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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Charlotte Tutton

Is Gray leaving EastEnders and does he die? All the suspects as soap hints at whodunnit

EastEnders airs the end of sorts for Gray Atkins on Thursday on the BBC soap, as he is finally found out for his violent crimes.

It's teased he could do a runner as several residents vow to take deadly revenge, with it confirmed he was behind the deaths of Chantelle Atkins and Tina Carter.

Lives are in danger though, as Gray does everything in his power to ensure he escapes justice.

But a dark trailer for the show and the scenes ahead teased a number of Walford residents seemingly attacking Gray, wanting payback for what he has done - as now confirmed by new images.

EastEnders airs the possible end of Gray Atkins it seems next week on the BBC soap (BBC/Kieron McCarron/Matt Burlem/Amy Sharp)

Some fans are convinced Gray will be killed off in an explosive whodunnit, and have been sharing their thoughts on who might be the killer.

The BBC soap have not confirmed a grisly end for Gray, or if he will claim another victim - but fans will just have to wait and see.

So if the soap does kill him off, here are all the key suspects...

Mick Carter

Mick actor Danny Dyer has quit the BBC soap and will be bowing out at some point this year (BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)

Mick actor Danny Dyer has quit the BBC soap and will be bowing out at some point this year.

With Mick being Tina's nephew and them being close, he will no doubt want to take Gray down - as teased in the trailer when he's shown walking towards him menacingly.

Some fans have questioned if Mick will kill Gray and then do a runner or be sent to prison, while others predicted he may take the blame for someone else.

Shirley Carter

Mick's mother and Tina's sister Shirley goes on the warpath in the wake of her death (BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)

Mick's mother and Tina's sister Shirley went on the warpath in the wake of her death.

She immediately suspected Gray may be involved, and when this is was confirmed she headed to his house to kill him.

Shirley is also shown in the trailer preparing to attack him with a bar stool, to avenge her sister.

Fans are predicting Shirley and Mick might take down Gray together, or that Shirley might kill him - leading to Mick's exit.

Keegan Baker

Another character soon leaving the ITV soap is Keegan actor Zack Morris (BBC)

Another star soon leaving the BBC soap is Keegan actor Zack Morris, who has already secured a new role.

He is the brother of Gray's first victim Chantelle, and has looked up to his brother-in-law Gray for years.

So to learn he was behind the death of his sister, and also abused her, will no doubt leave him devastated.

But in a moment of grief, could Keegan be the one to take revenge on Gray - and could this lead to his exit?

Karen Taylor

Chantelle's mother Karen is the last person who would believe her son-in-law was capable of treating her daughter the way that he did (BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)

Chantelle's mother Karen is the last person who would believe her son-in-law was capable of treating her daughter the way that he did.

Scenes will see her struggling to believe the claims he killed Tina, and that he was involved in Chantelle's death.

She even protected him when the police searched the Square - but it seems this all changes, as the trailer shows her screaming from a broken window, as the police race through the Square.

There's another moment where she attacks him with a bat - but will she go on to kill him?

Mitch Baker

Chantelle's dad Mitch never saw eye-to-eye with Gray while he was with his daughter (BBC)

Chantelle's dad Mitch never saw eye-to-eye with Gray while he was with his daughter.

This did change after she died, but initially he was warned Gray might have been involved in her death - something he later ignored.

Before Chantelle died he encouraged her to open up to him, getting the sense that something wasn't right, and that she wasn't happy.

He also seemed to sense her fear just before she died, when Gray forced her to go home with him amid the family's holiday.

Whitney Dean

Gray's ex and Chantelle's friend Whitney is set for a dramatic showdown with the killer next week (BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)

Gray's ex and Chantelle's friend Whitney is set for a dramatic showdown with the killer.

She has yet to discover his past obsession with her led to Gray murdering her boyfriend Kush Kazemi last year.

Whitney has been trying to expose the killer for months, after working out in December that he had abused and possibly killed Chantelle.

So far her claims have been ignored, but the Carters finally listened to her when she suggested Gray might have killed Tina, as well as his ex-wife Chantelle.

It set the scene for an explosive week, leading to Whitney and Gray having a final showdown - so will Whitney be forced to kill Gray to save herself, or might someone else be to blame?

Chelsea Fox

Gray's current wife Chelsea has been controlled and even attacked by him (BBC)

The final suspect on our list is Gray's current wife Chelsea, who has been controlled and even attacked by Gray in recent weeks.

When Gray took their baby son Jordan from the hospital she was terrified, having found the courage to not be controlled by him anymore.

She headed home and asked Gray if he really did murder Tina and Chantelle, leaving him shocked over her returning confidence.

But as he finally confessed, unaware Chelsea had dialled 999 on her phone, things took a dark turn with her now feared to be in danger.

So will she manage to fight back?

Someone unexpected

Kheerat Panesar has been working with Whitney to expose Gray (BBC)

Perhaps Gray doesn't die and is finally arrested for his crimes, like viewers are hoping he will be.

Or maybe in true soap style it will be someone viewers aren't expecting that takes Gray down for good.

Maybe a Carter or a loved one of Mick and Shirley, or maybe one of the Taylors or Bakers will take revenge.

Perhaps Kheerat Panesar, who has been working with Whitney to expose Gray, will find himself in another showdown with the character - and maybe this time he will kill him.

The soap is keeping all the details under wraps until transmission, so viewers will have to tune in to find out what happens.

Got any theories or thoughts on the storyline? Let us know in the comments section below

EastEnders airs Mondays to Thursdays at 7:30pm on BBC One.

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