Hareem Al Sultan future uncertain

Spoiler Alert: Hareem Al Sultan fans; if you don’t want to know what happens at the end of Season Three, then stop reading now.

The actress whose character is pivotal to the hit Turkish series has walked out, leaving the future of Season Four in doubt. Meryem Uzerli, who plays Huyam in the drama about the Ottoman Empire, quit the show late into the latest season citing health reasons. According to her Facebook page, the Turkish-German redhead was suffering burnout due to her hectic work schedule.

However, now the real reason behind her sudden departure has surfaced, and it involves a cheating scandal.

A source close to the star revealed to tabloid! on the condition of anonymity: “Basically, she found out that her boyfriend, Can Ateş had been cheating on her. The couple were on holiday in Bodrum, when Meryem suddenly flew to Germany, stopped communicating with anyone and handed over her mobile phone to her father.

“It is rumoured she is suffering from a major bout of depression, and her priority is her health right now.”

Although it is not clear what the current status of her relationship is, it is said that Can headed to Germany ten days after Meryam to “beg her for forgiveness”.

Now the big question is how writers are going to change Season Four’s script to suit Meryem’s replacement, as well as keep fans interested.

At present, the show – known as Muhteşem Yüzyıl in Turkey – is one of the country’s top-rated, while as Hareem Al Sultan, it has become the top watched series amongst Arabs and non-Arabs living in the Middle East, according to UAE-based network OSN.

However, the quick replacement hasn’t gone down too well. In the season three finale, which has already been televised in Turkey, Vahide Gördüm is revealed as the new Sultana. While Vahide herself isn’t being criticised — after all, she is an established actress in Turkey, best known for portraying Fariha’s mother in Asmaytoha Fariha — it has shocked fans how producers failed to stand by their long-time leading lady.

Meanwhile, others are not impressed with the major age difference between the two. Writers have been forced to fast forward the story in order to accommodate Vahide as the “older” Huyam.

“It just doesn’t make sense,” wrote one viewer on Facebook. “Could they not wait for a while? These changes are not for the better. Wait until Meryem is better!”

As for the future of the drama in the region, OSN’s media department declined to comment on the issue. However, with the show’s poster girl no longer in the picture, there’s no doubt that Hareem Al Sultan is at risk of losing a large number of viewers.