Roxy Mitchell said goodbye to her Latvian lover Aleks Shirovs in last night’s episode of EastEnders.

After 16 months in the show, the council inspector escaped Walford in proper soap fashion – in the back a cab with just one suitcase – over fears his dodgy dealings in the market were about to come back and bite him.

Actor Kristian Kiehling told us that while he is “very sad” to see his character leave, there are already “hints” that he may return.

“It was a mutual decision – we just couldn’t agree on the terms for a new contract, so we decided it was best to end it there, but with the back door open,” he said.

Aleks had asked Roxy to marry him, but she has fallen for her sister's husband Charlie Cotton (BBC)
Aleks had asked Roxy to marry him, but she has fallen for her sister’s husband Charlie Cotton (BBC)

The German-Latvian actor had a positive response for his portrayal of an eastern European character: “A lot of people approach me on the streets from an immigrant background. I remember a father of a child talking to me about a scene in which my daughter was being bullied at school and he related to it.

“I was really glad that I seemed to be taking part in a political and social debate in British homes.”

Kristian would like to have seen the soap take Roxy and Aleks to Latvia: “There was once a discussion about them going on a holiday to Latvia together. Going to Latvia with the BBC crew would have been great to show the people where this character came from and what Latvia actually is.

“You always have the Polish builders and the cafe workers in shows and they always have a silly accent and they get on your nerves – seeing where they live would have been beautiful for all sides.”

Kristian Kiehling as Aleks in Albert Square (BBC)
Kristian Kiehling as Aleks in Albert Square (BBC)

There are no confirmed plans for Kristian to return to the show. For now, he is swapping Walford for Malta to help raise money for Migrant Offshore Aid Station. The humanitarian organisation tackles the problem of African and Middle Eastern migrants drowning in the Mediterranean Sea in attempts to reach western Europe.

“I’m so angry Europe is so rich and people are drowning on our doorstep,” said Kristian.