The end for Spencer

Actor Chris Parker has left EastEnders amid conflicting reports about who was behind his departure.

11:11 01 December 2004

Actor Chris Parker has left EastEnders amid conflicting reports about who was behind his departure.

The 21-year-old has played Spencer Moon for the last two years on the soap, but has endured a troubled time of late.

He was reported to have been involved in a suicide attempt after taking an overdose and cutting his wrists, following persistent rumours about his sexuality.

And it now appears as though his troubles have proved too much, with the Daily Mirror reporting that he persuaded BBC bosses to let him leave the soap to sort himself out.


"Chris has been wanting to pursue other projects for a while but his recent personal troubles have brought the issues to the fore," a BBC insider told the Mirror.

But the Sun newspaper spins a different story, suggesting that the actor who plays the son of Alfie Moon (Shane Richie) was sacked for refusing to see a psychologist.

The paper claims that he returned for filming insisting he was better after his problems, but EastEnders bosses wanted him to be checked over first and sacked him when he declined.

"Chris told producers he was keen to return because he was feeling much better," a source told the Sun.

"They insisted he see the show psychologist first - but he refused, saying he was fine. But producers decided they do not feel confident that he should return full time."

It is believed that Parker's character will be written out using scenes that had already been filmed before his personal problems were revealed.