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Tamzin Outhwaite responds to 'EastEnders' exit after Mel Owen is killed off: 'I could not feel more proud'

LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 20:  Tamzin Outhwaite during a BUILD event at AOL London on July 20, 2017 in London, England.  (Photo by Jeff Spicer/Getty Images)
Tamzin Outhwaite during a BUILD event at AOL London on July 20, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Jeff Spicer/Getty Images)

Tamzin Outhwaite has responded to her EastEnders exit after being "too emotional" to address her departure where it aired last night.

Poor Mel Owen had managed to walk away from a car crash with help from Sharon Mitchell (Letitia Dean), however, she was then struck down by an oncoming lorry.

The 49-year-old shared with her Twitter followers: "Right ... brand new day Thank you so much for all the love...I could not have relished playing Mel any more and I could not feel more proud. Here’s to the next 21 years of life, the next job, the next chapter. Happy Friday people."

Read more: EastEnders actor John Altman quit soap when producer 'tried to make Nick Cotton gay'

The actor originally joined the BBC soap in 1998 and stayed until 2002 but came back to Albert Square last year with her son Hunter Owen (Charlie Winter) in tow.

Her death comes after Hunter, whose father was Martin Kemp's Steve Owen, was shot dead in September on the programme.

Last night, Outhwaite tweeted: "Thank you all ... tonight thankfully I’m busy as I’m too emotional to address any @bbceastenders messages tonight..."

Earlier this year, Outhwaite announced she would be leaving the soap again in a statement.

Mel Owen was killed after being struck by a lorry. (BBC)
Mel Owen was killed after being struck by a lorry. (BBC)

It read: "When John (Yorke) asked me to return to EastEnders back in 2017, I jumped at the chance to play Mel once more but it was only supposed to be for a year,

"That year quickly passed and I agreed to stay on for another, but now the time feels right to once again pursue other challenges.

"I will of course miss so many people here at EastEnders, and I will forever have good memories of my time at the show, but I am also excited to experience new roles outside of Walford."