Hollyoaks actor Matt Littler has quit the Channel 4 soap after more than ten years of playing mild-mannered Max Cunningham.

The 26-year-old, who first appeared in the Channel 4 soap in 1997, will bow out in July in a shock dramatic exit surrounding his wedding to Steph Dean (Carley Stenson).

Darren Jon Jefferies has returned to filming with the Chester-based soap as Max's best friend O.B. for his final scenes.

O.B. makes a fleeting visit to Hollyoaks in a bid to persuade Max to join him on one last adventure to New York. Owing to his heart condition, however, Max finds himself in casualty with chest pains on the morning of his nuptials, while Niall Rafferty (Barry Sloane) has recently found himself a love rival in Max as he attempts to woo Steph away from her husband-to-be.

The real reason for his exit is being kept under wraps by the soap's bosses, but however he leaves the village, the repercussions are sure to impact his friends and family in a huge way, not least his little brother Tom (Ellis Hollins).

Speaking of his exit, Matt Littler said: "I feel that I have grown up on Hollyoaks over the past eleven years and I’m not only leaving behind friends but also family. I wouldn't change a second of my time at Hollyoaks and working with Darren Jon Jefferies has been amazing – every second of it! I'd just like to thank everyone who has made my life at Hollyoaks a very happy one."

Producer Bryan Kirkwood added: "Matt, together with Darren Jon Jefferies have created a partnership in Max and O.B. that has been at the heart of Hollyoaks success for the last eleven years. Matt is a talented directed as well as a successful actor and although Max's exit marks the end of an era on screen, Matt's not going too far as he will be directing a few episodes of Hollyoaks in the not too distant future."

Littler films his final scenes at Lime Pictures, the home of Hollyoaks, next week and the scenes are due to air on Friday, June 27 at 6.30pm on Channel 4.

Last month, it was announced that Kev Sacre - Hollyoaks' Jake Dean - would also be leaving the soap after six years in the role.

aww dnt want him t go. dya think that he dies?? cus if he goes t hospital and its hard on tom??? i dunno but really dnt want him t go x

If he has to leave then going to New York with OB would be a nice way for him to go. Don't want him to die!!

sounds like boy's gonna die
don't want him to go

nooo.I don't want him to go

Does any one thinke the reason why he might be leaving is becouse Darren has left and it's not the same for him. Just a thought

I'm so Nervous.

Anybody think that maybe Niall has something to do with Max leaving??

i have a feeling he is probably going to die

Why do I think that this happens after he marries Steph? ( I know things are looking bad at the mo but I can believe theyll marry) after he marries Steph Naill would try to bump him off and succeeds so he can get to Steph again. I hope Im not right in this but if Max leaves Steph wont go either otherwise we would have heard some word on it by now.

Maybe Max is the one Niall kills....not FK. It would hopefully be a dramatic and memorable exit for him.

I think killing off FK is far too convenient an ending. HO should actually follow it through, unlike what they did with their incest storyline.

So many deaths in Hollyoaks..... With prob more to come.
I really hope they manage to keep Tom in it, he's such a wee star!

ooh i think If they do kill max off then Niall will have something to do with it

Gutted...

Matt hasn't been the same since Darren left but his partnership with Ellis was so cool

Just as we are all trying to come to terms with OB leaving now Max is going

And with it looking likely he dies makes it even more gutting,can't he just leave with a happy ending.DON'T KILL MAX!!!

awww its gunna be soooo sad!

i cried when OB left!
my friend said i was pathetic