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EastEnders fans 'devastated' as plot twist revealed amid sad Mitchell scenes

Fans have taken to social media to brand EastEnders a 'sinking ship' as the BBC soap airs heartbreaking scenes that spell the end for one member of the iconic Mitchell family

[EastEnders fans slam soap as 'sinking ship' after devastating scenes air]

View 4 Images

EastEnders fans slam soap as 'sinking ship' after devastating scenes air(Image: CREDIT LINE:BBC/Jack Barns/Kieron McCarron)

EastEnders fans are branding the soap a 'sinking ship' after it aired scenes that pointed towards a goodbye from one member of the iconic Mitchell family.

In a shock announcement, it was revealed that Roland Manookian, who arrived as Teddy Mitchell on EastEnders only 18 months ago, had been axed. The character is currently in prison, awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to killing Okie, who was actually killed by his son, Harry Mitchell.

Monday's episode, airing on 8 December, seemed to suggest how Teddy's role as the patriarch of a new Mitchell brance was being quietly handed to another character. In devastating scenes, Harry, who became addicted to heroin after Okie kidnapped and drugged him, was heartbroken to learn his father had pleaded guilty to the crime he committed and broke down in George Knight's arms.

[George comforted Harry]

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George comforted Harry(Image: CREDIT LINE:BBC/Jack Barns/Kieron McCarron)

George had been an adversary for Harry, disapproving of his friendship with Kojo Asare. But after learning Harry killed Okie to protect Kojo, George comforted Harry and opened up to him about witnessing his own father being attacked. One fan noted that it seemed like the show was trying set George up as a "father figure" for Harry, effectively replacing Teddy.

"With the reports about Teddy's character [leaving the show], I wonder if they're setting up George to become a bit of a father figure to Harry," they wrote. They added that as Nicola Mitchell is currently pregnant with George's baby, it seemed like this was how the soap was going to "keep the Knights going".

The news that Roland and his character would be axed from the show was leaked on 7 December. A source told The Sun : "There was big hopes for the Mitchells being revitalised by the new family but things obviously changed for some reason and the material just wasnt there for Teddy.

[Roland Manookian's Teddy Mitchell plead guilty]

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Roland Manookian's Teddy Mitchell plead guilty(Image: CREDIT LINE:BBC/Jack Barns/Kieron McCarron)

A spokesperson for the show added: "We can confirm Roland will be leaving EastEnders this year, and we wish him all the best for the future. Fans were angered to hear that Roland and Teddy had been axed, with one saying it was a "blow to the show".

"Teddy mitchell could have been a badman character and had so much potential. There was so much left to explore with him and his a great actor. A blow to the show," they wrote.

Others said Roland's "looming" exit meant it was down to Elijah Holloway, who plays Harry, to "carry" the show, which they described as "sinking". "Elijah Holloway you are carrying the show on your back," one fan wrote on X.

Another said: "Elijah Holloway is literally carrying a sinking #EastEnders on his back at the moment and I respect that for him. With Teddy's exit looming he's the future of the Mitchells."

[Harry is addicted to drugs]

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Harry is addicted to drugs(Image: CREDIT LINE:BBC/Jack Barns/Kieron McCarron)

While Monday's scenes, which were just the latest to see Harry break down and beg for drugs as he struggles to cope with what happened to him, saw fans praise Elijah for his acting, some felt the path it was taking spelled doom for the character.

"We have had a lot of positive recovery stories in EE in recent years (Linda, Lauren, Phil) and Im starting to think/dread that the way the Harry storyline is going, this isnt going to be one of them," one fan wrote. "And that would be a massive shame for Elijah Holloway, who IMHO is one of the most talented and promising new additions to the cast in recent years. And if H goes, Id be worried for the future of Kojo."

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