Carol Harrison, 62, left her role as Louise Raymond in EastEnders in 1999, but she is now suggesting that age was a central factor in her exit. Claiming it was not her decision to leave the BBC soap, the actress spoke out on the issue during an appearance on ITV’s This Morning. She said: “The attitude was you’re in your 40s, you’re mutton. “I think that’s why EastEnders got rid of me – I was considered past it.”
The star, who played the mother of Martine McCutcheon’s character, Tiffany Mitchell, also said that her storylines on the show were negatively impacted when she turned 40.
She added: “The driving force was ageism and classism.
"There were jibes in the script about why would anyone want to go with Louise when she was so old.”
Carol then discussed the stigma surrounding a particular plot line on the series which saw Louise having an affair with a younger man.
The actress’ character embarked on an illicit romance with Grant Mitchell, played by Ross Kemp, who was her daughter Tiffany’s husband.
The former soap favourite explained: "The fact was, I was in my 40s and the role was so powerful,
EastEnders cast: Soap star claimed show axed her
