Bobby Beale’s heartbreaking EastEnders exit storyline ‘confirmed’ as Freddie Slater ‘steals’ Anna Knight

Anna Knight (Molly Rainford) is is delighted in EastEnders next week when Bobby Beale (Clay Milner Russell) throws her a romantic and unexpected date, unaware that it was actually Freddie Slater’s (Bobby Brazier) idea.

The barmaid, as viewers know, has been enjoying a relationship with Bobby over the past few months, with the two having made amends following Anna’s one night stand with Freddie late last year.

Freddie, as fans will recall, slept with Anna, knowing that Bobby had a crush on her, and the betrayal proved too much for Bobby to handle when the truth was exposed as he cut ties with his best mate.

After getting tangled up in Theo Hawthorne’s (William Ellis) reign of terror, Freddie fled the Square – and only returned to screens last month, when he found out that Bobby and Anna were now together.

Bobby’s date with Anna could end up backfiring due to Freddie’s input

Despite their previous conflict, Bobby was willing to bury the hatchet, with he and Freddie getting back on the same page, but it’s somewhat clear that Freddie is still harbouring feelings for Anna – and potentially vice versa.

Next week, Bobby wants to throw a romantic date for Anna, with Freddie wasting little time in offering his support.

The accompanying pictures show Anna’s glee when she arrives on the rooftop of the Vic to see Bobby’s gesture, but will she work out that Freddie is largely responsible for it?

Anna stares at Freddie in the pictures in question, so should Bobby be worried about the spark between her and Freddie, which is still very much there?

If so, will this play a pivotal role in Bobby’s exit story?

It was confirmed earlier this year that, after five years in the Square, actor Clay Miner Russell will depart his role as Bobby.

A spokesperson for the BBC One soap told Metro.co.uk: ‘We can confirm that Clay will be leaving EastEnders later on this year, and we wish him the best for the future.’

Discussing his exit, a source told The Sun: ‘Clay’s a talented actor and he’s ambitious. He was never going to stay in EastEnders forever.”

‘He’s loved playing Bobby but he became an actor to play all kinds of roles and he wants to do that. The door is being left open but for now, it’s a definite goodbye.’