Photo: BBC

Following plummeting ratings on talent show The Voice, the BBC is now struggling with its flagship soap opera - with Eastenders' viewing figures falling to an all-time low.

Viewing figures for the show have fallen to just 5.7million, the lowest recorded in the show's 27 year history. The BBC is said to making drastic moves to recover, with several characters set for the axe.

First on the list is Anthony Moon actor Matt Lapinskas, who follows soap favourites Pam St Clement, Patsy Palmer and Sid Owen in leaving the soap. Many blame the loss of popular characters on the show's decline, and the sacking of further, newer characters seems certain.

Future storylines are said to include one seeing long-running characters Billy Mitchell carrying the Olympic torch through Walford during a live show this summer.