Mark, played by Todd Carty, arrived with an "Alright Michelle!" in 1990 and was the focus of much heartache. But after an emotional reconciliation with mum Pauline, he roars off on his motorbike to die alone.

"He's a hero and a fighter and he's taken a lot on the chin," says Carty. "I will miss EastEnders very much - it has been a big part of my life."

Carty's arrival as in the soap followed a real-life tragedy in 1988.

Actor David Scarboro, who originally played the affable market trader, committed suicide aged just 20.

With Carty in the role, he's endured teenage drug and jail woes, a deadly feud with Nick Cotton, three failed marriages and the HIV storyline.

"Rain falls on people's lives, but Niagara Falls is coming down on Mark," says Carty, 40.

The actor says his departure from EastEnders is a "very emotional time".

"His exit is not a dramatic finale, but it's very touching," he reveals.

Mark's travel plans mean a return is possible, but executive producer Louise Berridge insisted "it is time for Mark to hang up his leather jacket for good".

The soap boss described Mark as a pivotal figure but said the character had run its course.

His long battle with HIV has been a controversial storyline.

"It's a challenging role and I'm glad I got involved in it. But to learn that he has been inspirational to real people with HIV is really humbling," says Carty.

"At first, I feared Mark would either have had a gay relationship or he'd have used drugs intravenously - and that would have been a stereotype," says the actor, who's won praise for his sensitive portrayal of the issue.

Swapping the Square for Sun Hill

Off-screen, Carty lives in North London with childhood sweetheart Dina Clarkin and two sons, James and Thomas.

"I'm looking forward to trying new things, seeing a little more of my children and finally setting a date for my wedding," he says.

Born in Limerick and brought up in Harrow, he made his TV debut aged four in a Woolworths advert.

His big break came at 13 when he was cast as Grange Hill's Tucker Jenkins.

But Carty won't be off our screens for long, having signed up to play Sun Hill newcomer PC Gabriel Kent in ITV1's The Bill.

"I'm really chuffed to be joining The Bill," says the actor, reported to be on a £200,000 contract. "I've always been a fan and getting my teeth into a new character is very exciting."

Carty could have been on the road to oblivion as a former soap star, but his move to The Bill should prove a shrewd one.

Producers of the police series insist his new character will be light years away from Mark Fowler.

"I've had a brilliant 12 years on EastEnders and they've been fantastic to me," comments Carty, as he prepares to roar out of Albert Square straddling his dream machine.

"People have known me as Tucker and Mark, and hopefully they'll get to know me as someone else, too," he says.