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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Charlotte Tutton

EastEnders fans call out 'massive mistake' after abrupt exit as actor leaves role

EastEnders aired the sudden exit of a character on Wednesday night, in a plot some viewers called a "mistake".

Viewers fumed as Finaly Baker departed the show in the latest episode, forced out of the famous location by the Panesar family following a run-in.

Actor Ashley Byam's final scenes aired on the BBC soap just a year after he joined as Mitch Baker's nephew, alongside brother Felix Baker and their dad Avery.

Avery died within weeks of arriving in Walford, with the brothers remaining in the Square with Mitch and the Taylors in the fallout.

It had not been revealed that Ashley was leaving the soap prior to his character Finlay's exit storyline airing, with him seen getting on the wrong side of the Panesar family.

His exit scenes were pretty abrupt, with him threatened during Tuesday's episode before fleeing on Wednesday night.

This is an exit for Ashley it seems and his character with the actor no longer filming for the show, while some fans are hoping it will be short-term.

Ashley Byam's EastEnders character Finlay Baker fled Walford (BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)

Finlay had confronted Vinny Panesar over his car brakes being cut, finding Vinny's necklace at the scene of the crime.

As Vinny realised he could be in big trouble, his mother Suki soon took matters into her own hands with the help of stepson Ravi.

Finlay found out the intended victim was Eve Unwin and threatened to spill the beans, keeping the chain as evidence too.

But Ravi and Suki threatened the life of his brother Felix if he did tell all, and told him he must leave Walford within 24 hours.

Finlay did fight back though, and told Suki he would only leave if she paid him £2,000 - which she did to silence him.

With that, Finlay claimed to his family that he had a huge business opportunity in Dublin and had to leave that evening.

His family waved him off as he drove out of Walford, while Suki was clearly pleased with the result - while fans were not impressed.

Actor Ashley Byam's final scenes aired on the BBC soap just a year after he joined (BBC)

Several viewers called out the storyline and the "random" exit for the character, with many not believing Finlay was given a chance.

As some hoped for a return later on, others suggested the scenes with the Panesars may have been a "massive mistake" not liking how things panned out.

Taking to Twitter, one fan said: "The whole Finlay exit storyline was so random. could have just killed him off or something more exciting, that felt so thrown together and disrespectful for the actor."

Another said: "I think Eastenders made a massive mistake with the way that the Panesars treated Finlay tonight. It could be a big mis-step."

A third viewer wrote: "Such a total waste. Literally been in for well over a year, him & Felix both & not a single storyline other than their Father dying & now Fin being a casualty of the Panesar's. Their totally be thinking they rule the f***ing square at this rate especially Vin..."

EastEnders airs Mondays to Thursdays at 7:30pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

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