Jessie Wallace, known for her iconic role as Kat Slater on EastEnders, is taking a temporary break from the BBC One soap to star in a pantomime production of Peter Pan at the New Wimbledon Theatre. The 54-year-old actress will play Captain Hook in the show, which runs from December to January, alongside Aston Merrygold, Tom Read Wilson, and Pete Firman.
Short break agreed with bosses
A source told The Sun: 'Jessie will be taking a short break from the soap to appear in panto. Bosses agreed to the short break because it’s over Christmas and won’t hugely affect filming. It’s a huge bonus for Jessie. She’s one of the show’s biggest names and can command huge fees for panto appearances.' Given the panto's limited festive run, Wallace's absence from Albert Square is expected to be brief. Metro has contacted EastEnders for a comment.
Co-star Michelle Ryan's exit
This development follows news that Jessie's co-star Michelle Ryan, who plays Zoe Slater, has reportedly been axed from the soap. The 42-year-old actress returned to EastEnders last June and became a full-time cast member in August, but the BBC confirmed she will leave later this year. Reports suggest Zoe will be killed off, making her exit permanent. Ryan originally played Zoe from 2000 to 2005 before leaving for Hollywood.
The Sun alleges that Ryan requested time off earlier this year before quitting, leading writers to decide on a tragic end for her character. A BBC spokesperson told Metro: 'We can confirm Zoe Slater will be departing EastEnders later this year. We wish Michelle Ryan all the best for the future. However, we never comment on future storylines as we don’t want to spoil it for the viewers.'
Behind the scenes
An insider revealed to Metro: 'Michelle’s exit marks the end of a storyline that has been in the works for some time. With such an iconic character, Zoe’s exit is never going to be without drama, but bosses are keeping tight-lipped about how she leaves the Square, but as always with the Slaters, it’s not going to be quiet.' The actress is thought to have filmed her final scenes last month, with her departure set to air over the coming months.
