I hope they're just being rested but I have a feeling one of them is being killed and the other decides to leave

Yeah but if they're really to give her Steven's heir so to speak, she's going to be pretty blandly caring for a baby for a couple of years. Like Lauren was until she started working at Weyland.

They are getting the break/rest, come back after refreshment that the Mitchell sisters should have had IMO.

The characters aren't the problem, especially the older ones

The issue was the focus on certain ones and the lack of decent storylines

Oh I hope not.

EastEnders feels like it's been in a constant state of "transition" and attempts to "shake up" for about 7 years. :(

I wonder if Max's big revenge plot is exposed when Jane wakes from her coma due to the smell of the Turkey dinner on Christmas Day

Abi and Lauren then disown him and both move to New Zealand

Then Kathy returns from Ibiza with her two new besties Bonnie and Foxy.

Maybe EastEnders has a new tradition?

Watch out Fox Sisters circa Autumn 2018?

Can you BELIEVE Lorna survived her tabloid scandals and then is axed when she is squeaky clean and the best she's ever been (bar live week, "so I battered her")?!

Tbf, her gay spanking boyfriend weren't ha fault.

Watch out yogurt flogger Shona, you're next lady!

SOC is shaking at his leading lady movie star Jossa being axed.

A mess at the deja vu of this announcement

Lauren will go back to New Zealand and in 20 years her child will return ala Mark Junior and explain to the audience why he has a London accent.

Bookmark me.

It's kinda sad for our Lorna since she has been there 11 years

We've watched her grow up!

She's the David Platt of Eastenders :(

Jac will end up on CBB

Hmmm. Can't help but think Yorke has made a bad decision here.

Tbf, Jac Jossa and Jake Wood couldn't look more bored so I wouldn't care about either going.

I'm guessing they don't mind holding onto Max for a while as he can be the resident villain whilst they get the show in order.

I think they probably do need a rest and to come back in a few years with new story potential

Personally I'm not bothered by Lauren going, she's been terrible since she returned from New Zealand

Abi is a huge loss though

Yeah, this.

My only issue is there isn't much of a cast left as it is.

But the fact it says they're leaving at Christmas shows that Yorke was in time to make significant changes to the plots unfolding at Christmas. :clap1:

He's definitely bringing back some old characters, you wouldn't axe well established ones otherwise

If he wanted a new family he'd get rid of the Taylors and the Murrays

There was room for new or returning characters I would've thought?

The cast is smaller than it's ever been. Unless, that's a result of budget cuts and they have to work with a smaller number of actors at any one time.

Here for Abi's 2013 Janine-esque episode at Christmas :clap1: