EastEnders actress Laurie Brett confirms exit from soap

EastEnders star Laurie Brett – Jane Beale in the saga – has confirmed that she has left the show.

Viewers have recently seen Jane – under pressure from Max Branning (Jake Wood) – beat a hasty retreat from Walford. 

Jane left the Square in a cab during Friday’s episode to avoid the unpleasant consequences Max promised she would incur if she stuck around to expose his wrongdoings. 

However, in last night’s episode (23 October) Max found out that Jane had left husband Ian (Adam Woodyatt) a message implying that there was more to her departure than meets the eye. This prompted Max to leave Jane a message of his own, reminding her firmly to stay away for Ian’s sake.

A visibly distressed Jane was seen playing back Max’s voicemail in a hotel room before calling Stacey to warn her about Max, unaware that Stacey’s phone had been swiped by Riley Taylor.

Laurie Brett has now confirmed to Radio Times that these were her final EastEnders scenes.

“I’ve loved every minute of playing Jane. To return to EastEnders with such a huge storyline was an absolute gift. However, what I have known from the start is that with the soap gods watching us at all times, there is only so long before things go full circle.

 

“It’s been hard keeping [my exit] a secret but the storyline has been great to play out and I have loved every minute of it.” – Laurie Brett

The actress returned to the beeb production in 2014 as part of its Who Killed Lucy Beale story. Jane’s son and Lucy’s half-brother Bobby was later revealed to be the culprit with Jane having covered up his actions. Max, of course, spent a time behind bars for the crime. Brett originally played the role of Jane between 2004-2012.

EastEnders continues tonight at 7.30pm on BBC One.