this was kept really quiet.
In inside soap he is listed in the exits with Zoe
so is he going on a break and coming back or is he actually leaving?

He leaves with Zoe but I think he returns

He'll be back...he better be.
Cue Surfie to talk about Tony Hirst's well payed and lucrative voice over work...

He probably doesn't leave, when i was reading inside soap i noticed it said loads of people were leaving but it only means temporary.

He actually might be leaving and just coming back to finish off his contract before going off for good.

Confirmed that he's leaving for good.

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s1...oaks-exit.html

Well another one jumps of the titanic, Hollyoaks is really loosing its cast, at this rate the only characters that will be around are the ones that were introduced by Lucy Allan.

Aww I like Mike Barnes. They seem to be losing many of their cast members.

Another one bites the dust...and it's all the strong cast..

Barnsie aww well, I watched Hollyoaks last night for the first time in a while and apart from the McQueens and the Deans i hadn't a clue who everyone was.

Just read about Tony Hirst and am gutted. Barnsie's the best.
So great, that's 3 of the best actors leaving now.

Will be missed.

Yes! I Can't stand "Barnsey" i wish he'd take Amy with him though.

Sarah was the best in the family, I wish the others left when she did.

Gutted!!!

It's devastating news. He's the third best after Darren and Steph. I'm away to cry in a corner.

ah gutted, will miss the banter between him and micks

YAY!!!!!

ye i like him as i like his relationship with michalea-i hope we get some scnees of when he leaves with her

Such a shame to hear about this. In my opinion Tony Hirst as Mike Barnes has been one of the best characters they've had but he hasn't always been given the best material to work with..... Even stuff like Sarah's death seemed to be more about other characters than Mike. In an ideal world I'd have had Mike by some miracle becoming the new owner of The Dog (sorry but I still really dislike the Ashworths running it). Interested to hear about the play it mentions at the end of the article though. Does anyone know anything more about it?

I have to say I love the ashworths + cheryl in the dog, but if they were to loose it jack and frankie should get it back

It's devastating news. He's the third best after Darren and Steph. I'm away to cry in a corner.

Ooooh yes Jack and Frankie should definitely have first refusal lol. Failing that though I'd like to have seen Mike in there.

Noooo! Can't believe Barnsey is going! He's one of my favourite characters and Tony is brilliant! Such a shame.

Ah I love Mike Barnes!! Wish Amy was leaving instead. They could of got Mike and Myra together, really comedy moments with him moving into the McQueens...Oh well.

Im so gutted he is leaving...I love Barnsey, best older character by far.

He will be missed but at least, like he says, he's leaving at an appropriate time. I do wonder how this will leave Amy coping with the kids, though.

Hope he returns in future. Good luck to Tony!