EastEnders spoilers follow.
EastEnders has aired Barbara Smith's exit scenes as Dana Monroe.
Thursday's (September 1) episode saw Dana grappling with whether it was the right time to go away to university, or whether she should defer to look after dad Harvey.
Dana had made up her mind to stay behind in Walford because of her father's secretive behaviour, yet it turned out he was actually throwing a surprise party as a leaving do.
Dana met up with ex-boyfriend Bobby Beale at the party and he convinced her she needed to take this big step out on her own at university.
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As she was saying her goodbyes, Dana assured Bobby that their relationship meant a lot to her — even though Bobby had concealed his identity at first.
"Meeting you, even though it wasn't actually you I met, was special and if I hadn't, I don't think I'd have ever been able to do all this, moving away," she explained. "It feels so grown up."
Dana encouraged Bobby to never hide his true identity again, telling him: "When you meet that right girl, you're pretty perfect the way you are."
The episode concluded with Jean Slater joining Harvey in saying a heartwarming goodbye before she set off on her adventures at university.
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Shortly after her exit was announced, Barbara Smith told Digital Spy that the timing was right for Dana to leave Walford behind.
"I feel that Dana is definitely getting the send-off that she deserves. I think it's about time for her to spread her wings," she said. "She's a teenager at that age, so I think it really makes sense for the character and that's all I was ever there to do."
EastEnders airs on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7.30pm on BBC One. The show also streams on BBC iPlayer.
Read more EastEnders spoilers on our dedicated homepage.
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