EastEnders fans gutted as character with ‘barely any storylines’ from ‘forgotten’ family quits soap

EASTENDERS fans have been left gutted after a character with 'barely any storylines' from a 'forgotten' family quits.

Last week, The Sun Online revealed that actor Clay Milner Russell would be leaving EastEnders after five years playing Bobby Beale.

Clay, 24, is the fifth actor to play killer kid Bobby having taken over from Eliot Carrington in 2019.

An EastEnders spokeswoman confirmed the news saying: “We can confirm that Clay will be leaving EastEnders later on this year, and we wish him the best for the future.”

However, EastEnders fans are gutted to see the actor go, and took to a soap fan forum to discuss the news.

One wrote: "I'm genuinely gutted as I really like him in the role."

Another added: "Can’t say I blame him, he hasn’t really been given anything since the mental health storyline in 2019 apart from crushing on Anna."

A third commented: "That's a shame, he's always been pretty good. Although I agree with @EastEnders2009Fan that he hasn't really done much since 2019 apart from having a five minute OCD storyline, which was helped by a chat with Callum and was fine until Dana brought it up again to imply he was mad or ill when he accused Aaron of being a terrorist.

"The relationship with Anna is sweet but hasn't really amounted to much that isn't ground we already covered with Dana, so if he's got bored, I don't blame him."

They weren't alone with their views that show bosses hadn't given Bobby - or the wider Beale family - much to do in recent times.

One wrote: "Shame to hear this. Bobby's barely had anything to do for the last couple of years, and during this entire stint they've hardly scratched the surface with him really.

"I was hoping that with the revival of the Beales he'd become more prominent - and the early signs were promising with his improved relationships with Ian & Peter and the fascinating dynamic with Cindy - but sadly not to be!"

Another agreed, writing: "I'm saddened to hear this as I think Clay was not only a wonderful actor but brought a great deal of heart to a show and genre that feel so cold in modern times.

"I don't understand why [Executive Producer Chris] Clenshaw never did anything with Bobby (unless you count the forced pairing with nonentity Anna), unless he knew from the start Clay was leaving.

"A real waste. I hope Clay has the career he deserves and I'm glad he stayed as long as he did.

"Other than Kathy that's pretty much my last interest in the Beales. Well, they had a good run, for a while anyway."

Meanwhile a third commented: "That's a shame as I do like Bobby and he is a refreshingly nice person.

";Although right now he is very forgettable so sadly it would be pretty easy for him to just disappear and it would make zero difference to the show.

"I would have liked to have seen more of Bobby, Peter and Ian given the Beale family had been restored/increased last year. But actually all 3 have seemed pretty non-existent."

EastEnders airs on BBC One and is available on BBC iPlayer.