It’s a goodbye no EastEnders fan wants to make… to Frankie Lewis.
Played by Strictly’s 2021 champion Rose Ayling-Ellis for the past two years, the 27-year-old actor is off to explore pastures new, and will be departing the soap shortly.
Rose was a groundbreaker during her time on the long-running BBC soap, as its first deaf actor to play a regular deaf character.
So, when can you watch her final scenes? Here’s all you need to know.
When is Frankie leaving EastEnders?
Frankie will depart in the first episode of tonight’s (Friday, September 22) double bill.
You can tune in at the usual time of 7.30pm on BBC One, or catch up later on BBC iPlayer.
How will Frankie leave EastEnders?
Frankie first popped up in Albert Square in 2020, when it was revealed that she was Mick’s (Danny Dyer) daughter – conceived through abuse he experienced as a child.
Flash forward to September 2022, and Frankie’s had a rough few weeks, during which she was harassed on a night out.
But her job as a school teaching assistant for a deaf girl has led to an exciting new opportunity.
The girl’s family are making a move to Scotland, and want Frankie to join them.
She tells dad Mick the news, but is left unenthused by his reaction… so will her dad approve of the decision?
What has Rose Ayling-Ellis said about leaving EastEnders?
Rose has opened up about her departure, saying: ‘It’s been incredibly special to be EastEnders’ first regular deaf actor.
‘I have loved my time on the show and Frankie has been such an awesome character to play, however now feels like the right time for me to move on and I am excited and ready for new challenges.’
She added: ‘I will always treasure my time on the show and all the incredible people I have worked with, who have supported my growth as an actor these last two years and given me so many amazing memories.
‘I am excited for viewers to see Frankie’s exit storyline. I think it’s a really important one that will hit home for lots of people.’
We don’t know what’s next for Rose yet, after she denied rumours she would be Doctor Who’s next companion.
But back in August, the star said she was done being the ‘token deaf character’ during a talk at the Edinburgh TV Festival.
Speaking about an unnamed show, she added (as reported by deaf blog The Limping Chicken) that it was ‘frustrating, playing a hearing person’s perception of what a deaf person is like.’
Many will remember Rose as the winner of last year’s Strictly Come Dancing – with a silent moment in one of her performances standing out as the series’ most powerful.
It even won a TV BAFTA in the Virgin Media Must-See Moment category.
But she added of the experience: ‘My appearance on Strictly should have encouraged people to seek out other deaf talent, yet how many deaf characters have we seen on TV since?’
An EastEnders double bill airs tonight at 7.30pm on BBC One.
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