Two more to leave Deadenders

[alan45]

Two of EastEnders' youngest stars will be written out of the soap later this year, it has been confirmed.

Charlie Jones and Madeline Duggan - who have played Ben Mitchell and Lauren Branning for the last 4 years - will bow out of the Albert Square serial in the coming months as part of the soap's ongoing revamp under new executive producer Bryan Kirkwood.

According to the Daily Star Sunday, 13-year-old Jones had to be "consoled" by his chaperone after hearing the news that his 4 years with the soap would be coming to an end.

He has yet to film his final scenes, but his exit will allegedly have nothing to do with Barbara Windsor's departure as Peggy Mitchell in the autumn. It has been suggested that his final story will revolve around the climax of his hate campaign against Louise - or tie in with Lucy Benjamin's whistlestop return as Louise's mother Lisa Fowler.

Meanwhile, Duggan (below, right) - who has been notably absent from the show since her screen mother Jo Joyner left on maternity leave - has already filmed her final scenes as Lauren.

On Thursday, she was spotted filming on location with Joyner, who reprised her role as mother-of-two Tanya for a single episode. She is due to return to work full-time in the coming months, having given birth to twins.

An EastEnders source told the newspaper: "Charlie and Maddy are two very popular youngsters. So there were a lot of sad faces when everyone heard they were both leaving. They've both had their fair share of dramatic storylines and will be greatly missed.
"Ben's exit will be one of the biggest storylines of the summer. It's going to very dramatic and will have repercussions for months to come. Fans are in for a real treat with this one. Maddy has already filmed her exit. She was pretty emotional as she's very close to Jo, who plays her mum on the show."

They added: "But she's had a great time working on 'Enders and has everything going for her."

An show spokesperson confirmed: "Charlie and Madeline will be leaving EastEnders later this year. They have been a pleasure to work with and we wish them all the best for the future."

Before the end of the year, EastEnders is due to lose ten familiar faces, including Lacey Turner (Stacey Slater), Tiana Benjamin (Chelsea Fox), Gillian Wright (Jean Slater), Cliff Parisi (Minty Peterson) and Derek Martin (Charlie Slater).

Since taking the helm, however, Kirkwood has orchestrated the returns of favourites Kat and Alife Moon as well as signing former Footballers' Wives star Zoe Lucker.

[StarsOfCCTV]

I can't say I'll miss Ben much but I'm sad Lauren will be leaving - she was a good character.

[Chloe O'brien]

Well unless Ben leaves with Daddy Beetroot (fingers crossed) It looks as if he will be killed off, how else can they explain his exit? his mother is already dead and he's too young to leave in a black cab on his own to go and live with uncle Grunt.

[Abigail]

Thanks goodness the wooden Charlie is leaving :cheer: He can't act for toffee

[Chloe O'brien]

Now you can't blame Charlie for being wooden. look who he's got to act alongside. :lol:

[Kim]

I don't really see the logic in Lauren leaving if Abi, Tanya, Max and Oscar are staying. I would rather Lorna left than Maddy. I don't see her asking to go back into care and I don't see it being long term so I'm confused as to how they're going to write her out with the rest of the family still there.

[LostVoodoo]

maybe they'll pack Ben off to stage school? he can come back in a couple of years with a new head!

[Dutchgirl]

maybe they'll pack Ben off to stage school? he can come back in a couple of years with a new head!
That must be it.

Lauren leaving makes no sense. I wonder why they are sending her of. I preferred her above Abi.

[Mitchelle]

I dont think they will axe Lauren just Madeline . Where could a 16 year old go really ? They filmed Mddie's last scene in one epiosde and as the actress is donig exams i dont think there will be much of a storyline .

It say's in the link ' ben's exit " and Madliene's exit '' but nothing about Lauren's exit .

[Dazzle]

I can't see them bringing in a new girl to play Lauren, at least for a couple of years. I think Lauren will have to leave - though it's hard to know how they'll write it. The same goes for Ben, too.

[Mitchelle]

I cant see how they couldnt recast by the time Tanya return's . It does not make any sense . Where are they going to send her if they dont recast . Personally i think Maddie was fine as Lauren .I guess the Branning family may have big storyline's coming up and they want a stronger actress to play Lauren .

[Dazzle]

It's possible that they'll recast Lauren, but I don't think they will because our soaps don't do that, unlike the Aussie soaps. You're right that it doesn't make much sense for Lauren to go.

[Mitchelle]

But they did recast Janine in EE and the lad who played Nick .If they were going to get rid of Lauren i dont see why they would not wait for Tanya to return and make a proper storyline from it .

[Dazzle]

Well it does state in the original post on this thread that Jo Joyner and Madeline Duggan were spotted filming on location, so Tanya must be a part of Lauren's exit storyline.

[Mitchelle]

That is true but i think Jo was coming back to film a one off for a while now . Why did they wait so long in announcing that Lauren was leaving if it had been planned a while ago .

[Dazzle]

It does seem strange that we're only hearing about Lauren leaving now.

[Mitchelle]

Makes me think they decided to recast before Tanya return's .

[lizann]

Well unless Ben leaves with Daddy Beetroot (fingers crossed) It looks as if he will be killed off, how else can they explain his exit? his mother is already dead and he's too young to leave in a black cab on his own to go and live with uncle Grunt.

Maybe he goes off to boarding school or dance school

I wonder how Lauren will leave I'd prefer if Abi was leaving instead

[Mitchelle]

I would also perfer if it was Abi leaving but it still is hard to imagine how they can just write Lauren off !!! She is 16 and at school .Max and Tanya womnt want to be away from her so i really hope they recast .

[crystalsea]

Ben may get sent to Borstal or equivalent for his attack on Jordan and his hate campaign on Louise.

[tammyy2j]

Ben and Lauren run off together with all Roxy's cash :p

[Dazzle]

:rotfl: That would be a neat way to write them out...

[laurenm26xx]

Devastated about Lauren leaving she was my favorite character and I cant really see them replacing Maddie either but i think to even have her leave is stupid with the return of Tanya soon where will she go ? and Lauren may not like Walford but she is always there for her mum so i cant see her wanting to leave her mum. It was a very bad axe in my opinion and Brian Kirkwood is just gonna ruin eastenders like he did hollyoaks. Hope Lauren comes back at some stage ... still do not want her to leave though and as for ben .. who really cares?

[Mitchelle]

She was my fav too . I imagine that they will have to replace Lauren as they cannot realistically just make her vanish .Also Madliene leaving was done very fast and announced after she had filmed her exit scene's .

Kirkwood need's to sort this one out as he could ruin the Branning family

[lizann]

Sam Attwater and Emer Kenny are to leave EastEnders in the coming months, Digital Spy can exclusively reveal.

The pair - who play Leon Small and Zsa Zsa Carter in the show - are the latest cast members to be written out under new executive producer Bryan Kirkwood's tenure.

Their characters first appeared in online spinoff E20, before transitioning into the main show shortly after the run of 12 webisodes.

Speaking of their departure, Kirkwood exclusively told DS: "Emer and Sam have made a real impact in the short time they've been on the Square and we wish them all the best for the future."

He added: "Of course, we look forward to continuing working with Emer in her capacity as a writer on EastEnders: E20."

Attwater and Kenny are the 13th and 14th cast members scheduled to bow out before the end of the year.

[Dazzle]

I wonder if Fatboy will be leaving along with Leon and Zsa Zsa. I won't really miss any of them.

[moonstorm]

No I think Fatboy is staying. Wonder how they are going to explain Lauren's absense?

[Abigail]

Kirkwood need's to sort this one out as he could ruin the Branning family

I don't think that's a possibility. She's once character in a whole entire cast, she won't be missed. Sure it might be odd but how many times has she been on screen this year? Not many at all and I don't see anybody commenting on her absence in the CED thread.

[Siobhan]

No I think Fatboy is staying. Wonder how they are going to explain Lauren's absense?

Isn't Lauren in the same year as Peter and Lucy so they are doing their exams... maybe they send Lauren away to another school to do her A Levels or she gets a place in college somewhere esle so she will spent more time away (unlike Libby who is never in Oxford)

[Mitchelle]

Lauren has not been on screen as Madeline is doing exam's .Tanya back full time soon so it is a strange move .

[krista]

Maybe Lauren confesses?

[Mitchelle]

What would lauren confess to ??

[Katy]

i reckon boarding school, if she is going exams at the moment then it is perfect way for her to be written out. I think that the characters announced as leaving so far are no real loss.

i want to say it will be nice to see the show moving forward but dont htink that is going to happen as the majority if the new characters are not new they are returnees, but we will have to watch to find out how it unravels.

Dont see why Fatboy is staying, he should go with the others, out of all those teenagers he is the one that i hate the most.

[Mitchelle]

She wont be going to boarding school in June ?? I know school could be an option at some stage but she wouldnt be gone the whole year , dont they return every 6 weeks and holidays , summer , christmas ?

[krista]

Trying to kill Max, just a thought

[Mitchelle]

Oh right , she already did and she was in court .

[tammyy2j]

Soap newcomer Jacqueline Jossa has taken over the role of Lauren Branning in EastEnders, Digital Spy can reveal.

Lauren - who was last seen making plans to attend a summer camp in the US - will return to Albert Square later this year and waste no time in letting everyone know that she's now all grown-up.

While the tough teenager looks set to stir up some trouble in Walford after making her comeback, viewers will also see her softer side as she searches for love in her life.

Lauren's keen to find a guy with the right personality rather than judging on looks - but will Max and Tanya's daughter manage to find someone who can sweep her off her feet?


Speaking of her casting, Jossa commented: "I was so excited when I got the call to say I'd got the part in EastEnders. I've always been a massive fan of the show and it's a dream come true. The character of Lauren Branning will be really fun to play and there are some exciting things coming up."

EastEnders' executive producer Bryan Kirkwood added: "Maddie Duggan did a great job of playing the young Lauren Branning, and we wish her the very best of luck for the future. I'm delighted to welcome Jacqueline Jossa to Albert Square. Jacqueline's portrayal of Lauren has all the classic Branning qualities of toughness, cynicism and sensitivity. Jacqueline is set to be at the heart of Walford drama for some time to come."

[Dutchgirl]

So how old is she supossed to be? I liked the old Lauren. It is a shame that they make the kids so fast older. I cannot picture Tanya with a grown up daughter.