I think people said that he was seen in pictures that were taken of Ronnie and Jack's wedding day, so take from that what you like in regards to how close he is to finishing up.

As for it being a moot point (I think you mean) you could say everything that is discussed in these forums is but that isn't the point of them. This thread specifically is asking of we would like Lee to have a reprieve, I said yes. It's not moot to discuss and speculate.

Also in regards to re-writing scripts and such- I don't think anyone expects that, however when a character is given a reprieve it's usually that they still leave as intended but return some months later, which for all we know could happen.

Keep him and kill Mick off instead. I find his scenes hard to hatch because they upset me so much. I literally want to climb into the TV give him a hug and get him out of there asap. Hard to watch butnfor the right reasons unlike Mick's scenes.

At this point we have no idea how the storyline will play out or what the long-term plan is. Nothing is happening any time soon; Danny-Boy put a picture on Instagram earlier today in a shirt that Lee wears, looking like he's still on set. As they filmed the new year episodes a good few weeks ago, I'm going to assume that they're currently filming well into January, maybe even February. Therefore I don't think Lee will be going anywhere until around March/April time next year. And it may be a temporary exit, as the original statement suggested.

I just struggle to believe that SOC, having entrusted Danny-Boy with the biggest storyline since he started, doesn't see a future for him as Lee. Lee's exit storyline was mooted as a chance to create more storylines, and there's tons of potential with a young man disappearing as a result of his depression, and the conflicts his family and his wife would face as a result of that. Then for Lee to turn up, say, six months down the line, after they've all started to accept he's gone, would make really decent TV.

So for all we know, a reprieve won't be necessary. The more I watch, the more I think Lee isn't going anywhere permanently.

They surely wouldn't annouce he's leaving only to change their mind and keep him

I'm pretty sure Hatchard signed a 3-year-deal in April 2014, which suggests he will leave around Easter 2017.

At first I thought he'd die, perhaps through suicide, but I think he'll do a Frank and just leave without telling anybody where he is.

I'd rather Johnny/Ted Reilly was leaving rather than Hatchard tbh.

I don't think any of the Carter actors, with the exception of Kellie and Danny, were given three year contracts - I can't imagine they'd have let Sam Strike or Maddy Hill leave so soon if they were on them - so I suspect Danny-Boy's has just been renewed on an annual basis until now. But even then, you're right, it suggests he will leave around April 2017. I am surprised they announced it so early, but maybe Danny-Boy requested that so he could openly start looking for work.

I'd rather they at least attempted to give Johnny the type of development they've given Lee recently before SOC swings the axe on him as well. Looking at the way Lee was written under DTC, nobody would have imagined he was capable of carrying the most well-received storyline of the autumn, but here we are. It just shows that often these under-utilised actors can shine when they're used in the right way.

Oh i would like him to Stay.

Sausage Surprise Slater was axed by Kirkwood and then the decision was reversed.

She is one of the best female actresses on the show imo, I agree.
Whitney is getting on my nerves a bit at the moment with her pushing Lee into moving, but then that's part of his exit sl so I forgive her.

Can I just add regarding the post you quoted, she isn't his girlfriend, she's his wife.

I agree completely with what you're saying - I also agree with LHomes' comment that underused characters should be given a chance before being axed.