EastEnd villain facing axe

Soap bosses have claimed that Archie Mitchell has run out of storylines...

11:27 18 May 2009

EastEnders villain Archie Mitchell is facing the axe after soap bosses have claimed that the character has run out of storylines.

According to reports Archie, played by Larry Lamb, will return to the BBC soap in June but his stay will be short.

An insider told The Daily Mirror: "After the things he's done there isn't much more the writers can do with him. He's peaked.

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"He's evil through and through, and even if he manages to wheedle his way back for a while we can't make him good. It would ruin the character.

"Everyone thinks that Larry is great, but for storyline reasons he's got to go."

Larry was last seen on screen in April on his wedding day when Peggy asked her son Phil to kill him when she discovered his twisted web of lies.