EastEnders star ‘agrees to leave soap’ after meeting with BBC bosses – marking the end of iconic Walford family

EASTENDERS actor Charlie Suff is leaving the soap following his on-screen mum Kellie Brights decision to quit as popular Linda Carter.

Charlie, 30, who is the third actor to play Johnny Carter, had a meeting with bosses earlier this year where it was decided that Johnny would follow his mum out of Walford.

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[Linda Carter and Johnny Carter looking concerned at Sharon Watts.] 4

The departure means there will be no members of the iconic Carter family left in Albert Square after being at the centre of the soap for the last 13 years.

An EastEnders source said: It really is the end of an era. The Carters have been one of the biggest and most loved families of the last decade.

“Even when Danny Dyer said goodbye to Mick the soaps former boss Chris Clenshaw brought in Lindas mum Elaine Peacock, and then recast Johnny to keep their legacy going.

On Charlies departure the source said: Once Kellie decided to leave Charlie understood that it also meant that hed be off too.

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[Linda Carter (Kellie Bright) cries while Johnny Carter (Charlie Suff) embraces her.] 4

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“Johnny and his mum Linda have an unbreakable bond so there was no way he would stay in Albert Square without her.

An EastEnders spokeswoman said: We can confirm Charlie Suff will be leaving EastEnders, and we wish him all the best for the future.

An insider said: Its never easy when bosses have to make decisions about a characters future in the show, but sometimes those difficult decisions have to be made for storytelling purposes.

The on-screen mum and son are making sure that they make the most of the next few months gearing up for the Carters to leave Walford for good.

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The source added: Its going to be an emotional day when Kellie films her final scenes. She is very much loved by the cast and crew.

“The writers are still putting the finishing touches to their exit storyline but the door will be left open for them both to return one day.

EastEnders stars who QUIT

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MICHELLE Collins has seen her second EastEnders stint boost her bank balance. Yet what stars have quit this year?

The Sun exclusively reported how Michelle, 62, was down to 20,000 in her company accounts when she agreed to a shock back-from-the-dead return to Albert Square last year.

Her character, Cindy Beale, was presumed dead off-camera in 1998.

Yet what about the 2024 exits?

Earlier this summer, loyal soap fans appeared to note howStevie Mitchell had “quit” the long-running series.

It came after Alan Ford enjoyed just six-months on-screen.

Bobby Beale actor Clay Milner Russell also left this year after five years in Walford.

Fans alsofeared Martin Fowler actor James Bye would “quit out of boredom”over recent storylines.

Additionally, a host of stars havequit the BBC soap for Hollywoodfame.

One of the most successful stars to come from the BBC One soap is Rob Kazinsky.

He played Stacey Slaters brother Sean Slater from 2006 to 2009, he has starred inHollywoodblockbusters Pacific Rim andCaptain Marvel.

Ben Hardy, who quit EastEnders as Bobby Beale almost a decade ago, went on to break Hollywood the following year, when he starred as Archangel inX-Men: Apocalypse.

Since then, he has played Roger Taylor in Queen biopicBohemian Rhapsody, and he starred inMichael Bays Netflix movie6 Underground.

Michelle Ryan played Zoe Slater until 2005.

She starred as the lead in short-lived American series Bionic Woman from 2007 to 2008.

Johnny was initially played by actor Sam Strike when the Carters first arrived in Albert Square back in 2013.

However, Sam quit the following year despite proving popular with the viewers.

His emotional coming out scene to dad Mick, played by Danny Dyer, 49, was talked about for years after it had viewers in tears.

Two years later in April 2016 bosses brought the character back this time with actor Ted Reilly in the role.

But he too was gone within two years, and his final scenes aired in January 2018.

The character was re-cast for a third time with Charlie Suff returning to Walford in February 2024 under former boss Chris Clenshaw.

Kellie and Charlie are expected to film their final scenes at the end of this year.