Nikki Sanderson rushed to hospital after treadmill accident leaves chin glued and skin injuries
Hollyoaks star shares footage of the incident and discusses her exit from the soap as she eyes opportunities beyond the show

Nikki Sanderson, the Hollyoaks star who played Maxine Minniver, was rushed to hospital after a treadmill accident that ripped away multiple layers of skin from her arms and knees and left her chin glued. The 41-year-old shared a video on Instagram detailing the mishap and warned fans not to try the stunt at home.
In the clip, she attempts to turn sideways on the moving belt but loses her footing and smashes her face on the running surface, resulting in a sore, bleeding chin. She later described the incident as a trip to the hospital with one glued chin and several layers of skin removed.
The treadmill episode comes amid a wider update on Sanderson's career. The actress revealed in March that she had quit Hollyoaks after 13 years playing Maxine Minniver, with final scenes planned for later this year. In interviews, she said leaving the soap was incredibly difficult and that she hoped to explore other opportunities, including possible returns to the wider British soap world such as Coronation Street, where she previously played Candice Stowe.
A showbiz source told The Sun that Sanderson had told producers of her plans to leave, and that bosses had plotted a fitting exit storyline for Maxine as she moves on to new opportunities. She is not done with television and has signaled openness to future roles in the genre.
Beyond Hollyoaks, Sanderson's career includes stints in Coronation Street (Candice Stowe, 1999-2005), Holby City (Monica Southworth, 2006), Heartbeat (Dawn Bellamy, 2008-2009) and Casualty (Amy Harris, 2012). She won Best Actress at the Inside Soap Awards in 2014 and has been nominated for several other honors in the industry.
The treadmill accident follows a sun-soaked Majorca holiday last month, during which she posted photos in bikinis and showcased her figure, a reminder of the busy personal and professional life the actor continues to navigate as she charts the next chapter.