Toby-Alexander Smith bids farewell to 'EastEnders' and his serial killer alter ego Gray

EastEnders serial killer Gray Atkins was finally caught out on Thursday and Toby-Alexander Smith who played him has shared a goodbye message to the soap.

Smith's character Gray has spent the last couple of years evading the law over his crimes in the BBC One soap, but in a dramatic episode last night he confessed to the murders and was arrested.

Read more: Retribution at last for EastEnders character Gray Atkins

The terrifying character finally admitted he had killed wife Chantelle (Jessica Plummer) after years of abuse and had also gone on to bump off a number of other Albert Square residents, before trying to escape across some scaffolding but ultimately being taken away by the police.

Smith marked his EastEnders exit by posting a selfie from the new set, which the episode was the first to make use of, on Instagram.

It showed him dressed in Gray's hoody and up on a rooftop looking down over the Square at night, appearing to have been taken during the week of night shoots filmed for his thwarted escape scenes.

He wrote: "Goodnight Walford…you’ve been wild!"

Lorraine Stanley, who plays Chantelle's mum Karen Taylor, replied: "You was outstanding tonight mate!! What an epic episode!!! I’m going to miss you so much,love you lots xxxxx"

Castmate Emma Barton, who plays Honey Mitchell, also posted a goodbye message to Smith as she tweeted: "Goodbye to the wonderfully brilliant,kind,gorgy @_TobyAlexander Will miss you matey... Love Cilla."

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Many of Smith's other castmates, including Clair Norris and Milly Zero, also offered their congratulations as Plummer commented with applause emojis.

During his time in EastEnders, Smith has become an ambassador for charity Women's Aid who acknowledged how his storyline had helped raise awareness of domestic violence.

They tweeted: "We are proud to have worked with our ambassador @_TobyAlexander who has done a tremendous job of playing perpetrator Gray in @bbceastenders. Thank you for your commitment to increasing awareness of domestic abuse through this powerful storyline."

Smith replied: "Thanks for everything you do."

EastEnders also posted a video from Smith where he talked about how difficult it had been to play the role and confirmed he would continue to work with Women's Aid.

Watch: EastEnders' Toby-Alexander Smith on Gray's exit