Hollyoaks bosses are reportedly battling to save the soap from getting axed.
The long-running Channel 4 serial has seen a dramatic slump in ratings recently, which could put its future in doubt.
According to The Sun , show execs are said to be throwing cash at the soap and demanding big new storylines in the hopes of winning back viewers.
While 710,000 people tuned into the show per episode in January, now a measly 450,000 tune in per episode, indicating a huge decline in loyal viewers.
At one point, ratings are said to have stooped as low as 385,000, meaning less than half of the 800,000 viewers who tuned in at the start of the year on Januray 22 have stuck around.
The issue isn't just a recent one, as several years ago the figures were substantially higher, with 1m viewers tuning in at the end of 2015.
A TV insider told the paper: “Ratings for Hollyoaks have been on a downward trajectory in 2019 and Channel 4 fear they won’t recover.
“It’s one of their most iconic programmes and has been on air for almost 25 years, so of course they don’t want to see it go.
"But they need to justify its existence and the numbers won’t have to go much lower before that becomes impossible. This is a last-ditch effort.”
It is said that bosses are so concerned about the dwindling ratings that they were surprised when the show won Best Soap last month at the British Soap Awards.
The iconic soap first started in 1985, and has homed several popular actors and actresses over the years, from Lucy-Jo Hudson to Jennifer Metcalfe to Stephanie Davis.
Speaking exclusively to Mirror Online, Channel 4 have since refuted any plans to axe the show.
They added: “Hollyoaks epitomises our remit for serving young audiences across Channel 4 and E4 and we’re incredibly proud it was also recognised as the Best Soap at the British Soap Awards last month”
