'EastEnders' will be continuing without one of its key characters, with the news that actor Ben Hardy - who plays Pete Beale - has quit the Square.
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A source from the show has confirmed that the 23-year-old actor will be leaving the show at the end of his existing contract, with no plans to renew. There are reports of his being considered for a role in the next 'X Men' movie.
Ben Hardy has been a key figure on the Square since his arrival in June last year
It's been a tumultuous few months for his character Pete. Viewers watched, gripped, as he broke down in the Square after his father Ian told him of the death of his twin sister Lucy.
And he has recently been reunited with his ex-girlfriend Lauren Branning, played by Jacqueline Jossa.
The show's producers have been dropping all sorts of clues as to the identity of Lucy's murderer, who will be revealed in a special episode in February of next year. Whether Ben's planned departure from the show will be factored into this major storyline... watch this space.
His departure follows news of another exit, with actor Sam Strike announcing last week that he wouldn't be continuing to play Johnny Carter.
Ben has been with the show since June 2013, taking over from actor Thomas Law in the role.
