Re: Darren I saw mentioned on DS and agreed that it might be a chance for him to almost start afresh and mix with the E20 lot who are clearly hanging around.

 

Imagine Darren, Leon and FatBoy living together. Horrible thought I know.

 

I think Bryan Kirkwood will deal with the teens better than Diederick. I'll give the E20 group a chance when BK takes over!

Digital Spy confirming the news :(

 

Six cast members are to leave BBC soap EastEnders in the coming months, Digital Spy can confirm.

 

Derek Martin, who has played Slater stalwart Charlie for a decade, will bow out later this year, while Cliff Parisi's role as unlucky-in-love mechanic Minty Peterson will also come to an end after eight years under new producer Bryan Kirkwood.

 

Relative soap newcomer Liam Bergin's exit storyline is currently being penned as his alter ego Danny Mitchell's scheming ways are expected to reach a climax over the following months.

 

Speaking of his departure, Bergin said: "I've had a great six months working on EastEnders playing Danny. He has been a great character to play and without giving too much away, he's sure to ruffle a few feathers before he leaves Walford."

 

He continued: "Working alongside Barbara [Windsor], Sam [Womack], Rita [simons] and Steve [McFadden] has been a real pleasure and I will enjoy watching what the Mitchells get up to as a viewer."

 

Meanwhile, Owen Turner's mother Liz - played by Kate Williams - will also film her final scenes later this year and is expected to depart in a storyline connected with her son Owen's murderer Lucas.

 

In addition, 20-year-old Belinda Owusu - Libby Fox in the programme - is due to depart at the end of her current contract. She said: "I've had a great time playing Libby but I agree with Bryan that after four years of great storylines, it is now time for Libby to move on. EastEnders was my first real job and I have learnt so much but I am now really looking forward to trying new roles."

 

David Proud, who became EastEnders' first ever disabled character in June, will further be written out.

 

Of his time filming with the serial, Proud said: "I have had a wonderful time at EastEnders and loved every minute of it over the last year. It has been fantastic to play such a complex character like Adam. I have made some great friends amongst the cast and crew and wish the show all the best for future."

 

At the beginning of the month, Chelsea Fox actress Tiana Benjamin revealed her intention to leave after four years in a bid to pursue other projects. Preeya Kalidas will make her screen exit in a fortnight's time, while Barbara Windsor is due to film her final scenes as matriarch Peggy Mitchell in July.

 

A show insider told DS: "It's sad to see characters leave the Square but obviously when a new executive producer like Bryan Kirkwood comes on board, they're always keen to refresh the show and make some changes."

 

They added: "It's the way soaps work - characters run their course and new characters come along."

 

**************

 

So on-screen exits to come include:

 

Chelsea Fox

Peggy Mitchell

Amira Masood

Charlie Slater

Danny Mitchell

Libby Fox

Adam Best

Minty Peterson

Liz Turner

 

I'm surprised to see Charlie go (I bet he gets killed off), they might as well give Mo the elbow at the same time, that's practically the Slaters gone, and I heard that Kat will be leaving not sure if its true though after her short stint.

 

And Denise seems a bit lost without both of her daughters gone.

 

In a way I'm going to miss Minty, I guess he was comedy value with Gary and now seems irrelevant altogether the character has no where else to go. Great news that Adam is going.

 

And I wish they get rid of Fat Boy and Leon, just a waste of space, its beginning to look Grange Hill with a lot of teens on the show.

 

I surprised Becky was not on the axe list :( she can't even fight her way out of a paper bag let alone act.

Three more have been axed apparently and will be announced as leaving very shortly. One is "obvious and will please people", the second "may surprise people and has been around for approx 3 contracts" and the third is "really shocking". That's all from a DS insider. A different insider claims the three are Darren, Lucas and Denise so I guess we shall see.

 

Some more tidbits:

 

-Danny was brought in because Santer felt the show needed a male 'heart throb' character but the media and public didn't take to him. Santer and co didn't think Liam Bergin had chemistry with Rita, Sam, Barbara etc either so it was decided not long after he began filming that his contract wouldn't be renewed beyond the initial six months.

 

-Bryan Kirkwood is under pressure to cut costs so actors who've been at the show a while and built up big salaries but don't have much going for them in the way of storyline possibilites are most at danger. No names are named but I reckon this means people like Billy Mitchell (Perry Fenwick is on a big salary).

 

-There's going to be a return to focusing on younger characters like Louise Mitchell as they grow up, like happened with Sonia and Martin back in the day.

 

-There's going to be a new family introduced before long to take the place of the Johnsons/Foxes and ensure it doesn't become the Branning/Mitchell show.

 

-The 'shocking' axing which has yet to be announced is part of a drive to bring some cast members down to earth and stop anybody from feeling like they're essential to the show and don't have to put the work in.

And I wish they get rid of Fat Boy and Leon, just a waste of space, its beginning to look Grange Hill with a lot of teens on the show.

 

I surprised Becky was not on the axe list :( she can't even fight her way out of a paper bag let alone act.

I quite like Fatboy and Becca (I think you mean Becca, Stacey's friend :P) :blush:

And I wish they get rid of Fat Boy and Leon, just a waste of space, its beginning to look Grange Hill with a lot of teens on the show.

 

I surprised Becky was not on the axe list :( she can't even fight her way out of a paper bag let alone act.

I quite like Fatboy and Becca (I think you mean Becca, Stacey's friend :P) :blush:

Should be interesting to see who else will be leaving over coming weeks and months then if the insiders are right.

 

Personally looking forward to getting rid of the deadwood now.

I really think Bryan is going to make EastEnders into proper, constant essential viewing now. He just seems to know what he's doing, what with having turned Hollyoaks around and then making these very suitable axings at EE. I have faith that there'll be no more Danny-esque dreadful castings. Santer has had for the most part a really successful time as EP but I do expect Kirkwood to top it.

Sad to see Minty go but his character isn't gonna go anywhere now with Gary gone, Manda gone but he's been apart of some great moments in EE. Libby i've grown to like as i didn't think much of her character at first and Amira i feel was becoming a more fabolous character by the minute. So sad to see them go. Charlie i can understand as he's now pretty much rarely used and he's 76 years old so that was bound to happen any time sooner that he'd go. Danny unlike most people on here, i actually thought was quite good, well at the beggining to see a development with the Mitchells but he's got abit pointless recently so no big loss there. Don't like Adam so i'm glad to see him go. Never really knew what to make of Liz, she was alright but no special loss either. Chelsea is a hit/miss so not too bothered & Peggy well she's a huge part of EE but hasn't she like left then come back before so don't count out she has gone for good. :D

Edited April 17, 201015 yr by xxMusicLovaRobxx

I'm not bothered with the Johnsons and the Slaters they are pretty much deadwood since Libby and Chelsea are leaving, my guess Owen is going to get discovered and it will lead to the Johnsons breaking apart with Lucas getting banged up. Kat is only going to be temporary apparently, she is not a permanent fixture so I heard but I can be wrong on Kat.

 

As long they keep Stacey, but I'm beginning to think she is the big shocker yet to come, its like the Slaters and Johnson family all practically going.

 

I think the Beales, Massods, Butchers, Mitchells (bar Peggy as we all know she is leaving on her own terms) are pretty safe but anything can happen.

Can't they get rid of Billy Mitchell. He's not interesting in the slightest.

I would LOVE it if Billy just got away with stealing all that post and money and it was never mentioned again. LOVE.

I'm glad to see Adam, Danny, Minty and Charlie are going. I'd prefer if Libby, Chelsea and Amira stayed, as they've had some great storylines this year. Also, the better not get rid of Denise! Especially if they still have Patrick! :lol: But it would be good to finally reveal the boring, dragged-out Lucas storyline.

 

Oh, and Jark, when are you going to finish the character rate? :kink: :P

Gosh, don't remind me! I was thinking I might tackle it this afternoon actually (honestly!). Give me an hour or so.

Oh god Patrick! Poor thing, I'd completly forgotten about him. It mystifies what he and Denise will be doing when Libby, Chelsea, Liz and presumably Lucas aswell eventually depart.

Interesting to see 3 more are apparantly going - im really hoping Denise stays, even without the family unit she still has potential to be great, Shirley for example managed to survive without her family.

Billy again, wouldnt suprise me if he goes. That would also preusmably mean getting rid of Jay aswell - shame I suppose, i've always liked him.

Becca i've always assumed would be temporary, the fact she's still there tbh rather suprises me.

 

Speaking of Jay. Where is he nowadays. I've barely seen him :unsure:

No more Chelsea?! :cry: Libby can go but Chelsea? I'm genuinely sad and upset now :lol: She was a fave of mine. Glad they seem to be getting rid of most of the deadwood though.

I think Jay pops up again next week or week after -

Billy has money problems.

Original storylines FTW!

Billy and Jay can go soon. Billy is beyond pointless.

 

I really think Denise and Patrick are on borrowed time now.

 

Don't think we will have an Slater free Albert Square though - I pray Stacey and Jean have a few more years left. It'll be fab to see Stacey build a relationship with Kat. Mo's time may be limited though as she never has her own stories so is what may be seen as a waste of cash I guess.

 

I almost forgot we have the return of Tanya later this year too. Wonder how Carol and her get on!

 

Carol is obviously going to be pissy as hell with Tanya. I cannot WAIT. Two of my faves having a hiss-off! It'll be heaven!

Im happy wth all the charactors that are ebing axed apart from Charlie, i still think they should keep him, he is the clam in the whole Slater house and keeps evrything in perspective,all the others i agree need to go and wont be missed. It will interesting to see what will happen Denise now that all her kids are gone. Im also suspecting apart from kat and alfie returning and zoe lucker joing as a love interest for Max we will get some new charactors and i think they need a new family to spice things ups. How fatboy avoided the axe is beyond me.

 

Between the axings and people leaving we are going to lose alot of charactors over the next few months so lets hope they are all replaced with good strong fresh new charactors. Its good for the show too having these axings as the show is still in fairly good shape and the Bryan Kirkwood will build even further on that i hope.