Following nine years on EastEnders, Danny Dyer has decided to depart the soap following reports that he has agreed to a six-figure sum for a new drama series with Sky.
According to The Mirror, the actor, 44, who has played Mick Carter on the BBC soap since 2013, has inked a new contract with the satellite channel.
A spokesperson for the show confirmed that Danny would be departing Walford later this year, but added that there would still be more drama in store for Mick leading up to his exit.
‘Danny will be leaving EastEnders when his contract expires later this year,’ the spokesperson announced.
‘Danny has made Mick Carter an iconic figure that we will always be grateful for,’ they added, though there will be no goodbye just yet because there is still much more time – and plenty of dramatic events – ahead before he leaves Walford.
Danny enjoys EastEnders, but he believes it’s time for him to try other characters as an actor.
‘He’s ecstatic to be on the show and grateful for everything it has given him, and he didn’t make the choice lightly,’ she said. ‘But after playing Mick for almost nine years, he feels it’s time to let go of the character.’
‘They haven’t decided yet, but he hopes they will leave the door open for Mick.’
Danny has known for some time that he would depart the show this year, so they’ve had plenty of time to plan a major storyline for him.
‘The year of the Carters will be filled with a lot of major drama, as Kellie is expected to rejoin fairly soon.’
While the arrangement is significantly less than his purported £1 million “golden handcuffs” agreement with the BBC, it is expected to provide him access to new lucrative possibilities.
Danny will star in a short film directed by a 17-year-old to raise money for mental health organizations, according to widespread reports.
Noah Caplan is the writer, director, and producer of Stepping Stone, which was inspired to begin when his younger sister suffered a serious accident.
The film, which is complete, follows four characters from various backgrounds who are coping with problems such as domestic violence, alcoholism, and living with anxiety.
It’s all about how you start. This video is interested in demonstrating just how crucial it is to communicate with someone if you want assistance.
The film also stars Danny, Noah, David ‘Sideman’ Whitely, and Georgia Moncur, as well as Cush Berlyn, who plays a counselor.
Stepping Stone is a public engagement project intended to remove the negative stigmas surrounding mental health and encourage people around the world to talk about an issue that is so prevalent.
It is scheduled for release in early 2022, and it has been created in support of mental health organizations such as Calm.
‘The power of this thing (the mind) is a mad old thing,’ Danny explained.
‘He was a wonderful young man,’ he remarked of Noah. ‘I was really, really impressed. He’s barely 17 years old. It’s remarkable how well he has his sh** together and pulled this off.’ I genuinely liked it.’
“It was a tremendous pleasure to contribute to this project with Danny Dyer and his fantastic crew,” said Noah.
This is a personal project that I’ve been working on since my sister was injured in a terrible accident, and I witnessed the impact it had on me and everyone around me.
‘I’m so fortunate that this trauma has motivated me to give back to the community through filmmaking.’
‘Mental health is something very near to my heart, and I hope this documentary can help people.
I want to bring the conversation around mental health into many other homes and friendship circles as a family.