After five years on EastEnders, Clay Milner Russell is bidding farewell to his role as Bobby Beale. The actor announced his departure from the BBC soap on April 15, 2024. According to an EastEnders spokesperson, Russell will leave later this year, and the show wishes him well in his future endeavors.
Russell’s exit stems from his desire for new challenges and a wider range of roles. A source close to the actor stated that he is ambitious and never intended to remain on EastEnders indefinitely. While he enjoyed playing Bobby, his goal as an actor is to portray diverse characters.
Despite leaving the show, the door remains open for Russell and his character, Bobby, to return in the future. This suggests that Bobby will not be killed off, leaving the possibility for him to revisit Albert Square.
Bobby’s departure storyline has not yet been revealed by the BBC. However, he has played a pivotal role in several major storylines during his time on EastEnders, including the murder of his sister Lucy and his near-death experience in a café fire.
Before Russell took on the role of Bobby Beale in 2019, the character was portrayed by four other actors. Kevin Curran (2003-2007) played the infant Bobby, while Alex Francis (2007-2012) portrayed him for five years. Rory Stroud (2013-2014) and Eliot Carrington (2014-2017) also played the role before Russell took over.
