EastEnders star Danielle Harold has been axed from the show and it has been claimed that her character Lola Pearce will die from a brain tumour.
The actress, 30, was believed to have met with bosses when her contract had six months left, where she was told she was being axed from the soap.
Her character Lola, who she started playing on the BBC show in 2011, will be seen falling in love with her on-again off-again boyfriend Jay Brown, played by Jamie Borthwick, according to The Sun.
Exit: EastEnders star Danielle Harold has been axed from the show and it has been claimed that her character Lola Pearce will die from a brain tumour
It is understood that Jay will nurse Lola before her death from a brain tumour, in scenes that will be aired later this year.
‘EastEnders are desperate to make headlines and drive viewing figures with explosive plotlines, and Lola’s exit will have diehard fans in bits,’ an insider told The Sun.
‘Some people were left uncomfortable that the inspiration for boosting viewing figures came from such a real-life tragedy.’
MailOnline has contacted EastEnders and Danielle’s representatives for comment.
Romance: Her character Lola, who she started playing on the BBC show in 2011, will be seen falling in love with her on-again off-again boyfriend Jay Brown, played by Jamie Borthwick
It has been claimed that soap bosses will handle the character’s exit from the show ‘with grace and care’ and have created the scripts with a brain tumour charity.
Earlier this month, it was reported that Danielle was said to be devastated after being written out of the BBC soap in an unexpected ‘cull’.
She was said to be ‘in pieces’ with a storyline around her departure in the works, in part because the nature of her exit means she will be unable to return.
An insider at the TV show told The Sun: ‘She was not expecting the chop because her character has been a firm favourite with viewers. She’ll be written out with no option to return.’
They added that the cast was ‘rallying around’ Danielle, who has ‘handled the news like a true pro’.
Tragic: It is understood that Jay will nurse Lola before her death from a brain tumour, in scenes that will be aired later this year
She reportedly said of her exit: ‘I want to work on other things and play other characters. I can’t wait to get out there and see what’s possible.’
The source also claimed the actress was told others face being axed off too, but ‘no-one else has been given their marching orders yet’.
Danielle first joined Albert Square in 2011 as the granddaughter of established characters Billy Mitchell (Perry Fenwick) and Julie Perkins (Cathy Murphy).
In 2012, she was at the heart of a teenage pregnancy storyline which saw her become the first EastEnders actress to act out giving birth live on air.
Three years later, it was announced that Danielle would be leaving the soap, but she ended up reprising the role in 2019, returning to Albert Square with her on-screen daughter Lexi.
Plot: In 2012, she was at the heart of a teenage pregnancy storyline which saw her become the first EastEnders actress to act out giving birth live on air (pictured in 2013)
Upset: Earlier this month, it was reported that Danielle was said to be devastated after being written out of the BBC soap in an unexpected ‘cull’
Danielle told Digital Spy of her reprisal: ‘EastEnders was my first acting job and I have so many happy memories from my time there.
‘I can’t believe it’s been over three years since I left and I can’t wait to get back and find out what Lola has been up to.’
Elsewhere, EastEnders actress Tanya Franks has reportedly quit her role as Rainie Cross on BBC soap after seven years.
The 54-year-old has appeared in the show on and off since 2007 but most recently returned in 2015, but will apparently leave the show in a storyline that sees her character depart Albert Square with her baby Roland.
Rainie – who is the sister of the established character Tanya Branning – became estranged from her son after his father Stuart Highway abandoned him during his depression battle and left him in the care of surrogate Bernie Taylor (Clair Norris).
Goodbye: Elsewhere, EastEnders actress Tanya Franks, 54, has reportedly quit the role of Rainie Cross after seven years and will leave the show in shocking scenes
But upon growing tired of caring for the tot, Bernie offered Rainie an ultimatum.
She said: ‘I shouldn’t be the only one putting Roland first. You do not get to make him suffer because your marriage is falling apart.
In scenes yet to air on television, Rainie tells Stuart: ‘The most important now is my innocent little boy. Your faces, I’ll be fine.’
According to The Sun, Rainie was then seen climbing into a cab with Roland as she left Walford for good.
Goodbye: And EastEnder’s fans were left ‘gutted’ on Thursday evening over Nancy Carter’s shock departure as actress Maddy Hill has left the show for good
Stuart Highway (Ricky Champ) is also said to be leaving the series shortly after Rainie’s exit scenes have aired.
It comes just days after Maddy Hill – known to viewers as market stall trader Nancy Carter – also left the soap opera on Thursday.
The beloved charted moved Manchester after her boyfriend Zack Hudson (James Farrar) cheated on her with Sam Mitchell (Kim Medcalf).
Fans were left ‘gutted’ after actress Maddie left the soap in shock scenes, just a year after reprising her role as Nancy Carter.
Gone for good: The beloved charted moved Manchester after her boyfriend Zack Hudson (James Farrar) cheated on her with Sam Mitchell (Kim Medcalf)
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