Farewell to a Walford Original: Anthony Truman’s Fatal Festive Exit Shakes the Square

In a television season defined by high-stakes drama and long-awaited reunions, EastEnders has delivered its most shocking blow yet. Nicholas Bailey, a cornerstone of the soap’s history for a quarter-century, has officially been written out of the show. His character, Dr. Anthony Truman, met a tragic and definitive end during a fiery Christmas Day episode, concluding a narrative arc that spanned more than two decades of Albert Square history.

A Final Confrontation

The exit comes after Anthony’s dramatic return to Walford this past summer. The revival of his character unearthed long-buried secrets, most notably the revelation that Anthony was the biological father of Zoe Slater’s twins—children given up for adoption in 2006. This unresolved history acted as the tinder for a festive period that quickly turned from celebratory to catastrophic.

On Christmas Day, the simmering resentment between Zoe and Anthony reached its breaking point. A brutal confrontation ended in horror when Anthony collapsed lifelessly, leaving a traumatized Zoe believing she was responsible for his death. In a desperate act of penance, Zoe handed herself over to the police, unaware that she was being ensnared in a much larger, more sinister web.

The Mastermind Revealed

The drama took another twist on Boxing Day when the legendary Cat Moon uncovered evidence of a plot masterminded by none other than Chrissy Watts. According to reports, Chrissy, fueled by a long-standing vendetta, had been orchestrating a campaign to frame Zoe for murder. This revelation has left fans reeling, as it suggests Anthony may have been a pawn in a larger game of vengeance, though the precise medical cause of his death remains under investigation by the Walford authorities.

A “True Honor” to Depart

Reflecting on his departure, Nicholas Bailey described the opportunity to lead a Christmas storyline as a “major milestone.” While he admitted to feeling a sense of sadness at leaving a set that had felt like home, he praised the writers for a finale that was “far more substantial” than he had anticipated.

“Anthony was someone who always bottled things up,” Bailey noted, explaining that the character had finally reached a psychological breaking point he could no longer contain. The actor, who first joined the cast in December 2000, expressed his gratitude for the supportive atmosphere on set and for the fans who have followed Anthony’s journey from a young doctor to a man caught in the crosshairs of the Slaters’ and Watts’ legendary rivalry.

Looking to the Future: The 2026 Mystery

While Anthony’s story has reached its conclusion, his death is already serving as a catalyst for a bold new narrative direction. In a move that has sparked intense online speculation, the show recently aired a dramatic flash-forward to New Year’s Eve 2026. The teaser confirmed that Max Branning will be walking down the aisle in a future ceremony, though the identity of his bride remains a closely guarded secret.

This jump ahead—a full year into the future—suggests that the fallout from Anthony’s death and the exposure of Chrissy Watts’ machinations will have long-lasting consequences. As 2026 approaches, the residents of Walford are left to navigate a landscape of hidden tensions and unanswered questions, ensuring that while one iconic character has fallen, the drama in the Square is only just beginning.