[bbfan1991]

Former Footballers' Wives actress Phina Oruche has joined the cast of Hollyoaks.

The 37-year-old - who played WAG Liberty Baker in the fifth and final series of the ITV football drama - will portray the mother of the soap's new four-member mixed race family.

Oruche's screen husband and their two children will arrive in the fictional Chester suburb towards the middle of the year and, according to producer Paul Marquess, are expected to "bring glitz, glamour and great stories" to the programme.

A show source told DS: "Paul has a clear ambition for Hollyoaks - to make it as it's ever been. He really rated Phina during her time on Footballers' Wives, so knew she was right for the job of heading up the new clan."

Earlier this month, Marquess - who created Footballers' Wives - axed 11 characters from the show and replaced three leading members of the serial's creative team.

In February, ex-Emmerdale star Sheree Murphy joined as Anita Roy's long-lost mother Eva. Further, Marquess has since lured Alex Carter back for an initial six months as Lee Hunter.

Oruche - who finished eighth during the sixth run of ITV1 jungle reality show I'm A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! - is due to begin filming at the soap's home in Liverpool within the next few weeks.

[bbfan1991]

Hollyoaks producer Paul Marquess has confirmed the name of the Channel 4 soap's new mixed race family.

The Sharpe clan, who are due to arrive in the village over the summer months "in dramatic circumstances", will be headed up by former Footballers' Wives actress Phina Oruche.

As exclusively revealed by DS yesterday, the 37-year-old actress has signed to play clan matriarch Gabby.

She will be joined by her as-yet unnamed screen husband and two children Taylor and Amber.

Speaking of the new family, Marquess said: “We will meet Gabby Sharpe - and her teenage children Taylor and Amber - in dramatic circumstances. Their arrival in Hollyoaks will change the life of a much loved character forever.”

[Billy]

Great news! Hope Marquess can get HO back on track!

[bbfan1991]

Sharon Marshall has said on This Morning there will be 3 new families arriving.

Good news especially with the Valentines and Ashworths leaving.. whats good is that PM will cast people on acting ability rather than looks. Theres still some deadwood left who could still be axed when their contract is over so bet the cast are worried about their futures in the show.

[2k9david2k10]

if there is gunna be 3 families i think ive found the new mother of another ??

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s1...hollyoaks.html

[bbfan1991]

Originally Posted by 2k9david2k10

if there is gunna be 3 families i think ive found the new mother of another ??

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s1...hollyoaks.html

No that was denied by the new producer himself on the Hollyoaks E4 website in his blog.