Joseph Thompson to leave Hollyoaks this autumn

Hollyoaks killer Dr Paul Browning is apparently set to exit the soap with actor Joseph Thompson said to have already filmed his final scenes.

The actor who plays Browning in the Channel 4 show is thought to be bowing out in the autumn, according to Digital Spy.

It's believed the plan was always for Joseph to leave Hollyoaks later in the year to allow him to pursue other acting opportunities.

Joseph joined Hollyoaks as Dr Browning in January 2012 for a brief storyline at the hospital with Mercedes McQueen (Jennifer Metcalfe) and Lynsey Nolan (Karen Hassan).

His role increased last summer when his character's feelings for Mercedes grew stronger, which led to Browning killing Lynsey.

Earlier this year he and Mercedes had a dramatic wedding which went ahead despite them looking bedraggled after a fight following Mercedes' discovery of Lynsey's murder.

Post wedding, Browning's storylines included a stalker ordeal which led to an explosive falling out with mother-in-law Myra McQueen (Nicole Barber-Lane).

Joseph won best newcomer at the British Soap Awards this year and was nominated in the same category for soap at the National Television Awards.

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Patrick McLennan is a London-based journalist and documentary maker who has worked as a writer, sub-editor, digital editor and TV producer in the UK and New Zealand. His CV includes spells as a news producer at the BBC and TVNZ, as well as web editor for Time Inc UK. He has produced TV news and entertainment features on personalities as diverse as Nick Cave, Tom Hardy, Clive James, Jodie Marsh and Kevin Bacon and he co-produced and directed The Ponds, which has screened in UK cinemas, BBC Four and is currently available on Netflix.

An entertainment writer with a diverse taste in TV and film, he lists Seinfeld, The Sopranos, The Chase, The Thick of It and Detectorists among his favourite shows, but steers well clear of most sci-fi.