Actor Alex Ferns, who plays EastEnders' violent, wife-beater Trevor Morgan, is to leave the BBC soap before the end of the year.
Ferns has revealed that it was not his decision to leave the series.
Louise Berridge, executive producer of EastEnders said: "Trevor Morgan is one of the best villains that EastEnders has ever had and Alex is one of our finest actors. 'However, Trevor needs to have his comeuppance'.
His performance earned him praise at this year's British Soap Awards where he picked up two awards, best newcomer and best villain.
Ferns is the latest EastEnders star to announce his departure from the soap. Todd Carty, who plays Mark Fowler, Lucy Benjamin, who plays his wife Lisa and Jack Ryder (Jamie Mitchell) will all be leaving in the near future.
