EastEnders actress Milly Zero has quit the BBC One soap after three years.
The actress, who has played Dotty Cotton since 2019, has decided to walk away from the role.
Milly has already filmed Dotty's exit scenes and teased she 'goes out with a bang'.
Dotty is set to leave Albert Square shortly after Dot's funeral but, the storyline will reportedly leave the door open for her to return in the future.
Milly has played the role of 'Nasty' Nick Cotton and Sandy Gibson's daughter since 2019 – taking over the role from Molly Conlin who played Dotty from 2008 until 2010.
Milly announced the news in a statement on his Instagram story, which read: "After 3 & a half years – I have decided my journey with the icon that is Dotty Cotton has come to an end.
"I can't tell you how life changing my time at EastEnders has been, and how much I am going to miss it, but I am ready for new challenges now.
"Thank you to everyone that made it so special – I have made friends for life, learnt huge amounts and made memories to last a lifetime. I can't wait for you all to watch her Exit, she goes out with a bang!"
BBC declined to comment when contacted by the Mirror.
Dotty has been involved in a number of big storylines including convincing her uncle to pretend to be Sonia Jackson's biological father in a bid to get money that the nurse had been withholding.
She was also involved in Tiffany Butcher and Keegan Baker's exit storyline as Keegan cheated on his wife Tiff with Dotty in a heated moment of passion.
Before Dotty leaves the Square she will be seen saying goodbye to her Grandma Dot at her funeral, which will take place in Walford – according to reports.
As she filmed the funeral scenes, which come after the legendary Dot Cotton actress June Brown died, Milly revealed she cried real tears.
Milly previously said: "It was such an emotional day.
"We cried real tears during filming because it really is such a beautiful tribute to her."
A number of EastEnders favourites returned to take part in filming Dot's funeral scenes including Jacqueline Jossa – who played Lauren Branning – Tom Watt – who played George 'Lofty' Holloway – and Lord Michael Cashman – who played Colin Rusell.
Before June's death, Dot was last seen on Albert Square in January 2020 as she visited her grandson Charlie in Ireland.
After the exit scene wrapped, actress June revealed she wouldn't be returning to the BBC soap.
Speaking on the Distinct Nostalgia podcast in February 2020 to former co-star Rani Singh, who played shop owner Sufia Karim, June said: "I don’t want a retainer for EastEnders, I’ve left. I’ve left for good.
"I’ve sent her off to Ireland and that’s where she’ll stay. I’ve left EastEnders. I did make up a limerick. It’s a bit dirty. I went back to do a good story. Alas and alack, when I got back it had gone up in smoke.
"Well that is no joke. I got a small part, a very small part. And that ended up as a big wet fart. Alas and alack, I will never go back."
Milly's exit announcement comes days after Kheerat Panesar's final scenes on the soap aired.
Kheerat actor Jaz Deol's exit was confirmed after the eldest Panesar sibling was seen being escorted away from Walford by police after falsely confessing to a murder his mother stood to be charged for.
