EastEnders characters Ronnie and Roxy Mitchell are to be killed off later this year.
The will reportedly meet a nasty end in a New Year’s Eve special which has allegedly angered their fellow cast members as they were not consulted over the storyline.
Actresses Rita Simons and Samantha Womack, who play the sisters on the BBC soap, apparently thought they would be able to return to Albert Square in the future as their characters would not die.
A source told The Sun on Sunday: “Everyone’s in shock. The cast are really upset as it’s come out of the blue.”
They added: “People are worried who’s going to be next. The script for Roxy and Ronnie’s deaths has been written, but none of the actors know what’s going to happen.”
The two girls arrived back in Walford in 2007 but producer Sean O’Connor has apparently decided to write them out.
News of their exit broke last month but it was not realised they would not be coming back.
At the time, Samantha thanked show fans for their support.
She tweeted: “Thank you SO much for all your kind words about me leaving EE.
“It’s so humbling to know you loved Ronnie as much as I did! Very grateful.”
We have approached a representative for EastEnders for comment.