Aunt Babe according to The Sun, although their article is a bit vague. https://www.thesun.co.uk/tvandshowbi...ling-bbc-soap/

The headline says the actress is 'giving up on the struggling soap' then further down it says cast members are in fear that they will be next to be axed.

I liked her, but I'll live. Loving this purge at EE. Shame one couldn't happen at Corrie.

If true I am disappointed, Babe has been the closest thing we have had to a good bitch since Janine, Annette Badland plays her brilliantly by being able to make us hate Babe one minute and then feel sorry for her the next when we see she is just a lonely old woman who has never been loved.
It does seem SOC really is trimming the Carters down, a shame as they've been the most successful family we have had in years and the Vic needs a big family running it.

I like Babe and I don't think her presence is as problematic as Ronnie and Claudette's - she's a subtle manipulator and hasn't killed anyone. I did wonder if the recent ramping up on her nastiness meant an exit was on the cards though.

Although I wouldn't have got rid of her, I can live with it as Shirley is my favourite Carter and I also like Mick and Linda more than her.

It seems SOC is really going for it with all these axings.

They're dropping like flies!

Looks like may be leaving on her own accord rather than being axed.

I like Babe but I would've liked more screentime after the freezer incident. Mick and Linda seemed to shrug off that she blackmailed the Cokers and didn't bother paying them back.

I hope everyone finds out all the bad things she's done before she leaves, including the baby selling plot. After Babe's caravan was burnt down, she put weed in her bag but this probably won't be brought up again.

Most people on Twitter/FB will be delighted since the majority despise Babe It's a shame that recently some interesting played characters are deciding to quit/were axed.

Leaving and Returning list:

not really surprised tbh, though the article does sound like she might pop in and out

Surely Tina has to be next? Sylvie too.

I think Babe should be rested for a while anyway.

Unless it's been updated, the article is confusing in that regard. It starts off saying the actress is the latest to give up on the struggling soap, but then says actors are worried about who'll be singled out by SOC next off the back of this news.

Annette is never out of work. During her first year in EE she was popping in and out to work on other projects so it's not a stretch to believe she's quit but the article doesn't make that clear.

It's also entirely possible Babe was culled for the same reason as Claudette and Ronnie: to restore some moral fibre to the show. Although like I said above much of what Babe has been about is subtle manipulation, that's a lot different to committing and getting away with murder.

You can certainly tell that SOC shadowed the "Axeman of Albert Square" Matthew Robinson during the early part of his career.

That said, I have not disagreed with any of his decisions.

"Waiting in the wings" makes me think she is being downgraded to guest, a bit like Mo was

That's kind of what she started out as as well. I guess we'll have to wait and see.

Not a huge surprise. I've grown to appreciate Babe even though I find the character despicable. I think an exit, even a temporary one, was inevitable given her recent behaviour.

That's a shame but an exit for Babe was always going to happen eventually. She does have a shelf life imo. And Annette is never out of work anyway. They were lucky to of got her for this long.

Yeah it reads to me like her role will continue but only for guest appearances.

Tina surely must be next? unless they daren't axe her because she ticks the lesbian box.

The baby selling plot ruined her IMO, it was so ludicrous and poorly executed. I've always liked Annette as an actress and I will be sad to see her go but the character is another who suffered from poor development.

With her history on The Archers I did think she'd be one of the ones who stuck around.

I'm starting to think SOC is going to remove the Carter's from The Vic.

The question is who will replace them in the place.

Sounds like she is going to drop back to recurring when you read the whole thing.

Probably a good move to be honest

I said something like this the other day.

I'm really hoping he has lured Charlie Brooks back Sharon 2001 style!

Shame i think Babe is brilliant. I will definitely miss her . Thats 2 Carters gone

With hopefully Tina next! I cannot believe she has survived the axe so far!

I wouldnt miss Tina

It's not really surprising. They went too far with her during the blackmail plot; before that she was a believable soap bitch with a humorous side, now she'll always be remembered as the monster who blackmailed a grieving elderly couple even after their beloved grandson was horrifically murdered.

The future of the Carters is looking increasingly shaky now that three of them are going. We're going to be left with Mick, Linda, Shirley, Tina, Sylvie and Johnny. I think a Sylvie announcement will be incoming soon as her current position in the square is untenable due to her deterioration in her condition. Tina and Johnny's futures are crucial to the survival of the family. If they axe both of them, especially Johnny, then it's a clear sign that SOC wants Mick and Linda gone when the contracts come up for renewal. There is a very real possibility that all but Shirley will be gone by Christmas next year. On the other hand, SOC may simply want a scaled down version of the family and has no plans to axe any other members. I hope it's the latter.