Kierston Wareing as Kirsty Branning
A major change is set for 'EastEnders', with the axing of four characters in a bid to boost ratings.
Recently falling behind both 'Coronation Street' and 'Emmerdale' in the ratings, new executive producer Dominic Treadwell-Collins is aiming to restore the BBC One show to its former glory by getting rid of four castmates.
Kierston Wareing's Kirsty Branning and Phaldut Sharma's AJ Ahmed are among the Walford residents who will leave the show early next year, with both Rachel Bright's Poppy Meadow and Daniel Coonan's Carl White also being dropped from the soap.
A source told The Sun newspaper: "Dominic didn't feel the characters who are leaving fit with the direction he is taking the show so he quickly decided to write them out.
"He has only been in a month but he is already making big changes. He knows what he wants for 'EastEnders' and is putting plans in place quickly.
"His arrival has gone down really well with cast and crew and there is a real energy at the studios right now -- even though some cast are scared they could be next for the chop."
Dominic was previously a scriptwriter at 'EastEnders' and came up with the ratings-grabbing 'Who killed Archie Mitchell?' storyline in 2010.
The flagship BBC soap has fallen behind its ITV rivals in the ratings in recent months.
Former boss Lorraine Newman was forced to quit in July after viewers dipped below five million.
Tagged in Eastenders