Jessie Wallace, known for playing Kat Slater on EastEnders, is taking a break from the BBC soap to appear in a pantomime production of Peter Pan at the New Wimbledon Theatre this Christmas. The move has sparked fears among fans that she might quit the show entirely.
Panto Role and Break Details
Wallace will play Captain Hook in the pantomime, alongside Aston Merrygold, Tom Read Wilson, and Pete Firman. The break is expected to be brief, with filming for EastEnders occurring ahead of transmission, so her character will be written out for a few weeks.
A source told The Sun: "Jessie will be taking a short break from the soap to appear in panto. Bosses agreed to the short break because it’s over Christmas and won’t hugely affect filming. It’s a huge bonus for Jessie. She’s one of the show’s biggest names and can command huge fees for panto appearances."
Zoe Slater's Exit
The news comes days after it was revealed that Michelle Ryan, who plays Zoe Slater, will be leaving the soap in a major storyline. A BBC spokesperson confirmed: "We can confirm Zoe Slater will be departing EastEnders later this year. We wish Michelle Ryan all the best for the future. However, we never comment on future storylines as we don’t want to spoil it for the viewers."
A source added: "Michelle’s exit marks the end of a storyline that has been in the works for some time. With such an iconic character, Zoe’s exit is never going to be without drama, but bosses are keeping tight-lipped about how she leaves the Square, but as always with the Slaters, it’s not going to be quiet."
Fears for Kat Slater
Fans are concerned that Zoe's departure could lead to Kat Slater also leaving, potentially through a death storyline that would have huge consequences for the Slater family. Wallace has played Kat Slater on and off since 2000, with breaks from 2005 to 2010, 2016 to 2018, and currently.
Over the years, Wallace has been involved in iconic storylines, including the revelation that Zoe was actually Kat's daughter, not sister, and her on-off romance with Alfie Moon, which saw the pair reunite and run the Queen Vic pub together.
