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EastEnders fans fear character has secretly QUIT Walford after they haven’t been seen on screen for FOUR months
EASTENDERS fans are worried one character has secretly quit after realising they have vanished from the soap.
Viewers have spotted that Lexi Pearce has not been on screen since EastEnders‘ 40th anniversary, which was four months ago.
Fans are now concerned that Isabella Brown, the young actress who plays Lexi, has left the show.
Lexi is the daughter of Ben Mitchell and the late Lola Pearce and is approaching her 13th birthday in EastEnders.
Die-hard soap fans are now wondering if Lexi will return “with a different head”, as many of the child stars have over the years.
Writing on Reddit, one EastEnders viewer said: “Anyone know what’s happening with Lexi? She hasn’t been seen since the 40th anniversary and was rather absent prior to that too.
“Lexi is 13 next month. The same age as Lily was when she gave birth.”
They added: “With only 9 appearances this year I wouldn’t be shocked to see her return with a new head.”
Replying, another fan agreed: “Looks wise the actress reminds me a lot of the old Amy Mitchell so I wonder if they’ll recast her soon to someone more older/ older looking.”
A third chimed in: “I think as Lexi is nearly 13 she should be part of the friendship group with Tommy, Ricky, Denzel, Nugget, Avani , Amy, Lilly and Will.
“Also they seem to have forgotten Amy, Ricky and Barney are her cousins so it’s weird they hardly hang out and a while back they were developing a friendship between her and Amy too.”
And a fourth added: “I hope she doesn’t get recast. She’s a great actress and it’s nice to see a realistic looking teenager.
“Most of the teens are played by adults and even the likes of Lily who is only 16 irl I feel always looked a bit older (which obviously isn’t her fault, some teens do look older which is realistic but not literally all of them.).”
This is not the first time fans have been left scratching their heads over Lexi’s lack of on-screen appearances.
In December last year, EastEnders viewers raised identical concerns following another long absence.
It came after a huge storyline, which saw Lexi’s mum Lola – played by Danielle Harold – tragically die from an untreatable brain tumour.
Lexi’s dad Ben – Max Bowden – then ended up in prison for fraud.
Lexi did, however, return to the BBC One soap and featured in February’s huge EastEnders 40th Anniversary Week.
Isabella Brown’s agent had previously confirmed that she would continue to play Lexi “throughout 2025”.
A post on EJC Management’s Instagram in December said: “So very proud of this young lady!
“Our incredible ISABELLA BROWN will continue to play the brilliant Lexi Pearce throughout 2025 in @bbceastenders 
“Isabella joined the square 6 years ago and seeing her grow as an actress is such a joy! Her dedication, drive, professionalism and work ethic is so inspiring from someone so young.
“She has had some amazing storylines and we can’t wait to see what 2025 has in store for Lexi!“
I’m forced to pay £3k & threatened with debt collectors over extension ‘technicality’ – it’ll spark chaos for millions
A CANCER survivor is locked in a bitter battle with his local council who are demanding he pay thousands of pounds of tax on his utility room because it has a “food preparation area”.
Andy Fields says a valuation officer visited his farmhouse in Tiverton in Devon and insisted the boot room was a separate dwelling because it has a sideboard and sink.
They also pointed to an outside toilet which Andy and wife Anja put in for beekeepers who use part of his 20 acre wildlife haven.
The former internet business owner, 61, has now been threatened with debt collectors over around £3,000 in current and backdated council tax.
Andy, who has contacted his local MP Rachel Gilmour over the issue, said: “The woman from the valuation office saw the house and I could tell it was envy, she thought, ‘he can afford it’.
“But I’m skint, I earn £10-a-day.
“It’s ridiculous, it’s not a separate dwelling, you have to go through my front door to get into it.
“The only food preparation we do there is for the birds and animals.
“I told her everyone around here has utility rooms and she said ‘give me their names and I will do them as well’.
“I told her that the utility room had existed for 150 years and she even suggested that they should backdate the payments for 150 years as well then.
“I couldn’t believe it.”
Andy said the decision could set a dangerous precedent for homes across Britain which have utility rooms attached to their homes.
After being diagnosed with head and neck cancer in 2018, Andy quit his internet business and temporarily set up the utility room to live in while he was ill so he could be close to the kitchen.
After beating the disease the couple briefly advertised it online for people to stay in despite it having no washing facilities.
Two years ago he converted the room, which has an upstairs storage area, back into a utility room for use in their house.
But he says someone working for the council spotted the B&B listing and he was hauled into a Valuation Office Agency hearing last December which he did not attend.
He was deemed to have lost the case and the council is now demanding he coughs up.
The plot, called Bradford Farm, was built in 1881 and is valued at around £1million.
It also has a children’s nursery onsite run by Nanny Bears, and has a bee keeping club.
Andy said that after beating cancer “you look at things a bit differently” and decided to turn his land into a nature reserve which now hosts otters, water voles and a nesting stork.
He added: “All I try and do is help and give back and be friendly.
“It’s utter lunacy that they are trying to charge me for this utility room.
How a property is deemed to be a dwelling
According to the government’s website, a property will be banded for council tax if it “qualifies to be a dwelling” – which is seen as a self-contained accommodation used as a home.
And to be classified as a dwelling, the local council will check to see if the property is either “habitable or capable of repair”.
It also adds: “If a property is occupied, it’s generally assumed to be habitable and the band will not be deleted, even if significant repair or renovation works are underway.”
In some circumstances a council tax band could be deleted.
This means the property will not have a council tax band and the taxpayer will not pay any council tax “until the property is entered into the list again following completion of work or service of a completion notice by the local authority.”
Check your Council Tax band in England and Wales or Scotland.
If you have any concerns regarding the assessment of your Council Tax band contact the VOA.
“I’m not going to pay, they can take me to court.
“The room shares heating, water, and electricity with the main house, so it doesn’t qualify as a separate dwelling.
“I’ve checked dozens of local new builds, and every one of them has utility rooms with food prep areas, an external door and even microwaves – none of which are taxed separately.
“If this approach becomes policy it could set a worrying national precedent, triggering a widespread backlash.”
A spokesperson for the Office of Rachel Gilmour MP said: “We are supporting our constituent in their complex casework.
“We are hoping for a speedy resolution which is able to let all parties move forward with clarity and a suitable settlement to this matter.”
A spokeswoman for the Valuation Office Agency told The Sun last night: “We can’t comment on individual cases.
“If a self-contained unit of a property is capable of being used as separate living accommodation it must be given its own Council Tax band.
“Customers can contact the VOA if they think part of their property has been banded incorrectly and we will review their case.
“If they are unhappy with our decision they can appeal to the independent Valuation Tribunal.”
Andy previously made headlines when he was embroiled in a row with a neighbour over a fence.
Andrew and Anja wanted to build a car park as they turned their farm into a nature reserve, but neighbours Michael and Sandra Blakemore opposed the move, saying the lights from cars using it would shine directly into their bedroom.
The Blakemores, of Bradford Barn, built a wooden fence which restricted Andy’s right of way but were later ordered to tear it down and pay compensation.
Garden owners snap up ‘lush, exotic’ Mediterranean patio palms slashed by 50% to £20
GARDEN owners are sharing their praise for a pair of patio palms that have been reduced by 50%.
Online gardening giants Gardening Express have discounted a pair of Canary Island Phoenix Date Palms from £39.99 to just £19.99, working out at around £10 per palm tree.
Phoenix Canary Island Date Palms, £39.99 £19.99
These tropical palms can make you feel as though you’re abroad, even if you missed out on a holiday this summer, and they’re perfect for adding a touch of Mediterranean charm to patios and gardens.
Right now is the perfect time to plant, as the Canary Island Date Palms thrive best when planted during warmer months.
Once established, these palms are extremely low-maintenance whilst providing year-round greenery and are also drought-tolerant, requiring minimal watering, making them ideal if you like admiring the garden, not tending to it.
Although palms are notoriously associated with warmer climates, they are also extremely winter-hardy and can withstand temperatures as low as -6 degrees Celsius, so you can rest assured they can endure the unpredictable nature of UK weather.
Positive online reviews have poured in from Gardening Express customers who have snapped up this deal and have been praising the quality of the palms.
Gardeners who have already snapped up this deal have been singing the praises of the Phoenix Date Palms, and it’s no wonder the palms have amassed nearly all five-star reviews.
One happy customer said: “Absolutely delighted with this pair of Phoenix Date Palms!
“Arrived, expertly packed, within the time stated, and both are strong and healthy with great roots.”
“I bought two palms for my wife to place in our new back garden, and she is over the moon.”
Another customer shared: “I was prepared to be underwhelmed buying online, but WOW! They look so gorgeous on my patio that I have just ordered another two!”
Phoenix Canary Island Date Palms, £39.99 £19.99
Great for all things gardening, Gardening Express has a huge selection of deals, including potted plants to bulbs, helping shoppers spruce up outdoor spaces in time for summer.
There is also currently a deal on this pair of Flamingo topiary trees – which have also been slashed by 50% to just £39.99.
Want to see the latest home and garden deals? Head to The Sun’s shopping home hub for more deals, news and reviews.
Scott Wolf’s ex Kelley screams ‘shame on you!’ as police detain her for ‘erratic behavior’ days after his divorce filing
THE estranged wife of actor Scott Wolf has posted a video of her being detained by police after making concerning comments.
Kelley Wolf screamed, “Shame on you!” as officers put her in handcuffs days after Scott filed for divorce from her.
Police told Kelley that they were confronting her because she made some “comments to her dad” and “comments to people that are concerning” in a video posted to her Instagram account on Friday.
“Oh my God – this is not happening!” Kelly is heard screaming back at them.
“This is shameful. Look at this… Be ashamed of yourself.”
Cops could be heard assuring her that she wasn’t going to jail – she was only being detained.
“Officers responded to a call concerning erratic behavior and a potential threat to herself and others,” the Park City Police Department told The U.S. Sun.
“The officers responded to the family’s Park City home. More information is not available at this time as an investigation is still underway.”
More to follow… For the latest news on this story, keep checking back at The U.S. Sun, your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, sports news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures, and must-see videos.
Like us on Facebook at TheSunUS and follow us on X at @TheUSSun
Girl, 9, attacked by flesh-eating PIRANHAS while paddling in scenic lake with mum as ferocious fish gnaw through bones
A GIRL was attacked by a school of piranha fish just moments after taking a dip in a scenic lake in Brazil.
Nine-year-old Yasmin Luis Vieira’s foot was mutilated in the savage attack that took place before her mum’s eyes.
Mum Janaina Luis Pereira, 31, said the horror unfolded on a day trip to a lake in the Brazilian municipality of Caldas Novas.
She said the piranhas pounced on Yasmin within seconds of her feet entering the water.
The fish bit off two of her middle toes on her right foot while also injuring her left foot, according to the mum.
Gruesome images show victim Yasmin’s wounded feet.
Janaina said: “We went to the lake to have a family picnic. We went to the edge so she could put her feet in the water.
“I heard her scream, ‘Mummy, a piranha got my foot’.
“She jumped and got out of the water. When she sat down, I saw that her toes were gone. It was terrifying.
“I never imagined a piranha would do that.”
The mum said plenty of families, along with their children, were bathing in the lake at the time of the attack.
She said: “It’s a freely accessible place. There’s no fee to enter, but the signage is very poor.
“The area where everything happened is the same one where visitors have free access to the water. There is no isolation or protective barriers.”
Paramedics rushed Yasmin to hospital where she was treated for shock and a possible infection and doctors carefully stitched up her mutilated toes.
Her mum said: “She was losing a lot of blood. She was taken to the Mother and Child Hospital and treated immediately.”
Yasmin, said to be in intense pain, will soon have to learn how to walk again.
Janaina said: “The pain is constant, she screams a lot. She is sad because she keeps missing something that was ripped from her body.
“As a mother, seeing this is devastating.
“My emotional state is terrible. She tries to be strong, but she is going through a lot of suffering.”
Environmental experts are investigating the attack, according to city officials.
Around 30 different species of piranha fish are believed to dwell in the lakes and rivers of South America.
They are known for their razor-sharp teeth – the word ‘piranha’ literally translates to ‘tooth fish’ in Tupí, a language spoken by indigenous Brazilians.
Despite their reputation as flesh-eating creatures, piranhas are omnivorous forage fish, meaning they eat most things – from meat, fish and insects to plants.
Attacks on humans are rare, with the majority resulting in minor injuries, often to the feet or hands.
Drivers risk $490 fines as number of lane ‘cheats’ spikes – it makes everyone’s commute even longer
DRIVERS have been warned they risk fines of $490 if they violate a law around carpool lanes in a major US state.
High-Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes are meant to reduce traffic and encourage carpooling, but they’re facing significant problems.
In recent times, their effectiveness has been questioned following a range of challenges and issues – leading to lawmakers to come down hard on those that break the rules.
According to a report by KTLA, HOV lanes must meet federal standards, requiring vehicles to maintain at least 45 mph during weekday travel periods 90% of the time.
But when they fail to meet this standard, they are classified as “degraded” and graded on a scale of slightly, very, or severely degraded.
Currently, a significant number of drivers are violating HOV lane rules by not meeting the required occupancy – including driving solo.
In Los Angeles, California, violation rates have doubled since 2022, with some freeways reporting nearly half of HOV lane users as violators.
The worst offender is the 101 freeway, with a staggering 57.5% violation rate.
According to the 2025 Caltrans HOV Degradation Action Plan, Automated Vehicle Occupancy Detection (AVOD) systems, designed to catch violators, are being tested – but they face challenges of their own.
Things like window tints, car sizes and visibility hinder their effectiveness, while enforcement is particularly tricky in toll-based HOT lanes – such as the 10/110 Expresslanes.
But converting HOV lanes into HOT lanes has caused additional traffic congestion, with a large majority of vehicles – spiking to 86% – in these lanes are single-occupant vehicles.
This, of course, undermines the purpose of carpool lanes.
Furthermore, 30 to 60% of violators fail to set their transponders correctly, which also complicates enforcement.
According to Caltrans, a HOV lane violation ticket is a minimum fine of $490 – but the fine may be higher for repeat offenders.
Naturally, there have been efforts to resolve these problems at the source, with a pilot program being implemented to study real-time occupancy and deter violations using camera-based systems.
This has led to Caltrans allocating $30 million to improve the most problematic HOV lanes – with public transit set to expand in preparation for the 2028 Olympics.
This is expected to reduce congestion in both HOV and HOT lanes
But the system’s current inefficiencies, including high violation rates and enforcement difficulties, contribute to slower traffic and reduced effectiveness.
Caltrans hopes that a combination of technology, stricter enforcement and increased public transit use will improve the situation over time.
What makes a car a lemon?
Each law has different parameters on what defines a lemon, but generally, a car is lemon when it's in the shop for longer than it's on the road.
Progressive Auto Insurance describes a lemon as a car with “a significant defect or malfunction that makes it unsafe to drive,” though exact parameters vary by state. All 50 states have lemon laws covering new vehicles, but only seven have lemon laws to protect used car buyers.
Federally, however, consumers are protected under U.S. Code Chapter 50 covering consumer product warranties. In layman’s terms, the law dictates that consumers be compensated by the manufacturer when “multiple attempts to repair a vehicle under warranty fail.”
What to do if you think you bought a lemon:
- Research your state’s lemon laws and their exact parameters.
- Contact the dealership, especially if it’s still under factory warranty.
- If the dealership refuses to repair the issue, contact the Automotive Consumer Action Program or the National Automobile Dealers Association.
- Send a certified letter to the manufacturer with an explanation of the issue, with documentation and proof that you’ve contacted a dealership.
- Depending on the outcome, you can report the dealership to the DMV for selling a car that needs immediate repairs.
- Consider small claims court.
- Consult an attorney specializing in lemon law through the National Association of Consumer Advocates.
Source: Progressive Auto Insurance