Big shock at Hollyoaks: Four famous stars say goodbye, including two screen legends and replaced by 4 completely new characters

After thrilling audiences for 28 years give or take, Cindy Cunningham (Stephanie Waring) has left the eponymous village in heart-wrenching Hollyoaks scenes – but she wasn’t alone as brother and longtime confidant Tom (Ellis Hollins) was right by her side.

The duo fled the village with children Hilton (Addison Junior Cornelia) and Steph Cunnigham Lomax (Isabella Hibbert) in tow after they discovered that Dave Williams (Dominic Power) was none other than Blue.

When quizzed on his crimes, Dave dropped the act and pulled a gun on Tom and Cindy.

Cindy, horrified, refused to give him another chance and, after Tom broke free from his confines, she smacked her husband over the head with a stapler, running out of the flat that she’s called home for years.

After giving much thought to her next move, Cindy resolved to move to Spain and stay with sister Jude, who got back in touch recently, with Tom agreeing to join her.

After summoning Peri Lomax (Ruby O’Donnell) to the coffee shop in the park, Tom informed his ex about his trip, requesting that Steph come with him.

Peri was apprehensive but understood that it was important. Cindy, meanwhile, headed to The Dog, where Tony Hutchinson (Nick Pickard) revealed that he’d invited a number of her loved ones along to say goodbye.

Dave interrupted the emotional moment, telling Cindy that he wanted her to stay, growing violent and threatening. Cindy, however, stood her ground, ordering him to let her and Tom flee and she would keep a lid on his secret.

When Dave was out of sight, Cindy grabbed a pen and made a note in Tony’s order book, writing: ‘Dave is Blue’.

An icon to the very end.

Cindy then joined Tom in the village where she said a heartbreaking goodbye to her nearest and dearest, branding Darren Osborne (Ashley Taylor Dawson) her ‘favourite’ ex-lover.