EastEnders is set for a huge year after a mega shake-up.
Fans of the BBC One soap were shocked when the Mirror exclusively broke the news that Danny Dyer would be exiting his role as Mick Carter after nearly a decade on the programme.
The soap was also dealt a blow when Maisie Smith confirmed she was leaving after joining as Tiffany Butcher when she was a kid, whilst they confirmed Toby Alexander-Smith - who plays serial killer Gray Atkins - would also be making his exit soon.
But in a time of huge shake-up for the BBC soap, whose exit scenes will air this year?
Leaving
Mick Carter's shock exit from the BBC soap surprised everyone, as Danny Dyer confirmed he would be exiting the show later in the summer, as he looked towards new projects.
However, Danny has promised his leaving storyline will be "epic".
"We've just been pitched my leaving storyline. It's going to be epic. It's huge," he shared, as his on-screen wife Kellie Bright, who plays Linda Carter, added: "It is going to be epic. I don't know how I'm going to get through, because I'm very sad that Danny is going."
The soap actor confessed he was taking a bit of a risk by exiting the show, as he added: "I'm taking that leap, because I need to and I think sometimes you have to gamble in life as that is what makes it exciting!"
Actor Zack Morris also recently confirmed he will be leaving the show as Keegan Baker after five years in the role.
"After five beautiful years on this incredible show, I have made the tough decision to leave Walford and give Keegan Butcher-Baker some well-earned rest," he shared as he addressed his exit.
"This show has quite frankly changed my life for the better. It will always hold a real loving place in my heart."
It is believed that Zack has filmed his final scenes on the BBC show.
Maisie Smith originally left the show last year after starring as Tiffany Butcher since she was a kid.
She is set to make a brief return on the programme in an upcoming storyline, but it will only be for a short period - so she will be exiting the soap once again very soon.
"I feel like no matter what I say I'm going to get in trouble. But what I can say is that I'm hoping that a few unresolved storylines will finally be answered," she recently teased of the upcoming storyline.
It comes as Keegan plans his exit too - so will their exit storylines be linked?
Serial killer Gray Atkins was always going to get his comeuppance, and he is set to leave the show in a huge storyline, which has been airing all this week as the walls close in around the evil resident.
Played by Toby Alexander-Smith, the actor has confirmed he will be leaving the show - as he admitted he was feeling emotional.
"It is really.... we filmed some stuff the other day and I actually got quite emotional just talking out loud about this whole journey as Gray because it’s been such a rollercoaster, to see it climax and to see it all come together it did actually affect me more than I thought it would," he explained recently.
Gray will be leaving the Square really soon - but not before one big showdown with the residents.
Could be leaving
Phil Mitchell has been an icon on the Square for years - but will he be making an exit soon?
Fresh from finding Tina Carter's decomposed corpse under the Arjee Barjee, Phil - played by Steve McFadden - has been sent to prison, but does that mean he'll be leaving the soap?
Phil was urged by police to become an informant for them or end up spending the rest of his life in prison and he refused to rat anybody out, meaning he was put behind bars.
Actor Steve left the show back in 2003, when he said at the time: "After 12 years in Walford it is time for Phil Mitchell to take a break. I'm going to stick my mechanic's overalls in a locker while I take a look at other projects."
Left
Three stars have already exited EastEnders with actress Priya Davdra - who played Iqra Ahmed - having quit the show. As part of her storyline, Iqra accepted a new job working in a hotel and had to start her job earlier than expected.
Sharing a snap of herself on set, Priya wrote: "And that’s a wrap on 3 years with @bbceastenders... It’s been an absolute pleasure!!! Bye bye Iq’s, will miss ya! #ontothenextone #letsgo."
Ruthxjiah Bellenea has also departed the soap after her character Mila Marwa was part of a very important FGM storyline.
"Ruhtxjiaïh was brought into the soap last year to be part of a very important FGM storyline," a source shared when her exit was announced, "Her character’s time has run its course so it’s time for her to move on."
Stevie Basaula is another star confirmed to be exiting EastEnders, after his character Isaac Baptiste's storyline came to an end.
"Stevie has been a huge asset to EastEnders during his time here; not least through his incredible performance across Isaac's schizophrenia story," producer Kate Oates confirmed, "As a member of the Trueman family, he will always be a part of one of our most iconic families. We will miss him, and wish him well in his new ventures."
Stevie said it was a "dream come true" to be on the show, as he explained: "Grateful to have spent over two years on one of the biggest shows in the country, there's nothing like it.
"Thank you for everything you've given me. I've learnt so much during my time and I'm proud to have been a part of some important work and to have made friends and memories that I'll cherish for a long time."
