Jessie Wallace is right at the centre of the latest EastEnders bombshell. The iconic Kat Moon actress is officially set to take a ‘temporary break’ from the soap. However, her upcoming absence comes alongside a permanent tragedy for the Slater clan.
Elsewhere, with another highly anticipated comeback completely crashing scriptwriters have officially locked in Zoe’s brutal death twist that will change the family forever. Keep scrolling to learn more.
Jessie Wallace Secures A Festive Break To Play Captain Hook
The beloved Jessie is taking a temporary leave of absence from her iconic role as Kat Moon this festive season. The soap star has already received official permission from BBC bosses to depart for a highly lucrative theatre opportunity.
Well, fans will be excited for this one as the brief exit will see the landlady swap the pub for a stage production during the winter months. Jessie is stepping away from the cameras to star as the villainous Captain Hook in Peter Pan at the New Wimbledon Theatre.
We also know that the stage production is scheduled to run between December and January and it will allow her to earn a massive holiday salary. Sources reveal, “Jessie will be taking a short break from the soap to appear in panto. Bosses agreed to the short break because it’s over Christmas and won’t hugely affect filming.”
They also noted that the actress is one of the biggest names on the show. In fact, she can command,assive fees for stage appearances. Because the absence coincides with the holiday broadcasting period, production schedules will also not face any major disruption.
Michelle Ryan Departs EastEnders Permanently After A Disappointing Comeback
Meanwhile, Jessie’s theatre news comes shortly after reports confirmed that co-star Michelle Ryan has been permanently ‘axed’ from the program after a lacklustre return as Zoe Slater. Initially, the performer delighted viewers by returning to Walford after a 25-year absence.
However, she later requested time off before quitting the show. Producers then made the exit permanent and chose to kill off the character. In fact, the final scenes were already filmed last year. Sources revealed, “Michelle’s long-awaited return has been somewhat flat and lacklustre.”
Adding further they said, “There’s been a backlash about her comeback, leaving some fans disappointed with her on-screen presence.” Well, this is a sad end for the character who originally generated legendary soap history when Kat screamed the truth about being her birth mother.
Meanwhile, will you miss Zoe Slater on your screen? And do you think it’s the right decision to axe her character? Let us know in the comments section. For more EastEnders spoilers and updates keep following Soap Opera Daily.