Rainie Cross actress Tanya Franks quits EastEnders

Tanya Franks has quit 'EastEnders'.

The 54-year-old actress has starred as barmaid Rainie Cross on the BBC soap opera on and off since 2007 but most recently returned in 2015 and has reportedly left the show in a storyline that sees her character depart Albert Square with her baby Roland, whom she had become separated from in the months following his birth via surrogate in March 2022.

Rainie - who is the sister of the established character Tanya Branning - became estranged from her son after his father Stuart Highway abandoned him during his secret post-natal depression battle and left him in the care of surrogate Bernie.

But upon growing tired of caring for the tot, Bernie offered Rainie an ultimatum.

She said: “I shouldn’t be the only one putting Roland first. You do not get to make him suffer because your marriage is falling apart.

In scenes yet to air on television, Rainie tells Stuart: "The most important now is my innocent little boy. Your faces, I’ll be fine."

According to The Sun, Rainie was then seen climbing into a cab with Roland as she left Walford for good.

Stuart Highway - who is played by former 'Game of Thrones' actor Ricky Champ - is also said to be leaving the series shortly after Rainie's exit scenes have aired.

It comes just days after Maddy Hill - known to viewers as market stall trader Nancy Carter - also left the soap opera in scenes shown on Thursday' (23.06.22) night's episode and moved Manchester after her boyfriend Zack Hudson (James Farrar) cheated on her

with Sam Mitchell (Kim Medcalf) earlier in the week.

A BBC spokesperson said: "We wish Maddy all the very best for the future."