EastEnders confirms Maisie Smith is leaving Tiffany role

Maisie Smith will be departing EastEnders later this year.

The BBC shared the big news on Friday (October 8) that Maisie is leaving her role as Tiffany Butcher 13 years after she first started playing the character at the age of 6.

"It's time to say farewell to Tiff," Smith said. "I've grown up on EastEnders since 2008, and have learnt from the best over the past 13 years. I'm very excited for my next challenge and thank the BBC for the opportunity they gave me as a 6 year old."

maisie smith as tiffany butcher in eastenders

Nicky Johnston//BBC

The 20-year-old actress filmed her final scenes on EastEnders on Friday (October 8), with her departure set to air on-screen later in the year. Watch a behind-the-scenes look at her last day on set below.

EastEnders is holding back details about how Tiffany will leave Walford, but she certainly has had plenty of turmoil in recent months.

Tiffany has been heartbroken following the revelation that her husband Keegan Butcher-Baker had a fling with her cousin Dotty Cotton.

While she's been going through a split with Keegan, her brother Liam Butcher has arrived back in Walford after many years away and Keegan is already suspicious of Liam's motives.

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"We are all very sad to see Maisie leave," EastEnders producer Jon Sen said. "She's been a wonderful company member during her time at EastEnders and it's been a privilege to see her blossom into the star she is.

"She has created an iconic character in Tiff and the door is always open to her return. We wish her all the very best for her future projects."

Smith has had multiple stints in EastEnders throughout her life, having most recently returned as Tiffany in 2018.

evie steele and tiffany butcher in eastenders

BBC

Since coming back to Walford nearly four years ago, Tiffany has dealt with becoming a teen runaway with a drug gang, squatting in Ted Murray's Walford flat and getting into a teenage marriage with Keegan.

Smith has also had huge success away from the Square when she joined the cast of Strictly Come Dancing in 2020, where she finished as runner-up with professional partner Gorka Márquez.

The young actress also appeared in Natalie Portman and Scarlett Johansson's period drama The Other Boleyn Girl as a child.