WALFORD WOE Axed EastEnders star Micah Balfour snubs show after it’s revealed he’s ‘gutted’ to be let go months after becoming a dad
EASTENDERS actor Micah Balfour has snubbed the BBC soap completely just days after his show axe came to light.
The 47-year-old star, who played Junior Knight in the long-running series, was let go after his 18-month stint, with his character’s exit.
Although the scenes are likely to air over the next few months, Micah appears to have already cut ties with his former employers.
The EastEnders star has taken the soap out of his social media handle and hasn’t referenced his exit on his account.
The snub suggests he is less than impressed at the turn of events, and eager to set his sights elsewhere.
Currently, his Instagram bio reads: “Actor, Gooner, Friend, Lover and Father. If you don’t know you better get to know.”
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His latest grid post was back in September, where he uploaded a snap from the NTA’s.
Meanwhile, Micah’s soap exit came just months after he welcomed his first child back in January.
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Micah only joined the show as Junior Knight, the estranged son of former Queen Vic landlord George (Colin Salmon), at the beginning of 2024.
After enjoying a sizzling affair with his dad’s ex-wife Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins), his character has gone under the radar of late.
A source said: “Bosses decided not to renew Micah’s contract and he filmed his final scenes last month.
“Obviously Micah was gutted but he understands how it all works.
“His final scenes will air before Christmas. The door is being left open.”
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In June, The Sun revealed that Molly Rainford, who played Micah’s on-screen half-sister Anna, was leaving the BBC soap under changes brought in by Ben Wadey, who became executive producer in February.
The source said: “The Knight family were created by former boss Chris Clenshaw, so it was only natural that Ben would want to make his own mark on the show.”
George and daughters Gina and Anna helped run the Queen Vic for two years but left after his marriage to then landlady Elaine crumbled.
The source added: “The clan have already been kicked out of the pub and everyone knows Molly is leaving soon.
MICHELLE Collins has seen her second EastEnders stint boost her bank balance. Yet what stars have quit this year?
The Sun exclusively reported how Michelle, 62, was down to £20,000 in her company accounts when she agreed to a shock back-from-the-dead return to Albert Square last year.
Her character, Cindy Beale, was presumed dead off-camera in 1998.
Yet what about the 2024 exits?
Earlier this summer, loyal soap fans appeared to note how Stevie Mitchell had “quit” the long-running series.
It came after Alan Ford enjoyed just six-months on-screen.
Bobby Beale actor Clay Milner Russell also left this year after five years in Walford.
Fans also feared Martin Fowler actor James Bye would “quit out of boredom” over recent storylines.
Additionally, a host of stars have quit the BBC soap for Hollywood fame.
One of the most successful stars to come from the BBC One soap is Rob Kazinsky.
He played Stacey Slater’s brother Sean Slater from 2006 to 2009, he has starred in Hollywood blockbusters Pacific Rim and Captain Marvel.
Ben Hardy, who quit EastEnders as Bobby Beale almost a decade ago, went on to break Hollywood the following year, when he starred as Archangel in X-Men: Apocalypse.
Since then, he has played Roger Taylor in Queen biopic Bohemian Rhapsody, and he starred in Michael Bay’s Netflix movie 6 Underground.
Michelle Ryan played Zoe Slater until 2005.
She starred as the lead in short-lived American series Bionic Woman from 2007 to 2008.
“It will be interesting to see what happens to the rest of the Knight family.”
Micah appeared in Emmerdale as Dr Jermaine Bailey from 2015 to 2016 and as PC Benjamin Gayle in The Bill.
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He also guest starred in Death In Paradise.
An EastEnders spokesperson confirmed Micah’s exit and said: “We wish him all the best for the future.”
