EastEnders character Charlie Slater is to be killed off in the New Year after 15 years on the soap.

The likeable cab driver, played by Derek Martin, will reportedly leave the show in a “tear-jerker” of a storyline.

Charlie Slater
Derek Martin has played Charlie Slater since 2000 (Yui Mok/PA)

Derek, 82, was a mainstay on the show between 2000 and 2011, with a brief return in 2013.

He arrived as head of the tumultuous Slater family, bringing with him mother-in-law Mo (Laila Morse), daughters Lynne (Elaine Lordan), Kat (Jessie Wallace) and Little Mo (Kacey Ainsworth) and Kat’s daughter Zoe (Michelle Ryan).

An insider revealed his death will coincide with the return of Kat and husband Alfie (Shane Richie) to the Square.

EastEnders Charlie Slater
The Slater family when they joined Albert Square (Adam Pensotti/BBC/PA)

His death is expected to hit Kat incredibly hard.

A source said: “Charlie has always played a massive part in his daughter’s lives so his death is going to hit Kat hard.

“Charlie’s return to the show was always to play this storyline which will be the catalyst for Kat to learn more secrets about her past, which will eventually see Kat and Alfie head to Ireland.

“Charlie’s death is going to be a real tear-jerker for the audience who will be waiting to see if he and Kat can mend bridges before he dies.”

EastEnders Kat and Alfie Moon
Kat and Alfie Moon (Ray Burmiston/BBC)

The pair have a difficult relationship following a 2011 baby-swap storyline that saw Kat’s son Tommy apparently pass away from cot-death while Charlie was out drinking.

It was revealed that the child who died was in fact Ronnie Branning’s and after Tommy’s return the family were left patching up their relationship.

It is only one of Charlie’s memorable storylines from his time on the soap.

Derek Martin
It’s no Queen Vic, but Derek looks at home in the pub (Hugo Philpott/PA)

In 2001 he discovered that his brother Harry abused Kat as a child and was the father of Kat’s daughter Zoe.

He was later sentenced to prison and had his taxi licence revoked when he trapped his daughter Little Mo’s rapist in his cab and attacked him.

Charlie has not been seen much in Walford in recent years but his permanent exit is certain to leave few dry eyes among fans.