EastEnders announces four exits from BBC soap leaving fans 'sobbing'

There were emotional scenes on Thursday night as , but that wasn't all.

The soap announced the departures of three other characters too, alongside soap legend Sonia Fowler.after three decades, with it confirmed earlier this year she had quit the soap.

But she wasn't the only icon to depart the show, in scenes that left viewers "sobbing". Four characters in total bowed out in the latest episode, including Walford favourite Bianca Jackson played by Patsy Palmer, who is currently in the Celebrity house.

As the episode began there was a sweet recording of late icon Dot Cotton, Sonia's grandmother (through her marriage to her grandfather Jim Branning). Dot spoke in a sweet monologue as Sonia listened, preparing for her big move away from Walford after three decades.

She began packing, and of course throughout the episode developments led to her changing her plans. There were nods to the past including her famous trumpet, her lost loves Jamie Mitchell and Martin Fowler, and memories from the past.

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But Sonia knew it was time to move on, and time to leave Walford behind. Amid twists and turns, , Sonia found out she wasn't who he thought he was.

She and Bianca took their revenge on him with help from Sonia's daughter Bex. They decides to use the tickets for Bali that Terry had bought for them, plotting their escape with him locked in the shed.

They invited Bianca along for the ride and with that, the exits of four characters were sealed. Sonia, sister Bianca and her daughters Bex and Julia were confirmed to be leaving, with the group packing up and saying their goodbyes.

They stole Terry's boat, with Bianca nabbing his keys, and Bex drove them out of Walford with the boat attached to the car - with Bianca and Sonia sat inside. With that they left for good with Julia's theme playing, with the characters being waved off by their friends and family.

This was Sonia's final scenes on the show and marked icon Natalie's exit. It also marked Bianca, Bex and Julia's last scenes on the BBC soap, with fans left emotional by the episode.

Taking to social media, fans confessed the four exits left them sobbing. One fan said: "Crying at tonight’s episode of Eastenders. It was a perfect send off for Sonia, Bianca and Bex."

Another agreed: "What an amazing exit for Sonia. I am crying," as a third added: "Currently sobbing. Stand by." A fourth fan posted: "Oh my God Sonia’s exit has me sobbing." A further comment read "So emotional bidding a fond farewell to ar Sonia and Bianca."

Natalie has been open about her exit from the show. Speaking about it, she said: "I'm 42 this year, I just feel like it's time to be brave. You don't want to get to 70 and think, 'I never tried that'. I've loved this programme with all my heart. I started at ten, it's in my bones, it's in my heart. I'd been thinking about it for a little while. I had a wonderful chat with Chris back in the summer. It's just exciting.

"You can't hypothesise or worry about what's going to happen to your character. That is down to the boss and the storyliners as the fate of Sonia is in their hands. I've had to take a deep breath, and go, 'I've made my decision, I've just got to let it play out.'"

EastEnders airs Mondays to Thursdays at 7:30pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. * Follow Mirror Celebs and TV on , , , , , and .