EastEnders star Charlie Brooks, who plays pregnant villainess Janine Butcher on the BBC soap, is set to take a six-month break from Walford.
Brooks will wave farewell to Walford in August, after giving birth on the small screen.
"I've got six months off in August, so we're having the bump but I won't have to deal with prams and stuff in extra small doors on the set," she told The Sun.
There are rumours that the actress - who left the soap in 2004, only to return in 2008 - is planning to compete on the next series of Strictly Come Dancing, following her triumph on the Christmas special.
Charlie previously admitted: "It would be fantastic to do the whole show but EastEnders is a six days a week job. I've seen how difficult it is to juggle both, but it would be an amazing opportunity."
An EastEnders spokeswoman confirmed that the star would be off screen for a short while, but didn't comment on the Strictly reports.
"Charlie will be taking a break from EastEnders later this year. Over the coming months, there will be a lot of unexpected twists and turns, and the story is bound to be explosive," she said.
Meanwhile, ex-EastEnder Paul Nicholls, who made his name in the soap as Joe Wicks, is to liven up the Holby City wards as hunky nurse Simon Marshall.
The former EastEnders star will play a quick-witted carer who stands up to his superiors and undermines the hospital hierarchy while setting some hearts racing on Keller Ward.
"I'm delighted to be joining as a guest on Holby City. It's a programme I've always admired and I'm thrilled to be part of this particular storyline," he said.
"Simon is a confident guy and is sure to be in his element. I can't wait to get stuck in," he added.
Paul, who has also appeared in a host of popular television shows like Law & Order: UK and Midsomer Murders, will make his screen debut on the BBC hospital drama in May.
The show's executive producer Johnathan Young said: "Paul is an actor with a fantastic pedigree and we are delighted he'll be joining Holby City for a few months. I can't give too much away at the moment, but his character is definitely going to have an impact and ruffle a few feathers."