‘EastEnders’ has lost its third star in a week, with the news Danny-Boy Hatchard’s character Lee Carter is to leave the soap.
It has been announced that the eldest child of Queen Vic owners Mick and Linda (Danny Dyer and Kellie Bright) will be following Ronnie and Roxy Mitchell out of Walford, as the show’s new boss continues to shake things up.
A BBC spokesperson told Digital Spy: “We can confirm that Danny-Boy Hatchard will be leaving ‘EastEnders’. Danny-Boy has been a great addition to the cast and we wish him all the best for the future.”
An ‘EastEnders’ insider also told The Sun that his exit had been decided by executive producer Sean O’Connor, who took over from Dominic Treadwell-Collins earlier this year.
“This was a tough decision but sometimes to create big storylines characters need to come and go.” they said.
Lee is currently planning his wedding to girlfriend Whitney Dean (Shona McGarty), following the revelation he had cheated on her with Abi Branning (Lorna Fitzgerald), and the couple are also expecting a baby.
During his time on the soap, Danny-Boy won praise from viewers for his portrayl of Lee in a storyline depicting male depression.
His exit comes just a week after it was announced Samantha Womack would be leaving her role as Ronnie Mitchell, after nine years on Albert Square.
It was later revealed that her on-screen sister Roxy, played by Rita Simons, will make an exit with her as part of an explosive storyline.
Pam and Les Coker, played by Lin Blakley and Roger Sloman, are also set to depart in the coming months.
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