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End for EastEnders dog Wellard

James Forde, Shona McGarty, Devon Higgs, Maisie Smith, Sid Owen and Kyte

Kyte also appeared in the Hollywood blockbuster Gladiator

One of the most famous dogs on TV will die in next Friday's episode of EastEnders after 14 years on the soap.

Wellard has been played by three different canine actors since her debut on the BBC One show in October 1994.

Kyte, a Belgian Tervuren, was found wandering the streets by character Robbie Jackson (Dean Gaffney).

She ended up living with the Jacksons after being left behind by Mohammed George's character Gus when he went on tour with singer Keisha.

In next Friday night's episode, Bianca Jackson (Patsy Palmer) is forced to take Wellard to the vet after Whitney Dean (Shona McGarty) finds her unconscious on the floor of their house.

A vet will tell her she's dying and will have to be put down.

Chequered history

Wellard was taken in by the Jackson family after being found by Robbie Jackson and they adopted her after finding out she'd been mistreated.

Facts about Kyte (Wellard)

She lives with owner Terence and likes going on long walks across the fields near home

She's won prizes in lots of agility competitions

She goes round local rescue homes to publicise the need for dogs to be re-homed

Kyte comes from a company called Stunt Dogs

She has her own pet passport so she can travel for film roles abroad

In February 2003, Wellard was run over delaying Robbie's departure for India.

She was then handed to his sister Sonia (Natalie Cassidy) before ending up with Gus.

In 2005 the dog was put away for biting Ian Beale in the bum.

After a campaign to free her called WOOF, Walford One Owed Freedom, and trial she was allowed to go home but only on a lead.

Last year she was kidnapped but soon released and was then passed from Gus to Mickey, from Mickey to Shirley and then finally on to Bianca Jackson's daughter, Whitney.

Kyte has also appeared in films like Gladiator and 102 Dalmatians as well as other TV programmes like A Touch Of Frost.