The end is nigh for EastEnders’ Joel Marshall, as actor Max Murray will be leaving the BBC soap, we can reveal.

The actor, 18, is currently at the centre of a storyline that draws comparison to Netflix’s Adolescence.

Following months of misogynistic behaviour, Joel lashed out last week and brutally attacked his dad Ross’ (Alex Walkinshaw) girlfriend Vicki Fowler (Alice Haig).

Joel Marshall is leaving the soap

The episode was followed by a special BBC Three documentary that explored the worrying ‘Manosphere’, and the influence that figures such as Andrew Tate are having on teenage boys.

As with all soap villains, the end of the road and their comeuppance has to come eventually – but that doesn’t mean the story can’t be revisited in the future.

A source exclusively told Metro: ‘Max is leaving EastEnders following an incredible year. There’s still lots to come in the weeks ahead that will leave viewers on the edge of their seats.

‘Following his spellbinding performance, there’s no doubt that producers will be keen to snap him up – and Max is already on the lookout for his next role.’

Metro has reached out to EastEnders for comment.

A whirlwind year for Joel Marshall

Very few people come to Walford with a secret, and it became immediately clear that Ross’ golden boy had quite a few skeletons in his closet.

Arriving from Australia for Martin Fowler’s (James Bye) funeral, Vicki was very keen to return home after the ceremony. She was dismayed when Ross said he wanted to stay in London.

It soon transpired that Joel had upskirted a pupil in his class, and Ross had paid her family $50,000 in exchange for their silence. They agreed on another condition – that they didn’t head back to Aus.

Joel then impregnated Avani Nandra-Hart (Aaliyah James), recording their sexual encounter with a hidden camera, and introduced new mate Tommy Moon (Sonny Kendall) to disgusting influencer Drake Zagan.

The two then began to degrade women, thinking that it was an appropriate way to talk about the opposite sex.

In shocking scenes, he sexually assaulted a passenger on the London Underground in an utterly vile move, with naïve Vicki paying off the victim.

In more recent weeks his attitude has worsened, and after exposing Stacey Slater’s (Lacey Turner) SecretCam content online, warned Vicki that she ‘needed a slap’.

Unfortunately, following an incident at Walford High, an argument ensued between the pair and he knocked her unconscious to the floor.

When Ross discovered a video that he’d recorded of the incident, he knew that he had to do the right thing and dob his son in to the police.

Despite his efforts to find neutral ground, Vicki was mortified to hear that he’d been to visit Joel in prison, and in last night’s episode kicked him out.

What’s still to come?

Next week, Vicki takes some time away from Albert Square with sister Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean) and aunt Kathy Beale (Gillian Taylforth) to give her some recovery time.

Ross is now living with the Beales – just next door – despite Kathy’s better judgement.

It was all her partner Harvey Monroe’s (Ross Boatman) idea, having been in the same position as Ross when his own son Aaron (Charlie Wernham) ostracised him from the community.

Ian (Adam Woodyatt) wasn’t overly comfortable with the gesture either, but decided it would be ok if Vicki was kept in the dark.

But this is EastEnders, and as we know, secrets don’t stay secret for long!

During Halloween week, Ross confides in Alfie Moon (Shane Richie) about a matter, meanwhile, Kat Moon (Jessie Wallace) sends shockwaves through The Queen Vic with a revelation.

As we approach 31st October itself, a situation escalates inside the boozer.

Is Joel responsible?