When is Rocky leaving EastEnders? Does he die, and why did Brian Conley quit?

EastEnders’ Rocky Cotton takes centre stage in upcoming scenes as a fire rips through Kathy Beale’s café in Walford, amid a confirmed exit on the BBC soap.

Rocky actor Brian Conley confirmed weeks ago he was leaving the show – but does his exit tie in to the big fire twist? It’s not known how or when Rocky will leave the show, and actor Brian appears to be filming still – or at least he was last month.

Despite theories he could die in the big fire, caused by him in an insurance scam, pictures from filming appeared to confirm he would survive until Christmas at least. Rocky was snapped filming for Sharon Watts and Keanu Taylor’s wedding meaning he is on screen until at least December.

We do know though that a mystery male character will be killed off on Christmas Day, with Kathy a potential suspect. So how does Rocky leave the show and when might his final scenes air?

The announcement of his departure came in September, and with filming around six weeks in advance to the episodes airing he was expected to leave around November time. That said, filming can be a little different around the winter months in the lead-up to Christmas.

Also an exit announcement was not a guarantee he had filmed his final scenes, merely just confirmation he would leave soon. The storyline had already been planned for months, decided on prior to the announcement.

So with bosses planning a huge exit for him, the storyline is seemingly still running its course – which is where we find ourselves currently, with Rocky gambling, in debt to villain Nish Panesar and setting fire to the café for the insurance money. It’s well and truly paving the way for his exit, but it remains to be seen whether he will be killed, imprisoned or forced to go on the run.

It’s surely only a matter of time now until he’s exposed or his lies catch up with him, but the fact he’s seemingly still filming for the Christmas episode, unless it’s a red herring, means he will likely still be on screen in early 2024. So unless he faces a grim fate on Christmas Day in the murder twist, it’s likely he will leave January or February time – while nothing has been confirmed by the BBC.

If he survives the murder this December, would the show really kill someone off again so soon after? Viewers will have to tune into the fallout of the big fire twist to see if he gets caught out, and what might lead to his big exit.

Explaining his exit back in September, amid reports of a falling out with BBC bosses, Brian revealed: “Hello lovely people, it’s me, Brian Conley AKA Rocky from EastEnders. Sending out this message, especially to all the EastEnders fans. Now, you may have heard reports that I’m leaving EastEnders and it was a tough decision but it is true… I am going.

“I made it for many reasons, this decision, and it’s tough because they’re such a wonderful crowd. In front of the cameras and behind the cameras, I’ve loved my three years there. So that’s the truth in the reports! There’s other parts of the reports saying that I ‘clashed’ with TV bosses and the crew. I didn’t ‘clash’ with anyone, I didn’t have a rant.”

He added: “I’ve gone with their [EastEnders’] blessings at the BBC, I’m excited about the future and where it’s going to go. I’m also excited about Rocky’s exit… as I know it’s good! So I’m sending you much love, all the EastEnders fans, and yeah… enough said!”