EastEnders actor Steve McFadden has been a Watford regular for over 30 years, with viewers seeing his familiar face as Phil Mitchell in the soap since 1990.
Yet the iconic soap actor is set to leave Albert Square and his Watford pals as Steve has landed himself an acting job away from TV.
The actor is set to take to the stage as he takes on a role in panto in a production of Jack and the Beanstalk at Dunstable's Grove Theatre.
Whilst the seasonal panto role will mean Steve is forced to take time away from the BBC soap, there's still speculation over whether this could mean he's leaving EastEnders for good.
EastEnders viewers know there's a big storyline brewing with one character set to be killed off in an explosive Christmas Day episode. Whilst viewers have been less guessing who the unlucky Albert Square resident could be, there's every chance it could be Phil Mitchell meeting his untimely end.
In February a teaser flash forward episode, which has now been dubbed 'The Six", showed six Watford women standing around a body on the floor of the Queen Vic. Sharon Watts announces "He's dead" to her shocked co-stars.
Some viewer theories have pointed to the character being killed off as Phil Mitchell, especially as Sharon is seen standing in a white wedding dress and she and Phil have a longstanding on and off again romantic history.
The only confirmed details of the mystery body on the floor are that he's male and that he's sporting a quirky pair of cufflinks.
Whilst the clues could well point to Phil Mitchell exiting Albert Square for good, it's also possible that actor Steve McFadden may balance his pantomime role alongside being his usual moody Phil on TV.
EastEnders soap boss Chris Clenshaw has previously commented on the speculation from fans around the flash forward episode and hinted that new family The Knights including George Knight and Elaine Peacock could well play a big part.
He told the Mirror: "I think that it is very clear they've [The Knights] got a couple of bags, but actually, they come with a lot of baggage.
"They’re at the heart of the Square so they have a lot of interactions with most of the community The community have just lost Lola and so the family are thrust into their world going through that process.
"George very quickly, because he's a former boxer from the East End, strikes up a good friendship with Phil who already knows him.
"It's very interesting territory, people will be wondering if George and Phil are going to be enemies, and whether they're going to fit in with the rest of the community."
