes.

He's also struggled when it comes to the ladies - he developed a hopeless crush on his stepsister Mandy, and his wife Clare tried to kill him by tampering with his medication for a heart complaint.

His current romance with Steph is also starting to look very shaky, but there's always been one person Max could rely on - his best-mate OB.

Their enduring bond was recently celebrated at the British Soap Awards where Matt and his co-star Darren Jeffries collected the gong for Best Onscreen Partnership.

So it's only fitting that Jeffries, who left the soap in March, will be heading back to Chester for his mate's final episodes.

Viewers wouldn't have wanted it any other way.