EastEnders legend axed from BBC soap in major shake-up after Shona McGarty exit

Lorraine Stanley has reportedly been axed from EastEnders after seven years on Albert Square.

The 47-year-old, who plays matriarch Karen Taylor, is being written out of the BBC One soap as part of a major cast shake-up, according to sources.

It comes just hours after Shone McGarty, who has played the role of Whitney Dean since she was 16-year-old, quit the soap after 15 years on the show.

READ MORE: EastEnders' Whitney star Shona McGarty quits soap after 15 years in 'difficult' move

Now, an insider has told The Sun that the blonde beauty will be following in her footsteps ahead of the major Christmas storyline later this year.

It is understood Lorraine will be written out of the show at the end of the year, much to the disappointment of viewers at home.

A source told the publication: “It’s always a tough call for bosses when deciding which characters will leave the soap, but it has to be done to keep storylines fresh and create new arcs for characters.

“Lorraine had a great run on the soap and was a real scene stealer with her comic timing and she has certainly made her mark with fans.”

The soap star has played the loveable laundrette worker Karen on EastEnders since 2017 and it’s fair to say she’s had a whirlwind of a time.

The single mum first rocked up at E20 with her children Keanu (Danny Walters), Keegan Baker (Zack Morris), Bernadette (Clair Norris) and Riley and Chatham – played by real-life brothers Tom and Alfie Jones.

It didn’t take long before the family became embroiled in several dramatic storylines including topics of domestic abuse, poverty and racial profiling.

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Earlier this month, Portsmouth-born Lorraine announced her engagement to her partner of nine years, Mark Perez who she shares a daughter with.

But the joyous news didn’t stop there after the actor won the top prize at the British Soap Awards earlier this year and is set to scoop up another award at the Inside Soap Awards later this year.

Executive producer Chris Clenshaw has left viewers gripped to their screen this year with his gripping Christmas whodunnit leaving fans scrambling for clues throughout the year.

But that’s not all, after he brought back stalwarts Adam Woodyatt who plays iconic character Ian Beale, and the legend herself Michelle Collins who is reprising her role as Cindy.

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