EastEnders’ Jessie Wallace ‘taking a break’ from soap as on-screen daughter Michelle Ryan is axed
Jessie Wallace will take a temporary leave of absence from her role as Queen Victoria landlady Kat Slater this Christmas, The Sun can reveal.
The actress, 54, has been given permission by bosses to take a big-money job in panto.
Jessie will play villain Captain Hook at the New Wimbledon Theatre’s production of Peter Pan between December and January.
A source said: “Jessie will be taking a short break from the soap to appear in panto.
“Bosses agreed to the short break because it’s over Christmas and won’t hugely affect filming.
The news comes after it was revealed Michelle Ryan had been axed from the soap after her lacklustre return as Zoe Slater.
Actress Michelle has already filmed her final scenes.
The 42-year-old delighted fans last year by returning to Walford as Zoe Slater after a 20-year absence.
But shortly after returning to the screen, she asked bosses for time off earlier this year.
Michelle quit the soap, but scriptwriters have now made her decision permanent by killing off her character.
Michelle filmed her final scenes last month, and viewers will see Zoe’s departure play out on the BBC One soap in the coming months.
A source said: “Michelle’s long-awaited return has been somewhat flat and lacklustre.
“There’s been a backlash about her comeback, leaving some fans disappointed with her on-screen presence.
“There has been some disappointment backstage that the return was shortlived as everyone loved the Zoe Slater’s historic moments.”
Zoe and the Slater family took Albert Square by storm when they arrived in 2000.
One of EastEnders’ most iconic plot twists was when “sister” Kat, played by Jessie Wallace, was revealed to be Zoe’s birth mum.
Michelle left the soap in 2005 to go to Hollywood when she landed the lead in the Bionic Woman remake.
