'Enders star: "I knew it was time to go"

EastEnders actress Michelle Ryan has spoken for the first time about her decision to quit the soap.

Ryan, who plays troubled teen Zoe Slater, told The Sun: "Everyone knew it was time for me to go and I knew it was time for me to move on.

"Then Jessie [Wallace], who plays my screen mum Kat, said, 'You're young, so get out there. Now's the time to go for it. You're only young once and you can't stay here forever.'

"I've grown up in EastEnders. I've been here for five years, so I will miss everybody. But you get that feeling and when you know it's time to spread your wings and fly, you need to do that. Everyone says I'm doing the right thing."

Asked about her exit, which is due to air in May, she replied: "I don't think it's going to be a huge one, but I think it's going to be substantial - I've done my big things now. As far as I know I'm not being killed off. That was the last I knew, but you just never know what's going on here. It's not actually been discussed."