EastEnders exit announced for Anna Knight as Molly Rainford leaves after two years

Another EastEnders exit is on the way, with one star leaving the BBC soap after two years.

Anna Knight will leave Walford, as actress Molly Rainford is confirmed to be leaving the soap later this year. A BBC spokesperson confirmed the news to The Mirror, while it's not known when the star's final scenes will air exactly.

According to a source it was a mutual decision between actress Molly and soap bosses, following new Executive Producer Ben Wadey taking over the soap. It's claimed Molly is ready for new ventures, while details on Anna's exit remain under wraps for now.

The BBC told us on Thursday: "We can confirm that Molly Rainford will be leaving EastEnders later this year, and we wish her all the best for the future." Anna's biggest storylines have included her being spiked, being revealed as Cindy Beale's daughter, and her love triangle with Bobby Beale and Freddie Slater.

READ MORE: EastEnders 'seals' when Zoe Slater returns as Alfie's huge lie 'exposed'

A source confirmed the decision behind the exit, and said toThe Sun: “New boss Ben Wadey is making sweeping changes on the show and his decision coincided with Mollie deciding she wanted to pursue other challenges."

They added: "New boss Ben Wadey is making sweeping changes on the show and his decision coincided with Molly deciding she wanted to pursue other challenges.

"She’s hugely talented and wants to spread her wings and see what else is out there for her." Molly's character Anna arrived in 2023 as part of the Knight family, with dad George, sister Gina and stepmother Elaine Peacock. They took over The Queen Vic, and soon it was revealed Anna was Cindy's secret daughter.

Anna's love interest Freddie, played by Bobby Brazier, is also leaving the show but it's not clear if the characters will depart together. Also leaving are cousins Bernadette Taylor and Felix Baker, played by Clair Norris and Matthew James Morrison.

As for Molly, an insider added: "Molly came into the show two years ago, and in that time has been trusted with some great storylines.

"It’s just so happened that when Molly was considering other options in her career, a meeting was held to discuss the future of the character, and both parties were in mutual agreement that it was the right time for Anna Knight to wave goodbye to Walford."

Clair's exit was also reported by the same publication. A source recently told The Sun: "Every time a soap gets a new boss they want to make their own changes – it’s nothing personal. The writing has been on the wall for Bernie for some time so it wasn’t really a surprise to Clair."

"She was the last Taylor standing and it’s time to close the chapter on them and let Clair go on to do other things." While another insider told the publication that "characters have to leave for new stories to begin" but that Clair will be missed.

EastEnders airs Mondays to Thursdays at 7:30pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. * Follow Mirror Celebs and TV on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , and Threads.