EastEnders has lost another star, with Pierre Counihan-Moullier, 26, who plays Oscar Branning, becoming the fourth cast member to quit. He made his debut on Albert Square just one year ago and quickly became popular with viewers, but he is now due to film his final scenes at the studios in Elstree.
The departure follows the confirmed exits of three other popular actors: Kellie Bright, 50, who plays Linda Carter, Aaron Thiara, 33, who plays Ravi Gulati, and Michelle Ryan, 42, who plays Zoe Slater. While Zoe, who debuted in 2000, is set to be killed off on-screen in the coming weeks in a controversial plot for the BBC soap, the door is reportedly being left open for Pierre.
Fans reeling from latest exit
“The fans love Pierre, so this is a huge blow to the show,” said a source, explaining that viewers are “still reeling from the news they are losing Kellie and Aaron”, who are “incredibly popular staples”.
“It’s also interesting that signing up Pierre has been one of the better things that Ben Wadey has done,” the insider added to The Sun. The actor was cast by executive producer Ben, 32, following his move from Channel 4. “So the fact that he’s leaving is not a good look. Everyone’s now hoping that the rest of the cast will sit tight for a while.”
Oscar remains until 2027
Oscar will remain part of Walford’s drama until at least the start of 2027. Fans have already seen him featured in January’s flash-forward episode, which ended with Max (Jake Wood) forced to choose between saving Oscar and older sister Lauren Beale (Jacqueline Jossa), as both his children were held at gunpoint.
Oscar was the first of returning characters to be brought back by producer Ben, who said he would be putting Oscar and the Brannings at “the heart of the show” amid the famous family’s revival. The character won audiences over with his cheeky, comedic streak and sarcasm, making him a stand-out member of the Branning brood.
Storylines and recognition
He also brought chaos with him from the start, as he explored his damaged relationship with estranged father Max when they reunited. His biggest storyline was the love triangle involving twins Jasmine Fisher (Indeyarna Donaldson-Holness) and Josh Goodwin (Joshua Vaughan), described as “one of the hottest love triangles in soap history”.
His “natural chemistry” with Josh actor Joshua has since been widely commended by LGBTQ+ outlets. Pierre’s portrayal of Oscar saw him nominated for best soap newcomer at the 2026 TV Choice Awards.
Oscar has been played by several actors since 2007, with Gabriel Miller-Williams first starring as him as a baby for one year. Twins Neo and Charlee Hall then shared the role intermittently from 2008 to 2015 before Pierre was hired in the recasting and the character ventured into more mature stories.
