EastEnders fans have a meltdown over countless cast departures



eastenders
September 16, 2016

There must be something in the water at EastEnders... Fans have been expressing their shock on Twitter after yet another cast member announced they will be leaving the popular BBC soap. 

Riley Carter Millington is the latest star who has confirmed his departure. The 21-year-old, who plays Kyle Slater, is Britain's first actor to land a regular transgender role on a soap.

Riley is set to bow out as producers have reportedly felt that his character's plotline has reached "a natural end".

Riley Carter Millington stands by a black gate, smiling, with arms crossed, in front of an Albert Square sign.© Photo: BBC

Riley Carter Millington is bowing out of the show

But the actor is only one name on a long list of stars who are set to leave Albert Square.

Ellen Thomas, Samantha Womack, Rita Simons, Karl Howman, Roger Sloman, Lin Blakley, Nitin Ganatra and Danny-Boy Hatchard are just some of the faces waving goodbye to Walford.

Meanwhile Natalie Cassidy, who welcomed her second child in August, is on maternity leave, which means that viewers won't see her character Sonia Fowler for a while.

Kellie Bright, who plays Linda Carter, is heavily pregnant with her second child and is expected to go on maternity leave at the end of the year.

Two men, one in a maroon shirt and the other in a blue plaid shirt, stand facing each other in a room. A woman in a patterned top stands behind them.© Photo: BBC

Danny-Boy Hatchard, who plays Lee Carter, is set to leave

The mass exodus has left fans baffled and in shock. One fan pointed the finger at new executive producer Sean O'Connor, who has taken over Dominic Treadwell-Collins.

"Pam Les Grant Courtney Mark Jay Ronnie Roxy Buster Lee Masood Claudette Kyle Linda Sonia All Leaving! New Producer Is Killing #EastEnders," wrote one Twitter user.

"So many characters leaving Eastenders it's scary. Masood, Ronnie, Roxy, Lee, Buster and the Cokers...." wrote another.

Samantha Womack in a plaid shirt and a woman in a leather jacket sit at a table in a bar.© Photo: BBC

Ronnie and Roxy Mitchell will leave the show at some point next year

Some fans expressed worry over specific characters, as one tweeted: "Masood is leaving #EastEnders they're going to have no one let at this rate!"

"So now Riley Carter Millington is leaving #EastEnders as Kyle... There is going to be NOBODY left at this rate," posted another.

"Disappointed so many leaving #EastEnders losing good characters who had lot's of potential," tweeted another.

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