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<\/p>\nEastEnders have confirmed that Brian Conley is leaving the soap after three years.<\/p>\n
The actor, 62, has played Thomas ‘Rocky’ Cotton since May 2021 but is now moving on to new projects.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The BBC told in a statement on Wednesday that they supported his decision and denied claims of a feud and that he had demanded to be written out of the show.<\/p>\n
Brian also took to his Instagram grid to confirm the news and further refuted claims there had been disagreements.<\/p>\n
The Sun had claimed on Tuesday night that BBC bosses were ‘furious’ he was leaving as they had planned important storylines around his character.<\/p>\n
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Moving on to new projects:\u00a0EastEnders have confirmed that Brian Conley is leaving the soap after three years<\/p>\n
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Role: The actor, 62, has played Thomas ‘Rocky’ Cotton since May 2021 but is now moving on to new projects<\/p>\n
EastEnders said in a statement: ‘We can confirm that Brian Conley will be leaving EastEnders.\u00a0<\/p>\n
‘There is absolutely no truth in any claims of a feud with bosses and the show fully support Brian in his decision to leave which was made some time ago.\u00a0<\/p>\n
‘We wish him the best of luck for the future as we continue to work towards his exit storyline which has been in the works for some time.’\u00a0<\/p>\n
Meanwhile Brian said in a social media video: ‘Hi it’s me Brian, AKA Rocky from EastEnders. I am just sending out this message to all the fans. You may have heard reports that I am leaving.<\/p>\n
‘It was a tough decision but it is true that I am going, I made it for many reasons that decision. It was tough as they are such a wonderful crowd in front and behind the cameras and I have loved my three years there.<\/p>\n
‘That is the truth. There are reports that I clashed and that I was ranting, but I’m not ranting. I have gone with their blessings the Beeb and I am excited about the future and where it’s going to go and I am excited about Rocky’s exit because it’s good!<\/p>\n
‘So I am sending you much love to all EastEnders fans and enough said!’\u00a0<\/p>\n
It comes after in June Brian revealed he could be facing the chop in this year’s Christmas cliff-hanger.<\/p>\n
The actor told host Steph McGovern\u00a0Steph’s Packed Lunch that the BBC1 soap is planning to film a number of different endings for this year’s Christmas Day episode to keep viewers guessing.<\/p>\n
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Having their say:\u00a0The BBC told in a statement on Wednesday that they supported his decision and denied claims of a feud and that he had demanded to be written out of the show<\/p>\n
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Words: Brian also took to his Instagram grid to confirm the news and further refuted claims there had been disagreements<\/p>\n
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Unexpected:\u00a0EastEnders said in a statement: ‘We can confirm that Brian Conley will be leaving EastEnders’<\/p>\n
He said: ‘In February we had a lovely episode where if flashed forward to Christmas, and someone’s dead in The Vic and Letitia is there in a wedding dress and she’s covered in blood.<\/p>\n
‘So everyone’s going, ‘O my God, who’s dead?’, as well as all the actors in the show, and all you saw was it’s a male, or is it, I don’t know.<\/p>\n
‘You just saw the cufflinks and I think everyone has been looking out for those cufflinks for a while now.’<\/p>\n
Asked by Steph if the cast knew who the victim was Brain replied: ‘None of us have got a clue.\u00a0<\/p>\n
‘I believe leading up to Christmas, there might be ten of us laying there so that it will be a big surprise to us as well.<\/p>\n
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Disruption:\u00a0The Sun had claimed on Tuesday night that BBC bosses were ‘furious’ he was leaving as they had planned important storylines around his character<\/p>\n
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Happy: Brian was seen posing and smiling with the cast at the NTAs just last week ahead of his announced exit<\/p>\n
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Mystery: It comes after in June revealed he could be facing the chop in this year’s Christmas cliff-hanger\u00a0<\/p>\n
‘We’re all going to maybe film a moment where we’re all laying on the floor and then right up until the last minute they can reveal on Christmas Day who it is.’<\/p>\n
Asked if he was worried about potentially being killed off, Brian said: ‘You’re in an ongoing drama so you know people do pass away and you do live on tenterhooks, especially if you’re enjoying it, and we all are, they’re a lovely bunch, everyone there.<\/p>\n
‘I’m very happy to be there and I just think what we’re doing now and the fact that it’s the number one soap is very exciting.’<\/p>\n
Conley has been the host of The Brian Conley Show, as well as presenting the Royal Variety Performance on eight occasions.\u00a0<\/p>\n