A major character is returning to Hollyoaks
It's been 15 years!
Hollyoaks fans are in for a treat in the coming months as it has been announced that actor Gary Lucy is returning to the soap to revive his portrayal of Luke Morgan.
Gary, who has starred in the likes of Footballers' Wives and EastEnders, last appeared on the Channel 4 soap in 2002 and proved a very popular character with fans at the time.
According to reports by a national newspaper, Gary has signed a 18-month contract for the soap and was on set meeting the rest of the cast just last week.
A source close to the soap said, "Producers have some massive story lines planned for Gary. He will be at the centre of the action. They know how talented he is and also how popular he is with viewers.
"Because he’ll be back for at least 18 months it will be possible for him to have some really meaty story lines."
Gary Lucy © PA Images
It's understood bosses have wanted Gary back on show for a number of years but the actor was busy with theatre commitments at the time. The source added, "It’s taken a while to get this sorted. But now it’s all signed everyone is thrilled to have him in the show."
Gary played the role of Luke Morgan between 1999 and 2002. His character was in involved in the first ever male rape scene to be covered on a UK soap when Luke was attacked by Mark Gibbs in the spin off show, Hollyoaks: Breaking Boundaries.
The aftermath of the shocking incident played out on Hollyoaks before Luke left the village and moved to Canada to become a football coach.
Gary briefly returned to the soap in 2002 for his characters parent's wedding but hasn't been back since!
Gary Lucy © PA Images
Since leaving Hollyoaks, Gary has starred in a number of high profile TV shows. The 35-year-old portrayed the role of Kyle Pascoe in ITV drama Footballers' Wives and then appeared in the likes of Casualty, EastEnders and The Bill.
In 2010 Gary finished as runner-up on talent show Dancing On Ice before pursuing a stage career.
He's been starring alongside Andrew Dunn, Louis Emerick, Anthony Lewis, Kai Owen and former Hollyoaks star Chris Fountain in the stage adaptation of The Full Monty.
It hasn't yet been confirmed when Gary will return to Hollyoaks, but we can't wait to see him back on our TV screens.