EastEnders fans convinced iconic character will be axed as BBC teases fresh Walford exit
EASTENDERS fans are convinced an iconic character will be axed as the BBC teases a fresh Walford exit.
The soap is set for a number of big departures in the near future, with Max Bowden and Shona McGarty leaving their roles as Ben Mitchell and Whitney Dean respectively.
But now EastEnders fans have feared another longstanding member of Albert Square will be packing their bags too.
Sam Mitchell only recently returned to Walford but will soon get on the wrong side of brother Phil again when she reveals he cheated on wife Kat with Lola Pearce's mum, Emma Harding.
She does so after Phil refused to give her her share of the money Aunt Sal left them following her recent death.
But the move means Sam - played by Kim Metcalf - will be further isolated by her family, and so fans fear she'd have few reasons to stay on the Square.
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Writing on a fan forum, one viewer said: "I couldn't bear it if Sam leaves when I've just had Karen do the same.
"Sam is the highlight of an episode for me and during her break I felt a little disconnected from the show because of her absence."
Another added: "Samxiety is HIGH today. If she does end up leaving, the writing for her is a little bit odd? She’s advocating for “family” and being all together, but will be abandoning her son and granddaughter again in leaving.
"I really, really hope that all of this is the start of a new storyline for her - the loneliness storyline would be perfect, but even something like her struggling to ‘fill the boots’ of the family matriarch would be great."
A third commented: "Wowza, next week will be a tough one for us Sam fans. Phil treats her like utter c***... The only small mercy in this, is that we have other characters actually telling Sam this. & Sam actually acknowledging her horrifically low self esteem.
"We have seen Sam swear off Phil in 2010, so if Sam is leaving again, I really need her getting the "last laugh". But I really feel it in my bones, we have 3 eps at best."
A fellow fan of the actress and the character added: "I beg she stays on, but I fear the writing is on the wall. In which case, what a waste."
EastEnders airs on BBC One and is available on BBC iPlayer.