Walking Dead bids adieu

THE WORLD’S LARGEST

fan convention bid a poignant farewell to the star of the most successful show in cable TV history as zombies took over Comic-Con.

An extensive line-up of stars descended on the convention center to whet appetites for The Walking Dead and its sister show Fear the Walking Dead.

The departure of British actor Andrew Lincoln (pictured), who has appeared as Sheriff Rick Grimes in almost every episode since the 2010, has been an open secret since May, confirmed inadvertently by executive producer Robert Kirkman.

But the official announcement was reserved for Comic-Con. “There seems to be an elephant in the room. This will be my last season playing the part of Rick Grimes,” Lincoln, 44, said, prompting a dismayed murmur that spread throughout the arena.

“I love this show. It means everything to me. I love the people who make this show. I promise not to cry. I’ve done enough crying on screen,” Lincoln promised.

The show centers on Lincoln’s Grimes, who wakes up in a hospital bed after getting shot, only to find he is alone in a world of vicious, flesheating reanimated corpses.

“I got kind of choked up. It’s been nine years of coming here,” Lincoln said.

“I love this place and I love seeing the fans, and you’ve been such a vital part of this experience. But my relationship with Mr Grimes is far from over.”

It was unclear if he was talking about the current shoot for his final episodes, the possibility of appearing in one of the franchise’s numerous side projects, or something else entirely.

Fear the Walking Dead kicked off the two-hour zombocalypse earlier with a presentation that critics agreed seemed to be drawing a line under all storylines past and presenting an almost entirely new show.