Former Hollyoaks star is rushed to hospital after being robbed while holidaying in Ibiza – as Channel 4 announce plans to axe the soap

Hollyoaks star Abi Phillips has been rushed to hospital after being robbed while on holiday in Ibiza.

The actress, best known for her former role as Liberty Savage in the Channel 4 soap opera, required medical attention after a recent attack on the typically tourist-friendly Spanish island.

Taking to Instagram, Abi, 29, shared a photo of her bandaged arm, attached to a cannula, after being taken to a local emergency department.

She captioned the photo: “1 stolen phone and 18 hours in the emergency room later.”

Although the nature of her injuries has not yet been confirmed, the actress has shared several snaps from her current holiday in the Mediterranean.

MailOnline has contacted a representative for further comment.

Channel 4 has announced it will stop broadcasting individual Hollyoaks episodes on its main channel for the first time in 28 years.

Bosses have pulled the plug on the soap, which airs on the main channel, in a new digital strategy to freshen up viewing experiences at the state broadcaster.

The broadcaster today announced that the new schedule will launch on Monday, September 25, promising viewers ‘a huge stunt week full of spectacular and eye-catching storylines’ with ‘scenes shot in sensational new locations’.

The soap, which started in 1995, is moving to sister channel E4 in a bid to shake up its schedule.

Fans of the show set in a drama-filled Chester village can still catch up on the weekly omnibus airing on Channel 4.

Episodes are also uploaded to YouTube, so they are suitable for younger audiences, and can be watched on YouTube and broadcast on E4 the week after streaming.

Channel 4 has been home to Hollyoaks for almost thirty years, and this latest change signals an attempt to keep up with the digital age and reflects the increasing demand for on-demand entertainment.

64 percent of viewers watched the soap via episode streaming or E4 this year, meaning 556 million minutes of the show were streamed in the first half of the year – signaling a shift in viewing habits.

The broadcaster has labeled Hollyoaks as ‘Britain’s first streaming-led soap’, making episodes available for streaming the day before they air on E4.

Ian Katz, Channel 4’s Chief Content Officer, said: ‘Hollyoaks has always been the youngest and most innovative soap, so it’s fitting that it is the first to embrace the changes in younger viewers’ behavior and move to a truly digital release pattern . .

‘It was the first British soap to move to a stream-first model last year and this is the next stage of that evolution.

“We hope that making Hollyoaks available on YouTube and our own platforms will introduce a whole new generation to the show.”

The soap’s young fan base has prompted the broadcaster to put its demographics at the heart of its new streaming decisions, after discovering that the number of people streaming episodes before they aired on TV rose 53 percent compared to the same period last year .

Channel 4’s move towards a more digitally-led experience comes as the broadcaster received record views via streaming after releasing programs such as Married at First Sight UK and Married at First Sight Australia, aimed at younger audiences.

Some social media users suggested that this latest move was part of the beginning of the end of traditional TV, as more and more people turn to on-demand shows and apps.

One user posted on X, formerly known as Twitter: ‘It’s amazing that people actually still watch TV to be honest.

‘You have a huge variety of content that you can watch whenever and wherever you want. From YouTube to Netflix to Prime to NowTV. Isn’t TV on its last legs?’

Another user said: ‘The Channel 4 broadcast takes place almost two days after the same episode went online – and 24 hours after the first TV broadcast on E4.

“It was inevitable that it would be removed in this age of instant viewing and streaming, but the show remains a hit.”

Others seemed unphased by the move, stating that they ‘didn’t even know (Hollyoaks) was still running’, calling the show ‘TV junk’ due to its ‘poor storylines and bad acting’.

Channel 4 said Hollyoaks will continue to use its digital content to bring the fictional stories on screen to real life, including the BAFTA-nominated Hollyoaks IRL, which tells the stories of real people affected by the show, including themes around mental health, knife crime, violence against women and conversion therapy.

This week, fans of the show can look forward to an hour-long special that aims to captivate audiences by revealing dirty secrets and murder plot twists.

The broadcaster hinted at an “explosive turning point” in the love triangle between Felix, his girlfriend Mercedes and best friend Warren, as a disturbing secret is revealed about influencer Rayne that could ultimately lead to her downfall.