As Penny Branning decides to flee Albert Square next week, a heated showdown could end in a second character making their exit from Walford as secrets and lies explode on EastEnders

An Albert Square regular has announced they are leaving EastEnders for good next week in the wake of recent dramas. It looks like an exit could from the BBC soap be on the cards for Penny Branning, played by Kitty Castledine, when she decides to flee Walford, as the fallout from the tragic crush at Peggy’s nightclub continues. Penny has been saddled with the blame for the incident, which saw several partygoers injured when the club became dangerously overcrowded.

Penny decides to flee Albert Square to head back to Paris, meaning Jack Branning’s daughter could be leaving the show less than a year on from her big return on New Year’s Day. However, viewers know it was the spiteful actions of Chelsea Fox (Zaraah Abrahams) which caused the crush and not Penny, so there could be a second exit being lined up after that news is finally revealed to her family next week?

The possible double exit kicks off after Penny’s sister Amy, who was injured in the crush, is left frustrated over her long recovery. Lashing out, Amy ends up arguing with Penny. Disheartened that her family blame her for the accident, Penny makes the decision to leave Walford and she soon breaks the news to her family.

However, situation escalates between the Brannings and Penny as they row over Penny’s exit announcement. Things get heated and Denise ends up revealing the truth, confirming that Chelsea was to blame for the crush and not Penny. Everyone in the room is left reeling and demanding answers.

While it’s not known if Penny will still leave after Chelsea’s guilt is finally revealed, a number of characters urge Chelsea to hand herself in at the police station. However, Chelsea has been in trouble with the law before and given the severity of the crush incident and the fact she lied about her part in it, could Chelsea be sent to prison if she confesses?

After Penny confronts Chelsea again, Jack urges Chelsea to hand herself in at the station. However, Chelsea still refuses to admit her guilt to the authorities. After Amy and Lauren speak to her, Chelsea does eventually decide to hand herself in. Soon, she says goodbye to her son Jordan and heads to the station.

As both Penny and Chelsea’s futures in Walford hang in the balance, could EastEnders fans be losing two of their favourite character in one go?

The drama just one of the stories keeping EastEnders viewers gripped at the moment. Most recently, the show caused a sensation among fans when it screened an surprise cameo by Paul Nicholls as Joe Wicks, who was last seen on our screens 27 years ago.