Beloved EastEnders star takes break from soap as she fronts new show – and it’s just months away
A BELOVED EastEnders star is taking a break from the soap to front a new show - and it's just months away.
The actress has starred in the BBC soap for nearly 15 years, but in early 2024, she will be departing Walford.
It was announced today that Tameka Empson - who plays Kim Fox - will be leading the cast of Windrush Ska musical The Big Life.
The show will open at Stratford East Theatre in February, 20 years after it premiered there before it transferred to the West End.
Tameka, 46 - who also co-wrote the book the musical is adapted from - will reprise her role as Mrs Aphrodite from the original production and she will star alongside Juliet Agnes, Danny Bailey, Gabrielle Brooks, Nathanael Campbell and Khalid Daley.
The musical is set in London in the 1950s with four characters - Ferdy, Bernie, Dennis and Lennie arriving from the West Indies full of expectations and aspirations.
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To achieve their goals, the men decide to abstain from wine and women for three years, but Sybil, Mary, Zulieka and Kathy have other ideas, and the men's resolve is put to the test.
The musical opens on Friday, February 16 and runs until Saturday, March 30, meaning Tameka will need time away from EastEnders.
An EastEnders rep confirmed: "Tameka is taking a short break and will be returning."
Despite her EastEnders commitments, Tameka has previously found time to star in pantomime at Hackney Empire in London, as well as Strictly Come Dancing back in 2016.
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Meanwhile Kim's recent storylines have seen her struggling with her mental health since she caused a car accident that could have cost stepson Denzel his life.
She found herself in court over the summer where she suffered a panic attack.
But she was on hand to support Jay Brown following his car accident back in October.
EastEnders airs on BBC One and is available on BBC iPlayer.