EastEnders fans worried for Sharon star Letitia Dean after sudden exit

EastEnders fans are worried about Letitia Dean after her character Sharon Watts was written out during Tuesday night’s episode just weeks after making a much-anticipated comeback

EastEnders fans are worried about Letitia Dean after her character Sharon Watts was written out during Tuesday night’s episode. The actress, 57, has been on the BBC soap on a sporadic basis since 1985 and whilst her latest stint has lasted more than 14 years in total, the star has only appeared in a handful of episodes this year, prompting some viewers to worry about her well-being in real life.

Towards the end of last month, Sharon headed back to Walford after spending some time in America visiting her sister Michelle and missed the much-anticipated return of Zoe Slater during her time away. Once she had got home, she was shocked to learn that Zoe had given birth to her twins during her time away from Albert Square, and agreed to help her son down when she told Sharon that her late husband Dennis was the father, which was a lie.

Once she had discovered Zoe’s betrayal, Sharon packed up once more and has headed back to Florida, with news of her exit being confirmed via a phone call to Vicki Fowler. After hanging up the phone, she simply said: “She won’t come back. I seriously think this has tipped her over the edge, and she was so strong for me. She was in bits. She wants to go to Florida, stay with mum. I wish I was well enough to go with her, I need her!”

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Fans instantly took to social media to speculate on what was going on, given that the iconic character has only been seen nine times since her return.

One fan wrote: “I hope Letitia Dean’s alright. Before she came back it was said she had lots coming up and now she’s left again after only a month onscreen. Makes me think it was a last minute exit,” whilst another said: “I really hope Letitia Dean is ok she’s only just back and Sharon is gone again let’s no speculate about her real like person business but let’s hope she’s ok and back soon x”

A third said: “i hope letitia dean is ok… sharon’s exit around the time of matins death and her subsequent exit again now r really peculiar in terms of plot direction… not like being nosey or anything just hope she’s ok” (sic)

A fourth added: “What on EARTH is going on with Sharon Watts. She completed 9 episodes since coming back after a 5 month break and she’s gone again in another hastily written exit. Worried for her.” Sharing in the concern, another fan said: “I genuinely hand on heart really hope she’s okay! It’s so sad to not see her on screen.”

After one of the twins died, Zoe left the other behind and lied to Sharon about their father in the hopes that she would provide cash to help her track the child down. However, in tonight’s episode of EastEnders, Kat (Jessie Wallace) revealed the truth to Sharon’s sister Vicki, resulting in a furious clash.

Now, fans are convinced that there’s a much sadder reason behind Zoe’s cruel methods for finding her long-lost child, and that it could result in the recently returned character leaving the Square for good. Taking to X, some fans speculated that Zoe may be desperate to find the child as she’s secretly suffering with a life-limiting illness.

“I think there’s more to Zoe’s state of mind than meets the eye. I don’t think she can get out of this one #Eastenders,” one viewer wrote on social media.

Another replied: “Yeah imagine if Zoe has had some sort of secret diagnosis before returning to Walford. Not cancer but maybe some other health condition.

This may explain why she’s so eager to find her son after all these years because deep down she knows she may not have much time left #EastEnders.”

After watching Zoe look for a cat throughout the episode, another fan said: “You saw earlier in her scenes with the Cat and her reactions that something looked off with Zoe. #Eastenders.”

Others were bewildered with Zoe’s unhinged behaviour, with another writing: “Why is Zoe so obsessed with this cat??? # EastEnders.” A fifth said: “Zoe is a MESS #EastEnders.” Another tweeted: “Zoe is all types of messed up #EastEnders.”