EastEnders actress Jessie Wallace is set to take a break from the BBC soap as part of upcoming storylines, according to reports. Coverage links the decision to the show’s broader plans for character movement, with one outlet stating that the latest storyline will see Zoe Slater exit the Square for good. Another report says Wallace is taking a break after Michelle Ryan’s departure from the series and notes that she has also secured a new role. The articles do not provide further details on the nature of Wallace’s new work or the timing of her break beyond it being connected to the current period of cast changes and narrative developments. There is also no information in the provided reports about how long Wallace will be away from EastEnders or whether her break is temporary or permanent. Overall, the reports agree that Wallace will step back from her role as Zoe Slater around the time of significant cast and plot changes, and that her schedule is influenced by a new acting commitment.