EastEnders spoilers follow.
EastEnders star Matt Di Angelo has confirmed that Dean Wicks will be making his exit from Albert Square in the coming months.
Dean is currently in prison after being framed by The Six for the murder of Keanu Taylor, with Keanu's real killer Linda Carter having reported Dean to the police after Stacey Slater planted the incriminating murder weapon in Dean's flat.
With Dean's trial approaching, Di Angelo confirmed to The Sun while on the red carpet at the Radio Times Soap Awards that the scenes will mark his departure from the soap - at least for now.
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"There is a trial," he said. "I know the result of the trial, because we've filmed it already. I can tell you - but I won't because it would ruin the television."
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He went on to compare playing Dean to the World Cup, saying that although he is "a fun character to play", he feels that he can "handle a bit of him every six years or so, and then after a week you're like, 'OK enough of this'."
The actor added that Dean would "not" be "back to the Square" seeking revenge if the truth emerges about who set him up for killing Keanu.
Viewers may not be surprised to see Dean leaving Walford behind once again in the near future, but Di Angelo has teased that there is still a big shock to come as part of the big trial scenes.
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"We were on location for a full week and most of the trial is filmed," he said. "There was a twist at the end of it that sort of surprised me."
Dean's departure will follow another recent exit by Billy Mitchell's dad, Stevie, who left Walford soon after his arrival when Billy discovered that his mum had taken her own life after Stevie cheated on her.
While Billy was furious with his dad after the truth was revealed, Stevie managed to leave his family a parting gift after he stole Phil Mitchell's car and recruited Mo Harris to sell it.
EastEnders airs on Mondays - Thursdays at 7.30pm on BBC One. The show also streams on BBC iPlayer, where most episodes drop early at 6am ahead of their TV broadcast.
