BBC EastEnders 2024: Triple exit, murder cover-up and huge returns

EastEnders had quite the end to 2023 with its dramatic murder storyline.

It’s safe to say though that 2024 has kicked off with a bang, from big returns and secrets to new storylines. It doesn’t look as though the action will be dying down anytime soon either, with some big twists on the way.

We have seen three returns to the show this year already, and we know two more are definitely in the pipeline. Sadly we know at least two residents will be bowing out this year, or at least two cast members anyway, while a third character is being killed off.

Elsewhere the bombshells, secrets and lies are set to continue, and it’s not just The Six who are hiding something. We’ve got new arrivals, new twists and turns and all sorts of chaos coming up over the next few months and beyond…

Triple exit

There’s three big exits confirmed for 2024, including a sad death while the details on one of the exits remains unknown. Whitney Dean is leaving the show after more than 15 years, with actress Shona McGarty quitting her role.

The exit was confirmed last year, and amid trouble between her and partner Zack Hudson and a pregnancy twist it remains to be seen how and when she will depart. Spoilers have also confirmed the Mitchells find out this month that Aunt Sal has passed away.

After cast members were pictured filming the funeral weeks ago, new spoilers confirmed the character’s death would be confirmed on the show. Last year, Aunt Sal actress Anna Karen passed away following a house fire at her home in Ilford, London. Firemen rushed to the incident shortly after 10.30pm and firemen managed to get the fire under control in less than an hour – but the actress sadly died.

It was confirmed recently that Ben Mitchell actor Max Bowden is leaving the role this spring after four years on the show. Ben’s exit has not been confirmed, so will the role be recast or is Phil Mitchell’s son on his way out of Walford? If he does leave, could his husband Callum Highway soon follow?

Big returns

As well as some goodbyes there are plenty of hellos. Just this week we welcomed back three characters, with Lauren Branning, her son Louie Beale and her cousin Penny Branning rejoining the BBC soap. But there’s more returns ahead, as Linda Carter’s son Johnny Carter is also making a comeback at some point this year, the show confirmed.

It’s thought Shirley Carter may finally return at some point too while this is not confirmed. Freddie Slater will also be making a comeback, after Bobby Brazier took some time out for Strictly Come Dancing.

Viewers are also predicting a comeback for Aunt Babe, amid a new storyline involving George Knight. Finally, a character from last year’s Mitchell flashback episode will be joining the main show, as Billy Mitchell’s father Stevie Mitchell debuts this month.

Murder cover-up

The murder plot is set to run on and on as The Six conceal their crimes, but how long until one of them cracks and how far will they go to protect their secret? Viewers know that Linda Carter killed Keanu Taylor on Christmas Day, after he tried to flee with partner Sharon Watts’ son Albie.

He had strangled Sharon leaving her fighting for her life, leading to Stacey Slater, Denise Fox and Kathy Beale urging him to get off her. But Linda stabbed him and killed him, just moments after Suki Panesar managed to revive husband Nish Panesar following a separate incident.

Denise had hit him over the head with a bottle and they thought he was dead, after he began attacking Suki. Nish is alive though and in a coma, so will he wake up and will he remember everything that happened that night?

Of course his story will go against The Six’s version of events, with them claiming Keanu attacked Nish and went on the run. His body remains hidden under the floor of the burnt out café, but soon they’re faced with having to move it to conceal their crime.

We’ve got a whole year ahead of us, so what are the chances that Keanu will be found or Nish will expose what happened? Will anyone else find out Keanu’s fate, and might the women be forced to strike again?

Shock discoveries