Lindsey Coulson, who famously plays the character Carol Jackson on the BBC1 soap EastEnders, has revealed that she is quitting the show for the third time.

The actress first arrived on the streets of Walford over 22 years ago, and has revealed that the ‘time is right to move on’.

Lindsey, who plays Bianca Jackson’s mother, appeared on the long-running soap back in 1993 with the rest of the Jackson clan, before leaving just four years later.

After briefly returning in 1999, Lindsey made a full-time return in 2010 and was captured in countless emotional and difficult scenes throughout the five years.

Her role as Carol created such successful storylines that her performance during the episodes reflecting her son Billy dying from alcohol poisoning, awarded Lindsey with the Best Dramatic Performance at the British Soap Awards in 2011.

Furthermore, Carol was also diagnosed with breast cancer during her time on the soap, in which top boss Dominic Treadwell-Collins has since revealed that he was delighted that Lindsey decided to stay an extra year and play out the storyline.

However, recently speaking to The Daily Star on Sunday, the actress has stated that it is time to move on and get involved with a number of different characters.

She said: ‘I’ve had a fantastic time playing the formidable Carol Jackson and although I miss everything about Eastenders, I feel the time is right to move on.’

The show’s boss Dominic, added: ‘The door will always be open for Lindsey to return to EastEnders. EastEnders has always been so lucky to have an actress of Lindsey’s calibre to return to EastEnders.’