Christian and Syed, as played by Marc Elliott and John Partridge, are to leave EastEnders later this year, it has been announced.
Exec Producer: Lorraine Newman told us: "Marc and John have been a fantastic part of EastEnders and the characters of Syed and Christian have been a huge success for the show. Their storylines have broken boundaries that have not been seen in a soap before and the love for them by the viewers can be seen in the "Chryed" fans.
"When Marc announced he had decided to move on, we had a tough decision to make and after numerous conversations, which included John, it was decided that there is only one outcome for Syed and Christian. We wish them both all the best for the future."
"I have had a brilliant time on EastEnders over the last three and a half years and made some amazing friends," revealed Marc Elliott. "During this time, I have been blessed with some incredible storylines and am especially pleased that the show has tackled and raised awareness of the sensitive subject matter of being a gay muslim.
"As an actor you are always looking for new challenges and I feel that now is the right time to move on and explore different projects, perhaps returning to my roots in theatre. I would like to thank everyone at EastEnders for the wonderful opportunity they have given me and for making this experience so much fun."
"I have had the time of my life at EastEnders - but I have always gone with my gut - and leaving at the same time as Marc felt like the ONLY thing to do," added John Partridge. "It is the right end to the story and for Christian. But also, excitingly, the start of a whole new chapter for me."
Details of the duo's departure are currently under wraps, but we'll be revealing more nearer the time.
