TVTV NewsEastEndersJessie Wallace will be taking a break from EastEnders amid a new storyline which will see Zoe Slater exit the Square for good13:45, 14 Jul 2026Updated 15:50, 14 Jul 2026EastEnders star Jessie Wallace is taking a break from the BBC soap, fuelling fears she might quit. Fans are terrified that Zoe will die as part of her exit storyline, and that her death will have huge consequences for her family, potentially causing her mum, Kat, to also leave the show.‌Jessie will be taking on the role of Captain Hook at the New Wimbledon Theatre's pantomime production of Peter Pan this Christmas. Other celebrities set to star include Aston Merrygold, Tom Read Wilson and Pete Firman.‌It means Jessie will be taking a brief break from her role on the hit BBC soap but is expected to return shortly after. Filming takes place ahead of transmission so it remains to be seen how she will be written out for a few weeks.‌"Jessie will be taking a short break from the soap to appear in panto. Bosses agreed to the short break because it’s over Christmas and won’t hugely affect filming," a source told The Sun. "It’s a huge bonus for Jessie. She’s one of the show’s biggest names and can command huge fees for panto appearances."‌It comes days after it was revealed Zoe star Michelle Ryan would be leaving the soap in a big storyline. A BBC spokesperson said: "We can confirm Zoe Slater will be departing EastEnders later this year."We wish Michelle Ryan all the best for the future. However, we never comment on future storylines as we don’t want to spoil it for the viewers."A source added of her exit: "Michelle’s exit marks the end of a storyline that has been in the works for some time. With such an iconic character, Zoe’s exit is never going to be without drama, but bosses are keeping tight-lipped about how she leaves the Square, but as always with the Slaters, it’s not going to be quiet."Article continues belowJessie has had a long history with EastEnders, having played Kat Slater on and off for decades. She first joined back in 2000, where she stayed with the show for five years. A brief hiatus saw her return in 2010 until 2016 before taking a couple of years break and returning in 2018 until now.Over the years, she has had some huge storylines including it being revealed that her 'sister' Zoe Slater was actually her daughter. She has had an on off romance with Alfie Moon, with the pair finally reuniting, and now proudly stood behind the bar at the Queen Vic.Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Threads.Choose Daily Mirror as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.‌Jessie WallaceBBCEastEndersSoap operas