EASTENDERS favourite Roy Evans

ROY GETS THE BOOT(And this time it's not Pat)

EASTENDERS favourite Roy Evans has been kicked out, the News of the World can reveal.

Car salesman Roy, played by actor Tony Caunter, will be dropped from the top BBC soap in an explosive plot line.

And this time he really will be parted from his beloved old boot Pat, played by Pam St Clement.

BBC bosses claimed yesterday star Tony decided to leave the show "by mutual consent".

But insiders insist EastEnders chiefs are axing his character in a further purge of "dead wood".

When the News of the World contacted the BBC about 65-year-old Tony's exit, they claimed he would be retiring but had to admit they needed to contact him immediately "to discuss things".

Dad-of-four Tony—who has played Roy for nearly eight years—said: "I can honestly say this has been the happiest period of my career.

"I will miss working alongside my screen family and all the team at EastEnders, but I look forward to trying out some new roles."

Roy's greatest storylines centred on his overwhelming love for cheating wife Pat (see top moments, left) who had an affair with ex-hubby and conman Frank Butcher.

In another memorable plot a dodgy used car scam with crook Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden) was rumbled by the law.

Roy also had a heart attack caused by stress and in another storyline became impotent.

Havoc

One striking lowpoint for Roy involved the return of Jane, his mistress from 30 years ago.

She revealed she was dying of cancer and that her son Nathan was also Roy's. Nathan later caused havoc and Roy forced him to leave Walford.

Star Tony is expected to be written out next spring and joins a string of other top names to have left the BBC soap recently.

Actress Lucy Benjamin (Lisa Fowler) was axed along with Todd Carty (Mark Fowler). Colm OMaonlai (fireman Tom Banks), and Alex Ferns (psycho Trevor Morgan) have also gone.

Tony—married to retired teacher Frances—says he agreed with soap bosses that there was no more he could do with his character Roy. "It was time for me to move on," he said.

"I look forward to trying out some new roles—perhaps on something with a less hectic schedule!"

EastEnders executive producer Louise Berridge said: "We all wish him every success in whatever he does next."