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Yahoo TV NewsJean Slater to quit EastEnders – Daily TV round-up
Actress Gillian Wright has played the role for eight years.
Gillian Wright, who has played Jean Slater for eight years in 'EastEnders', is to quit the soap, it's been announced.
53-year-old Wright will film her last scenes on the show this week.
“It has been a huge privilege to play Jean Slater these last eight years,” she said.
“I treasure the viewer’s care and love for the character not only through her hard times but through all the laughter too.
[EastEnders boss quits following falling ratings]
“I will miss EastEnders enormously, but it is time for me to step back and enjoy other acting challenges.
“I would love Jean to return to The Square one day, so let’s hope this is not goodbye, but au revoir.”
Wright's role as Jean Slater will be best remembered for her struggle with bipolar disorder, and for her turbulent relationship with daughter Stacey, played by Lacey Turner.
She also won Best Actress at the Inside Soap Awards last year.
[For more news and blogs, visit our EastEnders page]
The news of Wright's departure comes just a day after it was announced that executive producer Lorraine Newman is also quitting the show.
Under Newman, ratings have dropped to below five million viewers, some of the show's lowest audiences. [Daily Mail]
Also in today's press
The next series of 'The Voice' has been moved back by two months to avoid a clash with ITV rivals 'The X Factor' and 'Britain’s Got Talent'. According to reports, the finals of the show will now start in March next year, winding up in April, before the start of 'Britain's Got Talent'. [The Sun]
Meanwhile, Sharon Osbourne has branded her former judging panel colleague on 'The X Factor' Dannii Minogue as 'insignificant'. Speaking about the pair's well-publicised spat, she said: “I chose to leave because I was uncomfortable there at that time with a woman that was on the panel,” she said. “She's insignificant, but at that time, I let her get under my skin and I should have been the bigger person.” [Daily Beast]
'The Thick Of It' star Peter Capaldi, who plays foul-mouthed spin doctor Malcolm Tucker in the show, is the latest to be linked to the soon-to-be vacant role of 'Doctor Who'. Bookies William Hill have reported a flurry of bets on Capaldi taking over from Matt Smith. Capaldi has already appeared on the show, in the episode 'The Fires of Pompeii'. [Digital Spy]
