Stephanie Waring signs 18-month Hollyoaks contract

Hollyoaks star Steph Waring has revealed she has signed an impressive 18-month deal at the show.

The actress, who plays manipulative Cindy Hutchinson, will remain in the soap until at least April 2011.

She said: "I got an 18-month contract, which they offered me last September. I was really surprised. They are usually six months or a year.

"I'd love to stay as long as they want me."

Co-star Bronagh Waugh, who plays maneater Cheryl Brady, was also handed an 18-month contract.

However, Steph admitted the cast are feeling 'unsettled' as the soap is now under a new producer, Paul Marquess, and they don't yet know the full details of his plans for the show.

She said: "Things are changing as we speak. We are unsettled - you can't say we're not because we don't know what's going to happen yet. We've not had the meetings yet so we don't know what's going on."

It was recently revealed that the characters of Josh (Sonny Flood), Suzanne (Suzanne Hall) and Neville Ashworth (Jim Millea) are being written out of the soap.