By Sheila Mckenzie-
EastEnders is facing another major cast shake-up, following news that Pierre Counihan-Moullier(pictured) is reportedly lined up to leave the BBC soap in 2027, just months after establishing himself as one of Walford’s most popular younger stars.
The 26-year-old actor, who plays Oscar Branning, is said to be preparing to depart the Square in what would represent another significant loss for a programme already dealing with a string of high-profile exits.
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Counihan-Moullier joined EastEnders in 2025 after moving from Channel 4’s Hollyoaks, arriving during the early period of Ben Wadey’s tenure as executive producer.
Oscar quickly developed into a favourite with viewers, with the character’s personality and comedic edge helping him make an impression despite being a relatively recent addition to the cast
The reported departure comes at an awkward time for EastEnders, which has already seen a number of familiar faces leave Albert Square while other established characters are preparing to bow out.
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The news follows the confirmed departure of Kellie Bright, who has played Linda Carter for 13 years, as well as the reported exit of Aaron Thiara, who plays Ravi Gulati. Michelle Ryan is also returning to the headlines surrounding the soap as her character Z.
Losing Counihan-Moullier could be particularly frustrating for the show’s productive team because Oscar represents a newer generation of characters who have been given greater prominence under the current creative regime.
The actor was brought into the programme after Wadey moved to EastEnders from Hollyoaks, making his reported departure especially notable given how quickly he established himself with viewers. The timing also means Counihan-Moullier’s exit would form part of a much wider period of change in Walford.
EastEnders has experienced substantial turnover in recent years, with 2025 alone bringing the departures of major characters including Martin Fowler, Stacey Slater and Nish Panesar, alongside a number of other exits.
The programme has attempted to balance those losses with returns and new arrivals, but the continued departure of recognisable faces inevitably raises questions about the shape of the soap’s future.
One of the biggest losses currently facing the show is undoubtedly Kellie Bright’s Linda Carter. Bright announced earlier this month that she would leave EastEnders after 13 years, saying she had decided it was the right time to say goodbye.
She revealed that she had actually made the decision more than a year earlier, but agreed to remain on the programme after discussions with producers so she could take part in a major storyline.
Executive producer Wadey described Linda as one of the show’s all-time great characters and said Bright ad been at the heart of EastEnders for more than a decade.
Linda’s departure is being softened, at least temporarily, by the return of two familiar Carter faces. Danny-Boy Hatchard and Maddy Hill are returning as Lee and Nancy Carter for a major storyline surrounding their mother’s final months in Walford.
Their comeback is expected to bring another emotional dimension to Linda’s exit, with Wadey promising viewers a storyline containing a major cliff-hanger and saying that “jaws will drop” when the first big twist arrives.
The loss of Ravi Gulati star Aaron Thiara adds another layer to the changing landscape. Ravi has become an important figure in the Panesar-Gulati storyline and has been involved in some of the programme’s darker recent material.
His reported departure, alongside Bright’s confirmed exit and Ryan’s return as Zoe Slater before her latest storyline comes to an end, has contributed to the sense that EastEnders is entering another major transitional period.
The soap has also demonstrated that departures do not necessarily mean the end of a character’s connection with Walford. EastEnders has a long tradition of bringing popular characters back after periods away, and Counihan-Moullier’s reported exit is itself said to leave the possibility of Oscar returning in the future.
The return of Lee and Nancy Carter is another example of the programme using its extensive history and established families to refresh its storylines.
That approach may become increasingly important as EastEnders navigates the departure of several recognisable actors. While soaps are built around constant change, losing multiple established or rapidly popular characters within a relatively short period can create a difficult balancing act for producers.
The challenge is not simply replacing individual actors, but ensuring that viewers remain emotionally invested in the characters who take their places.
At the moment, Oscar Branning remains part of the EastEnders landscape, and viewers are expected to see more of Counihan-Moullier on screen before any reported departure takes place. His potential exit is still some way off, and the BBC has not officially confirmed the actor’s plans.
EastEnders isl losing another young star who appeared to have quickly found his place in Walford. With Linda Carter already preparing for her final chapter, other departures on the horizon and a growing list of returns being used to keep the Square in motion.
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