EASTENDERS fans have been left devastated after a beloved character quit Albert Square in poignant scenes.
Recent episodes have seen Finlay Baker – played by Ashley Byam – become an enemy of the Panesar family.
EastEnders fans have been left devastated after a beloved character quit Albert Square in poignant scenes
Finlay had been threatened by the Panesar’s in recent days
It started when Vinny’s revenge plan on Eve Unwin failed, after he cut the brakes on Finlay’s car, believing Eve would be driving it to Brighton.
Suki intervened in time to save her secret love, but when Finlay realised who had cut his brakes, he assumed he was the target and wondered why Vinny wanted to do him harm.
After confronting Suki, Finlay quickly realised Eve had been the intended target, and Suki panicked he would figure out what was going on between them.
Finlay was subsequently threatened to keep quiet by Ravi, who also got thugs to trash his food stall on the market.
Suki also issued a thinly-veiled threat that Finlay’s brother Felix would be harmed if he didn’t leave Albert Square.
But in tonight’s episode, Finlay decided to turn the situation to his advantage, and while he didn’t want to leave, if he was going to, he wanted a wad of cash to soften the blow and help him set up his new life.
Visiting Suki, he said: “I’m going to miss this place, the gossip, the dirty little secrets, so I’m going to need more than just a few grand to keep me quiet.
“If I was Eve, and I found out you were trying to kill me….”
Suki said he was playing a “very dangerous game”, but Finlay refused to back down, and said the offer expired that night.
Later in the pub, Suki handed him an envelope full of cash, before Finlay sat down for a drink with his family and friends and told them he was leaving the Square.
He lied saying: “It’s good news, so I found an investor for my sauce. The thing is, this company is based in Dublin and they need me to move over there, so I’ve booked on the ferry tonight.
“I know it sounds sudden, but I have been speaking to them for a while and there’s this big meeting tomorrow and they need me there, and you don’t get opportunities like this every day do you?
“I wouldn’t be going if there was any other way.”
Out on the Square, Felix, Mitch, Karen, Bernie and Keanu bid Finlay an emotional farewell.
As he gave Felix a final hug, he said: “I love you bro, seriously I love you so much, if you need me for anything you call me yeah?”
He then climbed into his late father’s classic car and drove out the Square.
EastEnders viewers were sad to see him go, having enjoyed his character since he first arrived only a year ago.
One wrote on Twitter: “I didn’t know he was leaving. What a shame as I liked Finlay. Blooming Panesars!”
Another added: “This is all Vinny’s fault, why Finlay had to leave… People should be blaming Vinny, not Suki tbh.”
A third tweeted: “So gutted to see Finlay leave.”
Viewers were left gutted at his soap exit
EastEnders is available on BBC iPlayer.
