A well-known EastEnders star is to leave Albert Square tonight just days after returning to the BBC soap opera.

Karen Taylor, who is played by Lorraine Stanley, will leave the programme once again in another surprise for fans.

The character left at the end of last year after stealing Phil Mitchell’s (Steve McFadden) money.

However, she soon decided to head back in search of her son Keanu Taylor (Danny Walters).

Karen Taylor exits EastEnders just days after her return to the BBC soap

Keanu was killed on Christmas Day by Linda Carter (Kellie Bright) with 'The Six' (Linda, Stacey (Lacey Turner), Suki (Balvinder Sopal), Sharon (Letitia Dean), Denise (Diane Parish) and Kathy (Gillian Taylforth)) fully aware of where his body is buried.

Karen Taylor thought Phil and Sharon were the reason behind her son's disappearance but after searching for information from Phil, Jack and Stacey, she was not able to get any closer to discovering the truth.

Bursting into the pub, she confronted Linda (who was already drunk), coming close to making her spill what happened on the BBC show.

Later that evening, Bernie Taylor (Clair Norris) found Karen and urged her to take Kathy and Phil's deal to leave Walford.

The EastEnders character told her that Keanu was extremely angry and that he would likely return to Walford later on.

Karen Taylor took Bernie's advice to leave Albert Square after apologising to her daughter.

While chatting, Karen said she knew people were lying to her and that secrets don't stay buried for long.

She then hopped in a cab before putting on her sunglasses and making her exit from the show.

The episode will air on BBC One tonight (February 8) at around 7:30pm. The episode is currently available to watch on BBC iPlayer.