An EastEnders icon has revealed the telltale signs that their character will be axed from the popular BBC soap opera.

Cheryl Fergison, who played Heather Trot on the programme, shared how she knew her character would be killed off.

The actress joined the soap all the way in 2007, with her character making a name for herself as Shirley Carter's best friend.

After five years on Albert Square, Heather was murdered by Ben Mitchell in 2012.

EastEnders icon reveals how stars know they will be axed from the BBC show

After more than a decade away from the BBC show, the EastEnders icon has opened up about how she knew she would be exiting the soap.

Speaking with the Daily Star, she said: "I had a feeling it might be coming."

She explained that stars would usually discuss their characters and storylines with bosses.

She said: "We’d always joke that either you’re going up to talk about your storyline, or you’re part of the culling."

She added: "But that particular week, as Friday approached, I hadn’t had a meeting, and neither had Linda [who played the role of Shirley Carter]."

She said that because she hadn't been called to discuss her character, she was facing the chopping block.

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She said: "At the time, Brian Kirkwood was the producer, and when I walked in, he looked visibly upset. I had an inkling of what was coming.

"He asked me to sit down, and I knew straight away it wasn’t going to be anything exciting.

"He explained that the higher-ups—the Powers That Be—had decided they wanted to explore Shirley dealing with grief, which meant Heather was going to die."