Yahoo News Who's had the most successful post-EastEnders career?
What's life after Albert Square like for some of its most famous residents? It can be hard out there for a jobbing actor. But who has had the most successful career since their final duff-duff? Here's our rundown of the top 13...
(Don't have a go at us for leaving out Barry.)
13. Sam Strike (Johnny Carter 2013-14)
We can only imagine what Linda Carter would think of her beloved "Sausage" playing the cannibal killer of the title in Leatherface, the Texas Chainsaw Massacre prequel. But it happened. He was in Netflix's Mindhunter too.
12. Michelle Ryan (Zoe Slater 2000-05)
Altogether now: "You can't tell me what to do, you ain't my mother!" "Yes I am!" Ah, good times.
It looks like Michelle Ryan won't ever be back as Zoe Slater, but she's worked steadily ever since. A lead role in the 2007 US Bionic Woman reboot unfortunately came to an end when the show was cancelled after eight episodes. Ryan has had roles on British shows including Doctor Who, Merlin and Death in Paradise. She also appeared on stage alongside Will Young in 2012 in Cabaret.
11. Anita Dobson (Angie Watts 1985-88)
The "Den gives Angie divorce papers" Christmas Day episode attracted 30.15 million viewers, which is highly unlikely to ever be beaten by another soap. Anita Dobson quit the show in 1988, and rejected offers to return as Sharon's alcoholic drama-queen mother.
She's been busy ever since, with a respected stage career including roles for the Royal Shakespeare Company and a part in Chicago as Mama Morton. She appeared in Strictly back in 2011, and in 2015 she played Elizabeth I in the BBC's historical programme Armada: 12 Days to Save England.
She's also married to Queen guitarist Brian May.
10. Craig Fairbrass (Dan Sullivan 1999-2001)
Dan's love triangle with Carol and her daughter Bianca remains one of the most gripping triangles on EastEnders. Since leaving the Square, Fairbrass has carved out a niche in British independent action films including Devil's Playground and Rise of the Footsoldier. He has also lent his vocal talents to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 1, 2 and 3.
9. Nigel Harman (Dennis Rickman 2003-05)
Harman returned to his West End roots following Dennis's untimely demise, with roles in Guys and Dolls, Shrek the Musical and I Can't Sing! The X Factor Musical.
8. Nick Berry (Simon Wicks 1985-90; 2012)
Pat's son Wicksy was quite the ladies' man, charming his way into the beds of several Walford women, including Sharon. He also broke up Ian's marriage to Cindy after he fathered Steven.
Wicksy is currently in New Zealand, while Nick Berry went on to play the lead role of PC/Sgt Nick Rowan on ITV's hugely popular Sixties dramaHeartbeat. Berry returned to 'Enders in 2012 for a graveyard goodbye for his screen mum Pat. Aww.
7. Martine McCutcheon (Tiffany Mitchell 1985-88)
We cried when Tiff died after being run over by Frank Butcher on New Year's Eve. But Martine put it quickly behind her, hitting number one with her dramatic single 'Perfect Moment' in April 1999, and going on to win a Laurence Olivier Award for her West End role as Eliza Doolittle inMy Fair Lady in 2002 (despite negative headlines over repeatedly cancelled performances).
She appeared alongside Hugh Grant in Love Actually, and did a year as a regular panellist on Loose Women from 2016.
6. Michelle Collins (Cindy Beale 1988-90; 1992-98)
Now that Ian's mum Kathy is back among the land of the living, it's doubtful we'll ever see his vengeful ex Cindy making a shock return from the grave (more's the pity).
After 'Enders, Michelle Collins appeared in BBC drama Sunburn as a holiday rep and Scottish village drama Two Thousand Acres of Sky as an inner-city single mum relocating to a remote island. She also appeared on the long forgotten X Factor parody Rock Rivals on ITV before her ill-fated stint as Rovers landlady Stella Price on Corrie.
5. Susan Tully (Michelle Fowler 1985-95)
Michelle was a huge character for the show's first decade, being part of the first "whodunnit" with the mystery over Vicki's paternity. After moving to America in 1995, she missed the funerals of both her parents and her brother, along with numerous family weddings, and was noticeably AWOL as her son Mark Jr finally arrived in Walford to meet his father Grant. Then when she did show up, she had a new face.
Sue Tully had been a child star on Grange Hill before EastEnders, but has quit acting and is highly unlikely ever to return to Albert Square. She's now a busy television director, with Silent Witness, Stella and The Musketeers among her many credits.
4. Rob Kazinsky (Sean Slater 2007-2009)
Since leaving troubled Sean behind, Rob has worked constantly in the US. He's appeared in George Lucas's WWII air fighter film Red Tails, Guillermo del Toro's Pacific Rim and also in vampire drama True Blood. His most recent roles were in the big-screen videogame adaptation Warcraft and director Duncan Jones' follow-up, Mute.
3. Ben Hardy (Peter Beale 2013-15)
Ben has swapped the fruit stall for the glamour of Hollywood, having already appeared in X Men: Apocalypse and Elle Fanning's Mary Shelley. You may also have enjoyed his turn in BBC1's The Woman In White.
2. Michael Cashman (Colin Russell 1986-89; 2016)
The first gay character on EastEnders made an unexpected two-episode return in 2016. But Lord Cashman, CBE (as he's now known) hasn't been waiting for his agent to call in the 27 years since he last played Colin the Yuppie.
He has made a huge contribution to LGBT rights in the UK, having co-founded the charity Stonewall and served for many years as a Labour politician and a Member of the European Parliament. But, you know, mostly: he's a LORD.
1. Ross Kemp (Grant Mitchell 1990-99; 2005-06; 2016)
The hard man of the Square starred as Staff Sergeant Henry "Henno" Garvie in the gung-ho SAS drama Ultimate Force from 2002 to 2008. He also sent himself up brilliantly with a hilarious appearance in Ricky Gervais's Extras, where he claimed that SAS stands for Super Army Soldiers.
But it's Kemp's work as an investigative journalist/documentary filmmaker which has carved him out a hugely successful career away from acting. He won a BAFTA for Ross Kemp on Gangs, and has earned admiration for his willingness to put himself in the firing line in series including Ross Kemp: Extreme World.
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