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Micah Balfour is poised to depart EastEnders . The 47-year-old performer initially joined the BBC soap as Junior Knight in May 2024 but is reportedly 'devastated' that executives have chosen to write out his character, though he won't be killed off. Brought in as George Knight's (Colin Salmon) estranged son, the entrepreneur has navigated numerous plotlines during his brief stint in Walford, becoming notorious for his serial infidelity towards wife Monique, particularly his scandalous liaison with former stepmother Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins). A BBC representative subsequently verified the development to The Mirror, stating: "We can confirm Micah will be leaving EastEnders later this year, we wish him all the best for the future." Before securing his EastEnders role, Micah gained recognition appearing in The Bill between 2007 and 2010, followed by a recurring part as Dr Jermaine Bailey on ITV's Emmerdale from 2015 to 2016, reports the Mirror . When announcing his EastEnders casting, then-executive producer Chris Clenshaw declared: "I'm delighted to welcome Micah Balfour to the cast of EastEnders as he takes on the role of Junior Knight. "Although Junior has been referenced since the Knights arrived in the Square, the audience knows very little about George's son and the circumstances behind their estrangement. "Junior arrives in Walford following an unlikely meeting with his dad, and is quickly thrust into the heart of the drama. However, it will soon become apparent to viewers that there is more to Junior than meets the eye." During the summer months, a BBC spokesperson also confirmed to The Mirror that Molly Rainford, who portrays Junior's half-sister Anna, was departing the programme after a two-year stint, though the exact timing of the actress's final scenes remains unclear. The broadcaster stated at the time: "We can confirm that Molly Rainford will be leaving EastEnders later this year, and we wish her all the best for the future." Anna's most significant plot developments have featured her drink being spiked, the revelation of her identity as Cindy Beale's daughter, and her romantic entanglement involving Bobby Beale and Freddie Slater. They continued: "New boss Ben Wadey is making sweeping changes on the show and his decision coincided with Molly deciding she wanted to pursue other challenges. "She's hugely talented and wants to spread her wings and see what else is out there for her." Molly's character Anna made her debut in 2023 alongside the Knight family, including father George, sister Gina and stepmother Elaine Peacock. The family assumed control of The Queen Vic, with Anna's connection to Cindy as her secret daughter later being exposed. Regarding Molly's departure, an insider revealed: "Molly came into the show two years ago, and in that time has been trusted with some great storylines. "It's just so happened that when Molly was considering other options in her career, a meeting was held to discuss the future of the character, and both parties were in mutual agreement that it was the right time for Anna Knight to wave goodbye to Walford."
