Gemma Merna, who plays Carmel McQueen in Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks, has announced she is to leave the show later this year. Her on-screen sister Jennifer Metcalfe (Mercedes McQueen) yesterday revealed via Twitter that she is also set to leave the show in the coming months. Gemma is thought to be leaving the show to focus on new business projects. It has not yet been revealed how Carmel or Mercedes will exit the show (our bets are on a dramatic storyline involving the two sisters). Gemma and Jennifer are to leave the show later this year A source told OK Online  that "Gemma has been blown away by the lovely support she has had from fans since announcing she was leaving the soap later this year. "She's had a great time but eight years is a long time and she's really looking forward to embarking on new challenges and pushing herself in other areas. "She's recently been using any time she has off to work on a very exciting new business venture which will surprise people as well as shooting her calendar which looks set to sell out straight away. "Filming hasn't left her with much time to do lots of other things she wants to do so she can't wait for later this year when she has more time to pursue other areas as well as different acting roles."