Headless torso found in canal may be that of ex-EastEnders actress

Murder detectives have arrested a 35-year-old man after the limbless body was discovered in Regent’s Canal, east London, on Tuesday.

Relatives and co-stars of Miss McCluskie, 29, were said by a source to be “fearing the worst” as Scotland Yard carried out forensic tests on the remains.

Miss McCluskie, who starred in the soap as Kerry Skinner in 2001, disappeared from Bethnal Green, east London, last week.

Friends had been carrying out searches across east London and handing out leaflets. Co-stars Natalie Cassidy and Brooke Kinsella both appealed for help finding her on Twitter.

The female torso was discovered close to Broadway Market, Hackney, at 2.40pm on Tuesday, the Metropolitan Police said.

Detectives said the suspect remains in custody at an east London police station.

“At this early stage officers believe they know the identity of the victim but must await further forensic tests before formal identification can take place,” a spokeswoman said.

The actress played Kerry Skinner on more than 30 occasions.

Her character arrived in Walford as a friend of Zoe Slater and the great-niece of the late Ethel Skinner. She briefly dated Robbie Jackson and got him to propose to her.