AN EASTENDERS star has sparked fears among fans that he’s secretly quit the soap.
The 30-year-old actor joined EastEnders in 2019 as part of the Panesar family and made his debut in October that year.
But now Shiv Jalota – who plays Vinny Panesar – has left viewers concerned he’ll be leaving the show after announcing a new job with Milly Zero, who previously starred in the soap as Dotty Cotton.
Shiv revealed he’s joined a new theatre show alongside 24-year-old Milly.
Sharing snaps of them rehearsing together, he wrote: “Back to the theatre roots and training that creative muscle with the most talented ensemble.”
One fan was quick to ask if Shiv would be leaving EastEnders but it appears he has suspiciously deleted the comment.
The Sun revealed in November 2022 that Milly had quit as soap icon Dot Cotton’s granddaughter Dotty.
She later confirmed the news, telling fans she wanted to explore “new challenges”.
Meanwhile fellow EastEnders star Shona McGarty this week confirmed she’d landed a huge new role after quitting the soap.
Shona, 32, has played Whitney Dean for 16 years but revealed last year she’d made the decision to leave.
She has landed the role of Jenny in 2:22 A Ghost Story, stepping into the shoes of Cheryl Tweedy, who previously played the part.
Shona will join Once Upon a Time’s Colin O’Donoghue, Laura Whitmore and Strictly’s Jay McGuinness in the Dublin run of the theatre show.
In a message to fans last year confirming Whitney’s exit, she said: “It’s going to be the end of an era, or an earring, as the EastEnders saying goes.”
“I’ve loved my time in Walford, but with the character of Whitney, bless her, she’s had some awful things happen to her, and I think she needs a break. The door’s open and I could always come back in the future.”
Fans have already said goodbye to some huge characters this year
Sam Mitchell (Kim Medcalf)
Iconic villain Sam turned on her brother Phil in shocking scenes as she exposed him cheating on his wife Kat with Lola’s mum Emma before making her exit from the Square.
Karen Taylor (Lorraine Stanley)
She was last seen in Walford in February after it was revealed last year matriarch Karen would be written out of the show. But actress Lorraine recently teased a comeback for Karen.
Ben Mitchell (Max Bowden)
Max left his role as Ben – the son of Phil – in March after five years. Fans were left stunned when Ben was arrested and accused of committing credit card fraud while in the US.
Jade Masood (Elizabeth Green)
Evil Dean Wicks had been tampering with Jade’s medication to keep her ill and stop her from travelling to Pakistan to be with her mum Shabnam. She later discovered his actions and disowned him before fleeing the Square.
