Vanessa and Darren to leave 'EastEnders'

[Perdita]

She will be back at christmas for an explosive episode where she sets fire to everyone but who will make it out alive????

Vanessa will make it out alive with her unborn baby ;>)

[Siobhan]

Vanessa will make it out alive with her unborn baby ;>)

but it is not Max's baby.. it is ....... explosive!!

[tammyy2j]

EastEnders' troubled blonde Vanessa Gold could find herself at the centre of Michael Moon's schemes before she makes her departure from Albert Square.

Forthcoming scenes will see twisted Michael (Steve John Shepherd) prey on Vanessa when she's left vulnerable after splitting from Max Branning, according to Soaplife.

The magazine states that Michael gives Vanessa a shoulder to cry on at the B&B, before trying to convince her to help him get his revenge against dad Eddie (David Essex).

"He tells Vanessa that Eddie's a liar and a cheat like all the others and he destroyed Michael's mother," a Walford source told the publication. "Then he pulls out a wad of cash and he offers to pay her to break his dad's heart."

It's not yet clear whether Vanessa will agree and, if so, whether she can go through with it, but the scenes in question are expected to air later this month.

EastEnders' executive producer Bryan Kirkwood previously teased: "[Vanessa's] got a really exciting storyline still in store. It kicks off over the summer and there's a big change of direction for the character that will really give Vanessa some momentum for the time she's got left in Albert Square."

Jean would make more sense storyline wise

[Perdita]

EastEnders star Zöe Lucker has revealed that there are "fantastic" things in store for her character Vanessa Gold before she makes her departure from Walford.

Vanessa will be leaving screens later this year, but show bosses have promised that she will be at the centre of drama for the remainder of her time on Albert Square.

Lucker told Inside Soap: "I've got three weeks of filming left and I'm really sad about it. The scripts I'm getting right now are fantastic - so I'm really able to strut my stuff as Vanessa."

A new direction for the character kicks off next week when Vanessa has a violent meltdown after discovering that her fiancé Max Branning (Jake Wood) has been sleeping with his ex-wife Tanya Jessop (Jo Joyner).

Lucker explained: "Vanessa's devastated. She's given up a lot to be with Max - not to mention running around after his kids and keeping his house nice. The whole thing is awful for her, and humiliating.

"Of course, she totally blames Tanya. Vanessa can't understand how a woman could do such a terrible thing to another woman. She never saw Tanya as a threat, or dreamt she could betray her like she has."

Discussing why Vanessa's reaction is so extreme, the actress added: "Vanessa's having a breakdown. She's losing control and she doesn't like being in that position at all."

EastEnders fans will also see Vanessa start to become caught up in Michael Moon's schemes in next week's episodes.

[Perdita]

EastEnders star Steve John Shepherd has explained why his villainous character Michael Moon recruits Vanessa Gold into his schemes in a forthcoming storyline.

Next week's episodes of the BBC soap see Michael grow closer to Vanessa following the breakdown of her relationship with Max Branning. He then spots an opportunity to cause trouble, promising her a wad of cash if she agrees to break his dad Eddie's heart.

"Michael sees a weakness in Vanessa after the Brannings disown her," Shepherd told Inside Soap. "She has no money, no job and no security. He thinks, 'That's absolutely perfect - she can be my puppet'."

He continued: "Michael has seen a flicker of romance between Eddie and Carol, and he wants to entirely extinguish that. So he's hoping that he can thrust Vanessa in Eddie's path to distract him from Carol."

Meanwhile, Zöe Lucker - who plays Vanessa - admitted that her alter ego is led down the wrong path by Michael when he starts discussing Eddie's past.

"He tells her Eddie killed his mum, and Vanessa's stunned. She thought Eddie was nice," Lucker said.

"Vanessa isn't a callous woman, but she's in a vulnerable position. At the end of the day, she's a survivor and will do whatever it takes in order to get by."

EastEnders' new plot for Michael, Vanessa and Eddie begins next Tuesday.

[Dazzle]

I think Zoe Lucker has been wasted as the character Vanessa. She could have been one of the all-time great EE bitches, if Footballer's Wives was anything to go by.

[Perdita]

Guess they wanted to concentrate on Janine as the bitch without giving her competition

[alan45]

EASTENDERS' Darren Miller will leave Walford after seven years when he sensationally calls off his wedding to beautiful Jodie Gold.
He decides at the last minute he can't go through with it after getting drunk at his stag do and sleeping with troubled Lauren Branning.

Racked with guilt, Darren tells fiancée Jodie at the end of next month and admits he isn't fit to be her husband. A source told TV Biz: "Darren makes a terrible mistake and can't keep it from Jodie.

"He doesn't mean to break her heart, but he does. With no Jodie and no prospects, what has he got to hang around Walford for? He decides on a clean break."

Charlie G. Hawkins, 20, has played Darren since 2004.

Since then his character has run the car lot, got engaged to Libby Fox, turned out to be the secret dad of Heather Trott's baby and been circumcised to win Jodie's love.

When his departure was announced in April, Charlie said he wanted to "chill out and enjoy being a normal 20-year-old". He added: "I can barely remember life before EastEnders. It will be great having no structure to my life and not having to learn lines."

The source said of Darren's exit plot: "This way, the door remains open for him to return."

[lizann]

Sleeps with Lauren never thought that would happen

[Perdita]

EastEnders' Darren Miller will make his departure from Walford after cheating on fiancée Jodie Gold, a report has claimed.

The car salesman, played by Charlie G Hawkins, has a one-night stand with tearaway Lauren Branning (Jacqueline Jossa) after getting drunk on his stag night, according to The Sun.

It is thought that Darren is later left guilt-ridden over what he has done, prompting him to come clean with Jodie and call off their wedding before departing Albert Square.

"Darren makes a terrible mistake and can't keep it from Jodie," an EastEnders source told the newspaper. "He doesn't mean to break her heart, but he does.

"With no Jodie and no prospects, what has he got to hang around Walford for? He decides on a clean break."

The insider added: "This way, the door remains open for him to return."

Hawkins announced his decision to leave EastEnders in April. He has been part of the soap's cast since 2004.

Meanwhile, Jodie - played by Kylie Babbington - has been tipped to remain in the Square as she has "reasons to stay" following the departures of Darren and her mum Vanessa (Zöe Lucker).

Darren's EastEnders exit is expected to air in the autumn.

Wonder whether Jodie's reasons to stay are connected with the conditions her dad Harry has laid down to help with the wedding costs?