EastEnders star Dean Gaffney has been ‘quietly written out of the soap’

"Some bad decisions..."

EastEnders star Dean Gaffney has been quietly written out of the soap, according to reports. The actor, who has played Robbie Jackson on-and-off in the BBC drama since 1993, did not have his contract renewed this month. Robbie's final scenes depicted him travelling to India to spend some quality time with his son Sami. It now appears as if those scenes were carefully orchestrated to give Gaffney a quiet exit. The Daily Star repots that the actor, who is 41-years-old, is now spending time at a wellness retreat in Spain. “Dean knows he’s made some bad decisions and he is working hard to get his life back on track," a source told the publication. “He split up from his long-term girlfriend and then he lost his job. But he knows he only has himself to blame. “He’s always been a popular member of the cast and everyone loves Robbie Jackson so it’s a real shame that he will no longer be on our screens.” Gaffney wrote that he was attending the retreat to focus on achieving his "future goals."

"I have always talked about doing something like this but never actually committed to it, however sitting here on top of a mountain for the first time in my life I feel quite proud of myself," he wrote on Instagram.

"I'm not that guy who goes to the gym all the time so I had to find another way of giving myself a goal and this retreat was what I like to call 'a step in the right direction'.

"My health is important I need to always be aware of that, not just physically but mentally."

Gaffney split up from 25-year-old girlfriend Rebekah Rose-Ward earlier this year. The actor has two daughters, 22-year-olds Chloe and Charlotte.