'EastEnders' characters Ava Hartman and Sam James will both be departing the BBC soap it has been revealed, following the news four other Walford residents have been axed.
The on-screen couple - played by Clare Perkins and Cornell S John - will bow out later this year at the end of their current transplant storyline, according to Digital Spy.
Sam and Ava will be leaving the soap later this year
However, it appears that the characters were not axed by the show's new executive producer like Kirsty Branning, Poppy Meadows, AJ Ahmed and Carl White were earlier this week. Instead, it appears producers had long planned for their story to culminate in their departures.
An insider said: "The conclusion of the Sam storyline was planned many months ago. Since taking over last month, new executive producer Dominic Treadwell-Collins is continuing the story as it was originally mapped out."
Ava and Sam's son Dexter - played by Khali Best - will be staying with the soap, it has been confirmed.
Viewers have recently seen the family face news of Sam's illness, for which he requires a kidney transplant.
Ava was introduced in November last year as the long-lost daughter of Tanya Branning's mum Cora Cross.
Sam was later introduced as Ava's ex back in May, before the couple reunited.
Along with the departures of Sam, Ava, Kirsty, Poppy, AJ and Carl, last week it was revealed that Alice Branning would too be leaving the Square.
