Toby-Alexander Smith has seemingly confirmed his departure from EastEnders as serial killer Gray Atkins, posting a selfie from his dressing room after filming his final scenes with the caption: 'Well Walford, it's been wild… again.' The post, shared on Instagram, has sparked a wave of fan reaction, with many praising his portrayal of one of the soap's most notorious villains.
Gray Atkins' Dark History in Walford
Gray first arrived in Albert Square in 2019, and his reign of terror included the murders of his abused wife Chantelle Atkins (Jessica Plummer), Tina Carter (Luisa Bradshaw-White), and Kush Kazemi (Davood Ghadami). His twisted obsession with Whitney Dean (Shona McGarty) ultimately led to his downfall, but it was his second wife, Chelsea Fox (Zaraah Abrahams), who gathered the evidence to put him behind bars.
While Gray has been in prison, Chelsea has been raising their son, Jordan (Izaiah Hagan-Brown), but even from a jail cell, Gray manipulated her through his grandmother, Sheila Atkins (Sheila Ruskin). After Jordan suffered life-changing injuries in a hit-and-run, Chelsea reluctantly accepted Sheila's help, unaware that Sheila was reporting back to Gray.
The Prison Plot and Stabbing
Gray's latest scheme involved fellow inmate Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt), who is serving an eight-month sentence for unknowingly knocking down Gray's son while driving over the limit. Terrified, Ian agreed to arrange a visit between Gray and Chelsea in exchange for protection. The reunion horrified Chelsea, who then discovered Gray's plan to have Sheila flee the country with Jordan.
The plot was foiled thanks to Denise (Diane Parish) and Kim (Tameka Empson), leading Gray to blame Ian and threaten him with a bladed weapon. A struggle ensued, and Gray was stabbed. Chelsea later visited him in the hospital, declaring she was no longer afraid of him.
Fans React to Gray's Possible Exit
Despite the seemingly conclusive end, a New Year's Day flashforward revealed Gray is free by January 1st, leaving his fate uncertain. Toby-Alexander Smith's Instagram post has fueled speculation, with fans flooding the comments with praise. One wrote: 'Personally wish he would come back for good!' Another said: 'One of the very best 'Evil' characters.' A third added: 'Loved seeing you on screen again hope more stories to come..'
Another viewer insisted: 'You were absolutely brilliant.' And one fan suggested: 'Maybe they could come up with another story to bring you back again cause you're such a good bad guy honestly you're a great actor. Whatever you do next have lots of fun.'
As EastEnders continues to air dramatic scenes, Gray's exit storyline remains a major talking point, with fans eager to see if the killer's story truly ends or if he will return once more.
