Samantha Womack said she has been “humbled” by the outpouring of love for her EastEnders character Ronnie Mitchell after it was announced she would be quitting the soap.

The actress has played Ronnie since 2007 and will say goodbye to Albert Square next year in what is expected to be a dramatic exit plotline.

Sam has played Ronnie Mitchell in EastEnders for nearly a decade (Jack Barnes/BBC)Sam has played Ronnie Mitchell in EastEnders for nearly a decade (Jack Barnes/BBC)

She tweeted her thanks to fans.

Her character has been through her fair share of drama in the last nine years.

She revealed she was raped by her father Archie Mitchell; she killed her sister Roxy’s boyfriend Carl White; she suffered at her hands of a stalker; and was involved in a baby swap storyline when her son James tragically died of cot death syndrome.

Last week, she made a sudden proposal to boyfriend Jack Branning, which promises even more interesting storylines ahead before her exit next year.