EastEnders stalwart Barbara Windsor has quit the BBC soap after eight years, saying she needs to take some time off.

The BBC will continue to support troubled EastEnders’ actress Michelle Ryan after a newspaper revealed that her worried parents had called for police help when she went missing from home.

The BBC today said it would continue to support troubled EastEnders’ actress Michelle Ryan after a newspaper revealed that her worried parents had called for police help when she went missing from home.