Following his success on Strictly Come Dancing in 2023, Bobby Brazier received new opportunities and has decided now is the right time to leave EastEnders

Bobby Brazier is set to depart from EastEnders after a four-year stint. The 22-year-old actor and model, known for his role as Freddie Slater, has attracted numerous offers following his runner-up finish on Strictly Come Dancing in 2023. His exit from Albert Square is scheduled for later this year.

An EastEnders spokesperson confirmed, “We can confirm that Bobby Brazier will be leaving EastEnders, and we wish him all the best for the future.”

According to a source close to the show: “Bosses recently met with Bobby to discuss a potential storyline, but Bobby felt this was the right moment to explore new ventures beyond the series.

“The timing aligned perfectly for both parties. Although his final scenes are some time away, the character has enjoyed a strong run, and now is the time for Bobby to pursue fresh opportunities while EastEnders bids farewell to Freddie Slater,” they told The Sun.

Bobby plays Freddie Slater on the BBC soap ( 
Image:
BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)

Bobby’s exit from EastEnders coincides with a wave of bold casting choices by new executive producer Ben Wadey, who is bringing back fan favourites like Michelle Ryan (Zoe Slater), Jake Wood (Max Branning), and Max Bowden (Ben Mitchell). Meanwhile, Lacey Turner is stepping away from her role as Stacey Slater for a break.

Since joining the soap as Freddie Slater in 2022, Bobby has gone on to win a National Television Award for Rising Star and even appeared in the Paramount+ drama Curfew while continuing his work on EastEnders.

Clearly thriving in his craft, Bobby recently shared: “I love my job. I love being on EastEnders and I love modelling. But I’ll probably take a break at some point. Just travel, get inspired, meet new people.”

Bobby joined EastEnders in 2022 ( 
Image:
BBC)
Reflecting on his journey, the once-reserved 22-year-old admitted that fame hasn’t always sat comfortably with him – especially during his Strictly Come Dancing run, where he initially “wanted to get voted off.”

Bobby connects his discomfort in the spotlight to the loss of his mother, Jade Goody, when he was just five years old. “I don’t want to be famous. Maybe I did when I was younger. Now I just want to act,” he said.

Freddie’s early storyline saw him mistakenly believe Billy Mitchell was his dad, confronting him swiftly and emotionally – a debut that showed how Brazier can “blow us away” with raw emotion.

He then embarked on a heartfelt journey with ADHD representation. One scene of Freddie revisiting past school trauma by confronting an old teacher received acclaim. Fans praised the depth of his emotional portrayal, showing how the character’s grief and anger were believable both on and off-screen.

Bobby is set to leave the soap after four years ( 
Image:
BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)In a powerful 2023 arc, Freddie defended Stacey Slater from a violent assault attempt by Theo Hawthorne. He attacked Theo with an iron – echoing Little Mo’s past – delivering a performance that had audiences in tears and earned widespread praise.

Most recently, Freddie uncovered the traumatic truth that his biological father is Graham Foster – his mother’s assailant. The plot reveals Freddie’s emotional turmoil and determination as he seeks out Graham at a car dealership.

In emotional scenes that followed, he decided firmly to cut ties with Graham, leaving many viewers deeply moved.