EastEnders: Danny-Boy Hatchard Thanks Fans For Support As Lee Carter Leaves Walford

EastEnders star Danny-Boy Hatchard thanked fans for their support last night as his character Lee Carter bowed out from the show.

Fans saw Lee abandon his wife Whitney leave Walford for Dover and a fresh start, after months of struggling with depression and mental health issues.

Copyright: [BBC]

The actor posted a video to Twitter on Friday night, telling fans that the response from fans had been amazing, and getting to portray mental illness and have a “positive impact on someone else’s life” had been an honour.

Awww.

“These past three years you have been amazing, really, really amazing,” he told fans in his video. “I’ve had an incredible time at EastEnders helping create Lee as a character and helping bring awareness to mental health.”

“It’s been a real honour and I couldn’t have done it without your support.Thank you from the bottom of my heart. To be an actor and be able to have a positive impact on someone else’s life is the biggest reward, I think, that any actor could ever ask for, and to have you guys’ support is the cherry on top.

Copyright: [BBC]

“So thank you from the bottom of my heart. I love you dearly and I hope to see you all again in the future.”

It’s been a dramatic few weeks for Lee and the rest of the Carter family, after Lee’s financial struggles and Aunt Babe’s meddling threatened to ruin the family for good.

Last week, Lee hit Whitney during an argument, which was the final nail in the coffin for the couple. After she forgave him and they went out for a Valentine’s dinner, Lee left his wife in the restaurant, leaving her a note back in the flat telling her that he didn’t love her anymore.

With his father Mick, played by Danny Dyer, at his wit’s end, both Lee and his Dad felt like his only option was to leave The Square and start afresh before things got worse.

Whitney was, of course, absolutely devvo’d – poor lamb.

Copyright: [BBC]

After joining EastEnders three years ago, viewers have seen Lee go through various hard-hitting storylines. Early on, we saw him struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder and get kicked out of the army. His on-off relationship and subsequent marriage with Whitney has been nothing short of rocky, after he cheated on her with Abi Branning and the couple were rocked by a traumatic miscarriage.

Things got worse after Lee considered suicide following bullying at work and a botched robbery at the pub to help allay his financial problems.

But Carter fans needn’t worry – Lee’s only gone down the road to Dover (who knew that Dover was such a fountain of opportunity!) with the door left open for a return.

So perhaps he’ll be back sooner than we think?