EastEnders fans were left furious by how the BBC soap wrote out Jay Brown - branding it the 'worst way' possible.

Jay - played by Jamie Borthwick - was last seen by viewers in August 2025, having debuted back in 2006.

The long-standing character left off-screen to care for his poorly grandfather Bert (Dave Hill) who lives in the north of England.

In today's (February 10) episode, Jay's stepdaughter Lexi (Isabella Brown), who is still in Walford, received a letter from him. 

She learned Jay and his new girlfriend, Elena, were expecting a baby - and they invited Lexi to join them for half-term.

Viewers were far from impressed with this update, as one wrote on X: 'I know they've had to write Jay out somehow but this is the worst way to explain his exit. 

'Why would he get a woman pregnant off screen? It makes no sense and it feels OOC. 

'Also Jay would never drop Lexi the way he has. He could've just been recast.'

Another added: 'They should’ve wrote Lexi off with him and have her move out with jay instead of ruining his character.'

A third remarked: 'Totally agree. Jay would never abandon Lexi: he promised Lola to look after her.' 

A fourth chimed in: 'I agree, he adored Lexi and promised Lola, he wouldn't have done this.' 

The character's exit came as actor Jamie, 31,  was axed from the show in September 2025.

Meanwhile, Jamie had been suspended from EastEnders earlier in the year after a video of him using a disabled slur surfaced online.

Despite rumours Jamie would return to Albert Square, BBC bosses made the decision to sack the disgraced actor from the show.

In a statement, a spokesperson for BBC Studios said: 'We can confirm that Jamie Borthwick will not be returning to EastEnders.

'We do not comment on individual matters.' 

Jay first arrived in Albert Sqaure as a 12-year-old troublemaker, later joined by Bert and largely absent father Jase (Stephen Lord).

After Jase's murder in 2008, Jay was taken in by the Mitchell family, who came to see him as a surrogate member.

Sometimes known as Jay Mitchell, he had a brotherly dynamic with Lexi's biological father, Ben Mitchell.

He also had a relationship with and later married Lexi's late mother, Lola Pearce (Danielle Harold). 

Elsewhere, it comes as a fan favourite character has recently returned to Walford for a short stint. 

Jake Moon has made a comeback to Albert Square, with actor Joel Beckett reprising the role.

He originally featured from 2004 to 2006, but made a cameo in 2024 as he reunited with Chrissie Watts (Tracy-Ann Oberman). 

Chrissie made a shock comeback herself in 2025, where fans learned she had been manipulating Jasmine Fisher (Indeyarna Donaldson-Holness).

Working together, the pair had been behind tormenting Zoe Slater (Michelle Ryan) for weeks.  

Ben Wadey, Executive Producer added: 'I'm delighted to welcome Joel Beckett back to the role of Jake Moon and EastEnders for this storyline.

'Jake's return will be a shock for many, but the biggest shocks of all will surround Jake and what he discovers about Christmas…'

EastEnders airs on BBC One and is available to stream on iPlayer.