{"id":304223,"date":"2025-12-08T01:50:14","date_gmt":"2025-12-08T01:50:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/304223\/"},"modified":"2025-12-08T01:50:14","modified_gmt":"2025-12-08T01:50:14","slug":"major-eastenders-star-axed-after-18-months-as-bbc-say-we-wish-him-the-best","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/304223\/","title":{"rendered":"Major EastEnders star axed after 18 months as BBC say &#8216;we wish him the best&#8217;"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Roland Manookin arrived in EastEnders 18 months ago to lead a new branch of the Mitchell family but is now being axed from the soap as BBC say &#8216;we wish him the best&#8217;<\/p>\n<p>Jessica Clarke Digital Reporter <\/p>\n<p>21:40, 07 Dec 2025Updated 21:41, 07 Dec 2025<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/0_Eastenders1_main.jpg\" alt=\"A source said Rolans took a risk in the soap after a successful career in film and being known for roles in The Football Factory and Rise of the Footsoldier\" loading=\"eager\"  \/>A source said Rolans took a risk in the soap after a successful career in film and being known for roles in The Football Factory and Rise of the Footsoldier<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"mirror\">An <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/all-about\/eastenders\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">EastEnders<\/a> actor is leaving Walford after just 18 months as he is axed by bosses in a shock move.<a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/tv\/tv-news\/eastenders-roland-manookians-surprising-connection-33172596\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"> Roland Manookin<\/a>, who played Teddy Mitchell in the <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/all-about\/bbc\" target=\"\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">BBC<\/a> soap, arrived alongside on-screen sons Elijah Holloway and Lewis Bridgeman but will now be leaving them.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"mirror\">He arrived to lead a new branch of the Mitchell family, but has now become the latest star to leave the show after new boss Ben Wadey took control earlier this year. A source said Rolans took a risk in the soap after a successful career in film and being known for roles in The <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/sport\/football\/\" target=\"\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Football<\/a> Factory and Rise of the Footsoldier.<\/p>\n<p>READ MORE: <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/tv\/tv-news\/huge-im-celebrity-upset-before-36364003\" data-tmdatatrack=\"read-more\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"36364003\" data-tmdatatrack-source=\"editorial\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Huge I&#8217;m A Celebrity upset before final as underdog set to topple Angryginge<\/a>READ MORE: <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/tv\/tv-news\/im-celebs-shona-mcgarty-to-36365599\" data-tmdatatrack=\"read-more\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"36365599\" data-tmdatatrack-source=\"editorial\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">I&#8217;m A Celeb&#8217;s Shona McGarty &#8216;to miss final two&#8217; in devastating blow<\/a><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/0_539054TITLEEastenders.jpg\" alt=\"An EastEnders actor is leaving Walford after just 18 months as he is axed by bosses in a shock move\" loading=\"lazy\"  \/>An EastEnders actor is leaving Walford after just 18 months as he is axed by bosses in a shock move(Image: CREDIT LINE:BBC\/Jack Barns\/Kieron McCarron)<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"mirror\">A source told The Sun: \u201cRoland took a big risk agreeing to join <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/all-about\/eastenders\" target=\"\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">EastEnders<\/a> after his long and successful career in film. There was big hopes for the Mitchells being revitalised by the new family but things obviously changed for some reason and the material just wasn\u2019t there for Teddy.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"mirror\">They added: \u201cBosses made the decision that the character had run his course and that was that. It seems such a waste.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"mirror\">A spokesperson from the soap also confirmed the news in a statement: \u201cWe can confirm Roland will be leaving EastEnders this year, and we wish him all the best for the future.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"mirror\">The latest announcement follows a string of actors being axed from the show as Clair Norris, Matthew James Morrison and Micah Balfour were all also axed by bosses.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"mirror\"><a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/all-about\/Bobby-Brazier\" target=\"\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Bobby Brazier<\/a> and Molly Rainford, who appeared on the latest Celebrity Race Across the World, also left the show after \u201cmutual decisions after talks with bosses\u201d, and Lacey Turner decided to leave the show on an extended break.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"mirror\">The BBC soap has also faced backlash after viewers criticised the return of Michelle Ryan as Zoe Slater after 20 years. Viewers said procedures \u2018botched\u2019 the return with a \u2018dud\u2019 storyline after it was long-awaited by fans.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/0_The-British-Soap-Awards-2025-Arrivals.jpg\" alt=\"A spokesperson from the soap also confirmed the news in a statement\" loading=\"lazy\"  \/>A spokesperson from the soap also confirmed the news in a statement(Image: Mike Marsland\/WireImage)<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1765158614_30_0_The-British-Soap-Awards-2025-Arrivals.jpg\" alt=\"Roland Manookin, who played Teddy Mitchell in the BBC soap, arrived alongside on-screen sons Elijah Holloway and Lewis Bridgeman but will now be leaving them\" loading=\"lazy\"  \/>Roland Manookin, who played Teddy Mitchell in the BBC soap, arrived alongside on-screen sons Elijah Holloway and Lewis Bridgeman but will now be leaving them(Image: Getty Images)<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"mirror\">The new changes to the soap also include an almighty flash-forward twist as an episode on New Year&#8217;s Day 2026 takes us a year into the future. We will see a glimpse of 2027, as well as major hints of all the big plots unfolding across the next 12 months from that day. Max Branning will take centre stage, as Jake Wood makes his comeback to the BBC soap.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"mirror\">Speaking about the big episode and what&#8217;s ahead, Executive Producer Ben Wadey teased the show first. He said: &#8220;For the first time in the show\u2019s history, we\u2019re going to be offering our viewers an entire flashforward episode set on <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/all-about\/new-year\" target=\"\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">New Year<\/a> \u2019s Day 2027.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"mirror\">&#8220;2026 is going to be full of drama in Walford, especially for the Brannings, and the episode is sure to raise plenty of questions on how Max has got himself and his family into such predicaments, but all is not what it seems, so stay tuned for 2026 to find out how and why.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"mirror\">Like this story? 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