Danny Dyer doesn't regret his decision to quit EastEnders but has teased a potential return to the BBC soap.
The actor, 45, bid farewell to Albert Square over the festive period last year, with his character Mick Carter seemingly dying at sea following a dramatic showdown with Janine Butcher during soap's Christmas Day episode.
Despite his on-screen exit only airing a few months, Danny potentially returning to EastEnders again in the future and reprising his role as the Queen Vic landlord has been heavily discussed.
Even Danny, who showed off a striking new bit of facial hair at the BAFTA TV Awards on Sunday night, has weighed on the rumours - hinting we having seen the last of Mick on screen.
"I don’t regret leaving, but it was really emotional for me," the dad-of-three admits when chatting to the RadioTimes about leaving EastEnders.
The Scared of the Dark host then cryptically adds: "Mick’s exit felt like a real 'full stop', but maybe it was a 'dot, dot, dot'."
Danny announced EastEnders exit at the start of 2022 in order to pursue other ventures, after almost a decade playing Mick on the long-running soap.
"The big news is I've decided not to renew my contract. That's all. That's not because I've fallen out with anybody, I love everybody," the star explained as he announced his pending departure at the start of last year.
"I am leaving EastEnders. I'm very lucky, I'm very grateful," he later added.
"When you're in a job like a soap your contract comes up for renewal and every time it has they've asked me to stay, and I'm very grateful for that. Because I've seen a lot of people come and go. It's very tough."
Danny became a wanted man following his big announcement, with TV shows all rushing to to sign The Football Factory up for new projects once he was free from his EastEnders commitments.
Since Mick's final scenes aired on Christmas Day, Danny has fronted star-studded reality TV show Scared of the Dark on Channel 4, launched a travel series with daughter Dani Dyer and is set to star in a new gritty Channel 5 drama.
Danny will play the lead role in an action thriller called Heat, which sees two families who are long-time friends holiday Down Under during Australian bushfire season - with not everyone making it back home alive!
"I can’t wait to get amongst this beautiful piece of work in Australia. I’ve always been intrigued about working there," Danny told The Sun when discussing his new gig.
"It’s my first gig since EastEnders. Heat has a powerful, dark script and strong Australian cast and crew. Let’s have it!"
Heat will also see Neighbours star Olympia Valance and Richie Morris grace the screens of Channel 5 viewers, in addition to Darren McMullen from 2021 romcom movie Christmas On The Farm, and Jane Allsop from Aussie TV drama Ms Fisher’s Modern Murder Mysteries.
* Follow Mirror Celebs on Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter and Facebook .
