Tamzin Outhwaite thanks Lucy Benjamin after 'tricky few months'

Tamzin Outhwaite has thanked Lucy Benjamin for supporting her "so much" after she experienced a "few tricky months".

The \'EastEnders\' star, whose character Mel Owen is to bow out of the soap in the coming days and was involved in a shocking car crash in last night\'s (12.11.19) episode following a chase with her arch nemesis Sharon Mitchell (Letitia Dean), has been delighted with co-star Lucy\'s (Lisa Fowler) recent help.

She wrote on Twitter: "When women support each other, wonderful things happen & although I haven\'t caught the last few episodes of @bbceastenders I can honestly say this friend has been texting, calling, supporting me so much over the last few tricky months @Lucy_Benjamin thank you so much (sic)"

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Tamzin has also thanked EastEnders\' loyal supporters for their positive messages this week, and while she hasn\'t yet watched the dramatic ending of last night\'s episode, she was "blown away" with the few scenes she did see.

She tweeted: "I\'m catching up on 3 episode\'s tomorrow,& although I know what happens, your messages & responses are telling me I\'m in for a treat( I did watch a couple of scenes tonight in between kids bath & bed & was blown away! ) I really can\'t wait. Thank you all so much. (sic)"

Tamzin - who reprised her role as Mel in 2018 after 16 years away - filmed her final scenes on \'EastEnders\' in September, after making the decision earlier this year to leave the BBC One soap to "pursue other challenges".

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She tweeted: "So that\'s it! The end of an era ... for me at least. Melanie Healy/Beale/Owen has left the building ... it\'s been a pleasure , a privilege and a 21 year association with a family I will cherish forever and never forget ... TIL next time my beautiful cast and crew ... you all rock. (sic)"

Tamzin also posted that she had a "lovely" last day and was bid farewell with an emotional speech from \'EastEnders\' Series Production Manager Rona McKendrick.

In a reply to a tweet from director Richard Lynn, she spilled: "Ahhh Richard ... \'\'twas a lovely last day ... had most of my favourite people at work, on a Saturday, apart from @RealScottMaslen who was fishing of course ... @McLuckluck did a speech, she didn\'t cry at all, and neither did I! (sic)"