Danielle Jones' demise was "inevitable" according to 'EastEnders' Executive Producer Diederick Santer.

The BBC boss explained why Danielle - played by Lauren Crace - had to die in a dramatic climax last week, shortly after revealing her longstanding secret to Ronnie Mitchell (Samantha Janus) that she was her daughter.

Diederick said: "When we were devising the character, we knew this was one of the possible endings. And as we worked our way through the story, it became inevitable.

"Ronnie has been defined by the loss of her daughter when she was young. The death of Danielle was the only outcome which gave me goosebumps too, and in the end you have to trust your instincts."

Danielle was run over by speeding Janine Butcher (Charlie Brooks) and died in her mother's arms shortly after.

Diederick added he knew viewers would be upset that there was no happy ending to the storyline, in which the relationship between the two characters has been known to viewers and Danielle - but not Ronnie - for months.

He added: "Viewers are livid. And I think when they calm down and think about it, they'll still be livid. You can't blame them. We've asked the audience to care for these characters, to hope for reconciliation and then - just as it looks possible - we cruelly rip it away."

Ronnie is set to face Danielle's adoptive family at her funeral this week in 'EastEnders'.