Eastenders 2023 changes: characters leaving, arriving and returning

One of the most talked about EastEnders storylines reached its climax tonight (Tuesday, August 22) after Eve Unwin launched a brutal attack on her sister's killer, Caz Johnston. And fans have praised the 'incredible' scenes performed particularly acted out by Eve, played by Heather Pearce.

Drama is set to unfold on EastEnders this week as secrets and lies are under threat and one villain takes extreme action.

Following Thursday night's episode of EastEnders, fans were left in fear for 12 year old Lilly Slater and her baby after Theo Hawthorne (William Ellis) “manipulated” Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner) amid his continued obsession with her. Theo convinced Stacey to kick Eve Unwin (Heather Peace) out of the Slater family home after she destroyed the kitchen in a drunken rage, after coming face-to-face with the woman who killed her twin sister.Turning to Theo for advice, he suggested that it may be unsafe for Eve to be around Lily and her soon-to-be-born baby.This lead Stacey to tell Eve that is was best if she found somewhere to live, leaving viewers concerned for Lily and her baby.

EastEnders fans have labelled newcomer Theo Hawthorne (William Ellis) "pure evil" amid his continued obsession with Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner). Following Thursday night's episode, 17 August, fans took to social media in uproar after Theo convinced Stacey to kick Eve Unwin (Heather Peace) out of the Slater family home after she destroyed the kitchen in a drunken rage after coming face-to-face with the woman who killed her twin sister. In subsequent scenes, Theo suggested that it may be unsafe for Eve to be around 12-year-old Lily Slater (Lillia Turner) and her soon-to-be-born baby.

EastEnders' Eve Unwin is set for a shock when she finds out the true identity of her date, the show's spoilers have revealed. Eve's love life has been on the backburner since she was seeing Suki Panesar. However, after a woman came looking for her in Walford, she has been tempted to get back into the dating game.

EastEnders fans are convinced they've got to the bottom of what is wrong with Suki Panesar after her health battles.

Shona McGarty has shared that she's "happier than ever" ahead of her exit from EastEnders.The Walford icon who has played Whitney Dean for the last 15 years, recently announced that she would be leaving the show, with rumours suggesting that she may be joining ITV's Dancing On Ice. Along with a change of job, the actress appears to have also embarked on a new relationship with a mystery man, following her split from fellow EastEnders star Max Bowden a few months ago.

Peter Beale (Thomas Law) returns to Walford to meet his half-sisters in EastEnders spoilers, but Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt) forbids him to tell them the truth about Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins). After George Knight (Colin Salmon) and Gina Knight (Francesca Henry) give their blessing, Anna Knight (Molly Rainford) calls her mum and leaves a message for her. When she hears nothing back, Anna later sends a stroppy text.

Follow OK! on Threads here: https://www.threads.net/@ok_mag Lorraine Stanley, who plays Karen Taylor in EastEnders has been enjoying a holiday with her fiancé, Mark Perez, after filming her last scenes on the soap.The pair , who got engaged in July after being together for nine years, enjoyed a camping getaway to the seaside town of Swanage in Dorset over the weekend. Lorraine, 47, shared a sweet snap of herself and Mark at their campsite, as she jokingly wrote: "Camp skanks".The actress could be seen wearing a simple black t-shirt with sunglasses and a cap, whilst Mark pouted at the camera in a denim shirt.

As EastEnders very own odd couple Reiss Colwell and Sonia Jackson grow closer this week, the unlucky couple appear to have finally reached a milestone as they prepare to embark on an IVF journey to have a baby of their own. Yet sadly the couple are soon given the devastating news that due to Sonia already having a child, she would be at the bottom of the NHS waiting list, and sadly private care is beyond their budget.

One week on since revealing that she would be leaving EastEnders, Walford icon Shona McGarty has opened up about the reason to wave goodbye to the soap after 15 years on our screens.The 31 year told star, who is best known for playing Whitney Dean, was revealed to have quit last week, in a move that left fans of the actress devastated at the loss of such a popular character. Keen to explain the reason behind the move, Shona sat down with Inside Soap to share her thoughts on her departure, but not before admitting that it hasn’t been an “easy” decision to leave behind so many of her friends and colleagues on the show.

Shona McGarty has shared her hope that her beloved character Whitney Dean will have a happy ending when she exits EastEnders.

There's trouble brewing for the Moons when Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden) asks Alfie Moon (Shane Richie) to mind the kids in EastEnders scenes set to air in mid-August. Phil asks Alfie to look after Tommy Moon (Sonny Kendall) and Ernie Moon (Cody Briffett) whilst Kat Slater (Jessie Wallace) is away visiting Little Mo (Kacey Ainsworth).Tommy and Alfie have a huge row over Tommy telling Freddie (Bobby Brazier) details about his dad, leading Tommy to head to the park with his pal Perry. When Alfie finds him, he’s horrified and orders him home.

Shona McGarty, who announced her exit from EastEnders just a few days ago, is reportedly already in talks to appear in the upcoming series of Dancing On Ice.The actress, 31, has played Whitney Dean for fifteen years but has decided to depart from the long-running soap amid a huge cast shake-up. And now she is said to be on "ITV's wishlist" for the upcoming series of Dancing On Ice, which will begin airing early next year. A source told The Sun: "Shona is a great name for Dancing On Ice and she is on ITV’s wish-list.

In a year which has already seen us bid goodbye to a wealth of fan favourites, including Lola Pearce and Finlay Baker, it appears the EastEnders cast changes are going to keep on coming with a whole host of much-loved stars also bidding Walford goodbye this year. So far, we know one mystery star is due to depart at Christmas as part of an explosive whodunnit mystery that has been teased all year long, but before that fans will have to bid a fond farewell to numerous other staples of the BBC soap.

Follow OK! on Threads here: https://www.threads.net/@ok_mag The death of Eastenders' Karen Taylor has been 'confirmed' as it's revealed that the actress Lorraine Stanley is set to leave the show. After seven years as the matriarch for the Taylor family, Karen will no longer feature in Albert Square as the actress leaves the role. Bosses of the famous BBC soap opera have decided to write the character out of the show and it looks like her character could be coming to a tragic conclusion.

Follow OK! on Threads here: https://www.threads.net/@ok_mag EastEnders star Tony Discipline has opened up on his life since leaving the iconic soap - and his two very different jobs. The actor, 34, shot to fame playing Tyler Moon on Albert Square where his character found himself at the centre of a love triangle with Shona McGarty ’s Whitney Dean, who recently called it quits on the show, and a tense and near fatal seizure after a boxing match. After two years, the actor left the show and this month marks a decade since his departure.Tony is in an entirely new career now though, juggling work as a firefighter and a barman.

Follow OK! on Threads here: https://www.threads.net/@ok_mag Fans of EastEnders have been left wondering whether the upcoming exit of a favourite star could potentially lead to the uncovering of a mystery male character's identity, who is to be "killed off" later this year. Viewers of the east London soap are already aware that Christmas Day 2023 will see a male character axed from the show in what could be a possible murder twist.They also know that the killing will transpire whilst guests gather at the Queen Vic pub, with six female suspects - aptly being dubbed 'The Six' - being forced into the line of inquiry as a potential murderer.

Anna Knight is about to step up her search for her mum Rose Knight the latest EastEnders spoilers have revealed. Viewers are well aware that Rose Knight is actually Cindy Beale, and she is going to return to Walford soon. However, the Knight family are unaware young Anna is desperate to find out where her mum is.

EastEnders actress Shona McGarty has quit the BBC soap after 15 years of playing Whitney Dean, she has announced this evening. The 31 year old has revealed that while she has "loved her years on the show" she has decided that now is the time to leave, amid a huge cast shake-up. Speaking exclusively to The Sun on Sunday, Shona said: “I have decided to spread my wings and will be leaving EastEnders.