EastEnders legend Danny Dyer has revealed the reason he left the popular BBC soap opera.

The actor, who played the role of Mick Carter until 2022, shared that a specific character and story development made him reconsider his time on the programme.

In the show, his character was swept out to sea following a showdown between him, Janine Butcher (Charlie Brooks) and Linda Carter (Kellie Bright).

While the Carter family moved on with the belief that he was dead, his demise was kept intentionally vague, allowing for a possible future return.

EastEnders legend Danny Dyer reveals the reason why he left the BBC soap opera

In the latest series of The Assembly, formerly on the BBC, famous faces like David Tennant and Gary Lineker were interviewed by 35 autistic, neurodivergent or learning disabled individuals.

During the ITV show, Danny Dyer revealed that the offer of the EastEnders role came at the right time.

According to The Metro, he said: "I reached a point where I’d made many mistakes in my life and no one would employ me anymore, then EastEnders came along and said: 'we love you – we want to put you in the Queen Vic'.

"That saved my life because I had bailiffs at my door. The first four years were incredible."

Danny admitted that things started to change for him when Dominic Treadwell-Collins left as EastEnders producer.

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This change saw Mick begin a relationship with Janine, kickstarting fears that he was on the chopping block.

He added: "A new producer came in and he didn’t like the Carters. He started to sack people – my son, my daughter – they’ve still got Kellie Bright in it, who plays my wife, Linda Carter. But then they split me up from Kellie and put me with Janine.

"When they told me, I said: “Janine? But she murders people!” I thought “oh no, if I stay too long, she’ll kill me – I’ve got to get out”. And basically I went in the sea, and was never found again."