Ross Kemp has said he will be leaving EastEnders before Thursday's 40th anniversary live episode, setting the scene for Wednesday night's hour-long special.
The actor, who plays Grant Mitchell in the BBC soap, returned to celebrate four decades of the long-running drama after a near-10-year absence.
Eight memorable EastEnders moments as BBC soap turns 40
Tuesday's episode saw The Queen Vic explode when Sonia Fowler's (Natalie Cassidy) former partner Reiss Colwell (Jonny Freeman) crashed his car into the Albert Square pub.
Is this the end of The Vic as we know it? Watch the whole episode now on @BBCiPlayer ➡️ https://t.co/xQU4mdDr5G #EastEnders #EE40 pic.twitter.com/HThSRQrZLV
— BBC EastEnders (@bbceastenders) February 18, 2025
He had been on the run following the murder of his comatose wife Debbie (Jenny Meier) and the kidnap of Bianca Jackson (Patsy Palmer).
On ITV's This Morning on Wednesday, a clip was shown of Grant and Bianca arguing in the street shortly after the fire.
Kemp told the show that an "unlikely friendship is forged at that point" between Bianca and Grant as they "pal up" in an "unlikely coupling".
Warning: spoiler alert!
When asked if he would be in Thursday's live episode, Kemp said: "I'm not doing the live. I'm no longer there. I've departed - not in a hearse, I hasten to add."
It is believed that Kemp will still be seen on screen in the soap but has stopped filming his episodes.
Kemp began on the soap in 1990, and his previous appearance in 2016 marked his on-screen mother Barbara Windsor's final episode as Peggy Mitchell.
Thursday's live episode - also at 7:30pm - will show viewers if their votes mean Diane Parish's character, Denise Fox, reunites with her estranged husband Jack Branning (Scott Maslen) or her secret lover Ravi Gulati (Aaron Thiara).
Source: Press Association
.svg)