EastEnders will be saying a sad farewell to Joyce Murray next week as actress Maggie Steed bows out of her role after less than a year.
Joyce will tragically die in her sleep next week, leaving her husband Ted heartbroken.
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Maggie joined the cast last year alongside Christopher Timothy who plays Ted.
It’s little under a year since the couple made their first appearance.
A BBC source has said: “Joyce’s time on the Square has been brief, and after her death Ted will come out of his shell and viewers will see a bit more of him.
“His and Joyce’s daughter Judith will come into play and be involved in new storylines with the Taylor family.”
News of Maggie’s departure comes the same week Jenna Russell (Michelle Fowler) and Richard Blackwood (Vincent Hubbard) both announced they are leaving the BBC One soap.
Joyce’s death will come as Ted focuses on the chess competition he’s entered Bernadette Taylor in arrives.
He’ll be seen clashing with his long-suffering wife as she pleads with him to stay home with her and talk to their son on the phone, instead of joining Bernie at the comp.
He soon realises he’s been neglecting his wife, but the realisation comes tragically late as Ted discovers Joyce dead in bed the next morning.
An EastEnders spokesperson told Metro.co.uk: “Joyce’s death will hit Ted hard – she has been there for him through some of his toughest times such as his PTSD and his depression.
“She was even willing to do a prison sentence for him so it’s fair to say that he will really feel he has taken what he had in his marriage for granted.
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“The arrival of Judith will then bring him more drama as it’s clear that their relationship is far from perfect.
“It remains to be seen whether Ted can get through his loss and work together with Judith to say goodbye to Joyce in the right way.”
The sad scenes will air next week.
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