Samantha Womack: 'Ronnie's EastEnders exit will surprise'

Samantha Womack has claimed that fans will be "surprised" by Ronnie Mitchell's exit from EastEnders.

Viewers will see Womack's character leave Albert Square this week, in a storyline that sees her stand trial for swapping her dead son James for Kat and Alfie Moon's baby Tommy on New Year's Day.

The plot garnered a record number of complaints from outraged EastEnders viewers, but Womack assured Virgin Media that the tragic saga would have the "right ending".

"I think this is the right ending to the storyline and I think the audience will be surprised by some of the things that happened," she said.

"She knows that going to court is the right thing but Ronnie will punish herself more than any custodial sentence."

Womack recently admitted that she had been "crying or screaming every day" during her time on Eastenders after a slew of hard-hitting plots.

She announced her departure from the soap back in January at the peak of the baby-swap controversy.

Eastenders' executive producer Bryan Kirkwood stated this week that he would "love" for Womack to return in the future.