EastEnders fans should prepare to bid farewell to five soap opera icons, including Stuart Highway actor Ricky Champ, in the midst of his battle with breast cancer and postpartum depression.
EastEnders fans should prepare to say goodbye to five more iconic characters as the BBC soap opera continues with a massive cast.
Five actors, including Ricky Champ, who has played Stuart Highway since 2009, will shoot their final scenes in the coming months.
The jolt comes in Stuart’s story of breast cancer, which also saw him battling postpartum depression as he struggles to bond with little Roland.
Ricky will shoot his final scenes later this year, Metro reported.
He’s not the only one preparing to say goodbye to Walford, as Dana Monroe star Barbara Smith and Peter Beale actor Dayle Hudson are also leaving, after a dramatic storyline in which they hug.
And Kelsey Calladine-Smith, who plays Jada Lennox, will also be leaving the show in the coming months.
Danielle Harold is ending the mass exodus after her recent departure announcement, with her character Lola Pearce killed in a major soap opera twist.
A source told MailOnline: “Whenever a new boss comes in there will always be big changes and Chris is no different.
“He’s been working hard behind the scenes since January and he’s really going to shake things up, which means saying goodbye to some characters.”
They added: “It’s nothing personal to any of the cast members, it’s just a creative decision: for great stories to happen, you have to say goodbye to people, that’s the nature of soap opera.”
The soap opera insider added that some “really important” stories will air on EastEnders this summer, with new boss Chris Clenshaw eager to bring the show back “to its roots.”
This will once again include “clan building”, with the introduction of the new Baker family announced last week.
Soap opera bosses have announced that Mitch’s estranged brother and his two nephews are showing up in Albert Square and are already promising big trouble.
Chris Clenshaw said of the news: “The Baker family brings a fresh, fierce, fun and exciting energy to Square. Felix and Finlay are two very different firecrackers and yes, these siblings fight, take the lead and challenge each other, but none of that compares to the unwavering love and loyalty they have for each other.
“They may be charming young men, full of brazenness, arrogance and strength, but these brothers are bakers and, like their father Avery, have their own way of surviving.
“Omar, Matthew and Ashley bring star quality to EastEnders and we’re thrilled to see them bring Avery, Felix and Finlay to life.
“The Baker family is just the beginning of new faces arriving in Walford later this year, so check out this space …”
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Source: Dailystar
Lloyd Grunewald is an author at “The Fashion Vibes”. He is a talented writer who focuses on bringing the latest entertainment-related news to his readers. With a deep understanding of the entertainment industry and a passion for writing, Lloyd delivers engaging articles that keep his readers informed and entertained.
