Patsy Palmer quits soap

Patsy Palmer is to leave EastEnders, it has been announced.

The 41-year-old actress has played Bianca Butcher on the BBC One soap since 1993.

In a statement, a spokesperson for Palmer said: "Patsy is really sad to be leaving the show as she loves playing Bianca and working with executive producer Dominic Treadwell-Collins but she knows it's the right decision at this time in her life."

Meanwhile, EastEnders' Treadwell-Collins confirmed that he would not be killing off Palmer's character.

He added: "We are so sad that Patsy has decided to leave us but completely understand it's the right time for her.

"Bianca won't be leaving Albert Square until the autumn so there's still a lot more to come from her on screen this year – and the door will be left wide open for her return. We won't be getting rid of Bianca's puffa jacket just yet."

The mother-of-four will reportedly move with her family to Los Angeles this summer.

Palmer originally exited the show in 1999 before she returned for a one-off episode in 2002. She reprised the part of Bianca full-time again in 2008.

New details on Lucy Beale death emerge

More details have emerged about Lucy Beale's EastEnders exit after Hetti Bywater was spotted filming what are believed to be her final scenes.

The actress was seen shooting scenes in which Lucy enters a flat, where she is thought to be meeting a client for a viewing.
However, the location shoot suggests that Lucy could walk into a trap as this will be the final time she is seen alive, The Sun reports.

Lucy's death was announced last month, with a show statement teasing: "No-one knows exactly what happened to Lucy on the night she died, except very few people - even the person responsible for her death."
Show bosses are planning its biggest ever marketing campaign surrounding the plot, with every cast member becoming a suspect.

Upcoming scenes of the soap will see Lucy launch her own property letting agency with the help of Lauren Branning.

EastEnders airs tonight at 8pm on BBC One.

Jake Stone axed

Jake Stone actor Jamie Lomas is to leave the show in the summer.


The actor will finish filming with the BBC One show in the summer after bosses decided not to renew his one-year contract.

Writing on Twitter this morning (March 23), Lomas paid tribute to EastEnders' executive producer Dominic Treadwell-Collins and promised that there are still interesting times ahead for Jake on the Square.
Lomas joined the cast of EastEnders in June 2013 and made his first appearance as Jake in August.

Jake's initial scenes saw him introduced as a new love interest for Lauren Branning (Jacqueline Jossa) as they met at a support group for recovering alcoholics.

The pair quickly embarked on a relationship, but it was later revealed to viewers that Jake was married to fellow Walford newcomer Sadie Young (Kate Magowan).
Jake's infidelity caught up with him in January this year as his affair was exposed, leading to the departures of Sadie and the couple's daughter Bella.

More recently, Jake has returned to Walford following a short absence and has been trying to get his life back on track.

Prior to his EastEnders role, Lomas was best known for playing Hollyoaks villain Warren Fox.