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Brian Conley has suddenly quit his role on BBC soap EastEnders as Rocky ahead of the big Christmas murder, it\u2019s been reported.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s been claimed that the actor \u2018wanted out for a while\u2019, two and a half years after making his debut.<\/p>\n
\u2018Brian was a brilliant signing and has been a big hit with fans,\u2019 an insider said.<\/p>\n
\u2018But it looks as though he\u2019s just not enjoying being on EastEnders any more \u2014 and has been telling a lot of colleagues and telly friends he wanted out for a while.\u2019<\/p>\n
They continued to The Sun: \u2018It\u2019s all come to a head, and at the National TV Awards last week he was pretty open with co-stars and friends about his exit.\u2019<\/p>\n
It\u2019s been alleged that the soap had \u2018made so many plans\u2019 around his character Rocky, and that the 62-year-old\u2019s departure could impact the upcoming murder that\u2019s set to be revealed at Christmas.<\/p>\n
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It\u2019s been claimed that while the BBC wanted Brian to remain on the programme, he decided against staying, leaving bosses at the broadcaster \u2018furious\u2019.<\/p>\n
The insider stated: \u2018There has been a lot said in private about him messing up their plans.<\/p>\n
\u2018Whatever has wound him up, it feels like he can\u2019t get out of there quick enough \u2013 and now they\u2019re going to have to rewrite their storyline plans for his rapid exit.\u2019<\/p>\n
Ahead of this year\u2019s festive episode, EastEnders fans already know that a murder is set to unravel, after it was revealed that a dead body was lying next to the Vic\u2019s Christmas tree.<\/p>\n
The source suggested that Brian\u2019s exit might result in the BBC switching around the victim of the Christmas murder.<\/p>\n
\u2018There was always a plan for a major death at Christmas \u2014 but it wasn\u2019t initially going to be this,\u2019 they said.<\/p>\n
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\u2018If Brian wants out, it makes sense to switch it around. There\u2019s time to do that before they start filming the Christmas storylines.\u2019<\/p>\n
However, some fans who reacted to the news of Brian leaving the soap expressed their hope that his departure will be written into the script separately.<\/p>\n
\u2018I hope this doesn\u2019t derail the Christmas death because if it does it\u2019ll be a big shame, I just hope they write a separate exit,\u2019 one person said on X (formerly Twitter).<\/p>\n