EastEnders baddie Larry Lamb is being axed – as stars fear that bosses want a clearout to save cash.
Larry, 65 – evil grandad Archie Mitchell – will go despite being a hit with fans.
It comes after Kara Tointon and Ricky Groves were told in March their characters – on-off couple Dawn Swann and Garry Hobbs – were being written out.
Chiefs claim Archie, who joined last year, has run out of plotlines.
But a Walford insider said stars blamed cost cuts, adding: “These are difficult times. Everyone’s keeping their heads down and hoping they still have a job at the end of each month.”
Barbara Windsor – Archie’s screen wife Peggy – claimed budget cuts were ruining the show. The TV favourite, 71, said: “It’s really worrying, what’s going on with the cutbacks.
“As a result of the changes, I think we’re missing out on some of the things that made EastEnders so special.
“But we have to consider ourselves lucky to be in work at the moment.”
Archie was seen leaving the Square in April on his wedding day after Peggy learned the truth about him and asked son Phil to murder him.
The scheming OAP lied to daughter Ronnie that Danielle, the child she put up for adoption, was dead – when she was living with the Slaters. He also bedded Phil’s former lover Suzy. Viewers see him return next month and beg for forgiveness. But his stay will be short.
A second insider said: “After the things he’s done, there isn’t much more the writers can do with him. He’s peaked.
“He’s evil through and through, and even if he manages to wheedle his way back for a while, we can’t make him good. It would ruin the character.
“Everyone thinks Larry is great, but for storyline reasons he’s got to go.”
A show spokeswoman said: “Every BBC programme has to make savings. But viewers can be assured that every effort goes into making sure EastEnders is of the same high quality.”
Daily Mirror
If they don't kill him off, they could make another Nasty Nick out of his character and he pops up everytime they need a baddie, Nick can't keep coming back after what he is trying to do to Dot this time.
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Originally Posted by parkerman
