EastEnders star to quit BBC soap after four years 'to look for other opportunities'

Bobby Brazier who plays Freddie Slater in EastEnders is set to leave the iconic BBC soap in by the end of the year.
Bobby Brazier is set to leave Albert Square as his time on EastEnders is over after a four-year stint. The actor and model, known for his role as Freddie Slater, has gained a lot of attraction and offers following his time on Strictly Come Dancing in 2023 where he finished runner-up.
The 22-year-old's exit from Walford is scheduled for later this year, the Mirror reports. As an EastEnders spokesperson confirmed: "We can confirm that Bobby Brazier will be leaving EastEnders, and we wish him all the best for the future.'
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A source close to the show, told The Sun: "Bosses recently met with Bobby to discuss a potential storyline, but Bobby felt this was the right moment to explore new ventures beyond the series.
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"The timing aligned perfectly for both parties. Although his final scenes are some time away, the character has enjoyed a strong run, and now is the time for Bobby to pursue fresh opportunities while EastEnders bids farewell to Freddie Slater."
Bobby's departure from EastEnders comes amid a wave of bold casting moves by new executive producer Ben Wadey, who's reviving the drama by bringing back fan favourites including Michelle Ryan (Zoe Slater), Jake Wood (Max Branning), and Max Bowden (Ben Mitchell).
At the same time, Lacey Turner is taking a break from her iconic role as Stacey Slater.
Since joining the soap as Freddie Slater back in 2022, Bobby has gone on to win the National Television Award for Rising Star as well as appearing on Curfew a Paramount+ drama while continuing to film for the BBC soap.
Clearly enjoying his craft, Bobby recently revealed: 'I love my job. I love being on EastEnders and I love modelling. But I'll probably take a break at some point. Just travel, get inspired, meet new people."
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Looking back on his journey, the once-reserved 22 year old admitted that fame hasn't always felt natural - particularly during his time on Strictly Come Dancing, when he initially "wanted to get voted off."
Bobby connects his unease in the spotlight back to the loss of his mother, Jade Goody, who passed away when he was only five years old. "I don't want to be famous. Maybe I did when I was younger. Now I just want to act," he candidly shared.
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His EastEnders storyline saw Freddie mistakenly believe Billy Mitchell was his father, leading to an emotional and intense confrontation - an early sign that Bobby had the ability to "blow us away" with his raw and honest performances.
He later took on a deeply personal journey exploring ADHD representation. One standout scene - where Freddie confronted a former teacher and revisited his past school trauma.
Fans praised the depth of his emotional portrayal, capturing the character's grief and anger in a way that resonated both on and off screen.
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In a powerful 2023 storyline, Freddie defended Stacey Slater from a violent assault attempt by Theo Hawthorne. In the gripping performance that left viewers in tears and earned widespread praise, he attacked Theo with an iron.
More recently, Freddie uncovered the harrowing truth that his biological father is Graham Foster - his mother's attacker. The storyline delved into Freddie's emotional turmoil and determination as he seeks out Graham at a car dealership.
In the heart-wrenching scenes that followed, Freddie made the decision to firmly cut ties with Graham leaving viewers deeply moved by the emotional moment.

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