Rukku Nahar has confirmed that she has left EastEnders after almost two years playing Habiba Ahmed.

The character departed Walford in the back of a taxi in Thursday night's episode in previously-unannounced exit scenes, having forced her sister Iqra (Priya Davdra) to choose between her and girlfriend Ash (Gurlaine Kaur Garcha).

When Iqra made it clear that she would not dump her girlfriend, Habiba jumped into a cab and left the square - just days after her lockdown lover Jags (Amar Adatia) had a similarly-swift departure by being jailed for a crime his brother had actually committed.

Writing on Instagram, Nahar, 24, said: "BYE BYE HABIBA!!

"Thank you @bbceastenders for welcoming me into one of the biggest soaps in the country! I've learnt so much in the last two years and I'm grateful to have made life long friendships.

"End of a chapter, onto the next one."

Nahar becomes the 15th main EastEnders character to leave, or be on the verge of leaving, in 2020 so far.