Jeremy Edwards has branded his Hollyoaks return ‘a s**t show’.
The actor, 49, made a surprising comeback as Kurt Benson for the Channel 4 soap’s 25th anniversary last autumn after his character was previously killed off in a jet-ski accident back in 1999.
After being widely trolled for the storyline which saw him seemingly come back from the dead, Jeremy blamed Kurt’s poor reception on the fact that showrunners ‘didn’t know where they were going with it’.
Regrets: Jeremy Edwards has branded his Hollyoaks return ‘a s**t show’ after making a surprising comeback as Kurt Benson for the Channel 4 soap’s 25th anniversary last autumn
The actor, who announced his departure from the soap in January, also revealed that Hollyoaks producers ‘want him back in the future’, but that he has declined, saying ‘nah’.
Speaking on the Soap From The Box podcast, Jeremy explained: ‘I was supposed to be back for much longer, then Covid struck.
‘It would have been better to leave it alone because it wasn’t one thing or the other. I was prepared to go for six months to a year but doing three months then not knowing my future?
‘The fact is, Kurt’s alive, he can come back and they’ve said they want me back in future. But I’ve said, “Nah.”‘
Not coming back: After being widely trolled for the storyline, the actor, 49, blamed Kurt’s poor reception on the fact that showrunners ‘didn’t know where they were going with it’
Jeremy announced he had quit the show in January, admitting being ‘judged’ online played a role in his decision.
The TV star expressed his upset about being targeted as he wrote on Twitter: ‘Imagine being this person who decides “hmm, what shall I do today?
‘I know! I’ll abuse someone I’ve never met, will never meet about something that is not true but I know they are sensitive about.
‘Maybe I’ll ruin their day? Excellent idea!” How terribly sad.’
Goodbye: Jeremy announced he had quit the show in January, later admitting being ‘judged’ online played a role in his decision
Jeremy also shared a grab of the horrible insults he received, including the troll branding him a ‘fat c***’ and telling him to ‘lose weight, stop partying and eating junk food.’
The former X Factor: Celebrity contestant also later questioned how the trolls could be held accountable for their actions, as he asked his followers: ‘How can I fight the anonymous?’
Jeremy’s initial tweet garnered several positive responses from his supportive followers and showbiz pals including Susie Amy and fellow Hollyoaks stars Tamara Wall and Gemma Atkinson.
The actor portrayed Kurt Benson on the Channel 4 soap originally from 1995 to 1999, when he was seemingly killed off, but then made a shock return last year.
Hitting back: The TV star expressed his upset about being targeted by bullies as he wrote on Twitter: ‘Imagine being this person who decides ‘hmm, what shall I do today?’
Jeremy also said that his leaving the show was down to some fans refusing to accept Kurt’s return from the dead as well as his becoming a conman.
Taking to Twitter, he wrote: ‘It is with a heavy heart I am announcing I will NOT be returning to #Hollyoaks.
‘Many reasons but I’d be lying if I said being judged on here hasn’t influenced my decision.
‘Never say never but for now I’m done. Thank you to those who have supported me for me.’
Throwback: The actor portrayed Kurt Benson on the Channel 4 soap originally from 1995 to 1999, when he was seemingly killed off, but made a shock return last year (pictured in 1995)
Kurt was killed off in 1999 and made his return for Hollyoaks 25th anniversary, with his friend Tony (Nick Pickard) thinking he had seen a ghost.
Jeremy, who was previously engaged to Rachel Stevens, was in the first ever episode of Hollyoaks and briefly returned in 2013 as a hallucination, protecting Tony’s son.
Away from Hollyoaks, Jeremy was also a contestant on The X Factor: Celebrity in 2019, alongside ballroom dancer Brendan Cole.
The actor is married to Lydia Metz and he announced in December she is pregnant after undergoing IVF.
The couple are already parents to daughter Scarlett, three.
Surprise: Kurt was killed off in 1999 and made his return for Hollyoaks 25th anniversary, with his friend Tony (Nick Pickard) thinking he had seen a ghost