EastEnders star Clair Norris has opened up on her character’s final storyline on the soap.

Norris, who has been playing Bernie Taylor since 2017, weighed in on the producers’ decision to axe her character, saying her exit will be “dramatic” and bring back a “bad” side of Bernie.

“My exit is very Bernie, and it’s back to bad Bernie,” she told The Sun.

“It’s very dramatic, and must-watch, I’ve already filmed my exit and it will play out later this summer.”

The star also shared the mementoes she took home from set, including Bernie’s “iconic” coat.

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“I have taken Bernie’s coat. It was so iconic! And also the t-shirt that Bernie wore for Pride with ‘Walford Pride’ on it, little bits here and there,” she said. “Also her badge when it was her birthday.”

Norris has said that leaving Walford behind is “upsetting” as she’s loved her time on the soap, but is “excited” about what the future holds for her.

“Obviously it’s upsetting but also I’d been there for eight years, which is a long time to play a character, and I have absolutely loved being in the show,” she said.

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“They gave me the opportunity to learn on the job and also now I am able take that onto other things that I do,” she added.

“Of course it’s sad but at the same time it felt like a natural end, with the Taylors being gone, it kind of felt right. I’m now very excited about the future.”

Bernie’s exit comes amid more departures from the Square. As several members of the Taylor family have left the soap, other soap stalwarts like Stacey Slater have also bid farewell to Walford for now.

Meanwhile, fan-favourite Max Branning has been tipped to return with his son Oscar in tow.

EastEnders airs on Mondays-Thursdays at 7.30pm on BBC One. The show also streams on BBC iPlayer, where most episodes drop early at 6am ahead of their TV broadcast.

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