We’ll miss you, Rick Grimes (Picture: Gene Page/AMC)

Disappointed Walking Dead fans have started an online petition to try and keep Andrew Lincoln from leaving the show.

It was recently announced that Lincoln’s eight year run as protagonist Rick Grimes will end in season nine.

The 44-year-old actor first appeared on The Walking Dead back in 2010 and has since become a fan favourite.

In fact, some viewers were so upset with the announcement of his departure that they’ve launched a petition to try and persuade the producers to rethink their decision.


‘Sign this petition to encourage the creators behind the show and Lincoln himself to rethink the magnitude of the premature death of the character,’ the petition urges.



‘Andrew Lincoln has poured his heart and soul into the show and if he feels it’s time to bookend the characters story and have more time with his family, the creators behind the show should reconsider the timing of his departure and the effect his death will have on the shows overall arcs and other characters.’

Their reasoning seems to rest on the fact that ‘a large majority feel the character is what makes The Walking Dead what it is.’

In fact, many took to social media after the news broke and threatened to stop watching after Lincoln’s exit.

As soon as Andrew Lincoln leaves TWD, that's when I stop watching. — ChampionshipAVFCMatt (@villamatt1874) May 30, 2018

If it's true that Andrew Lincoln is leaving The Walking Dead after season 9 then I am officially done with the show. Killing Carl was bad enough, but now Rick? — dustin (@Dust103194) May 29, 2018

Andrew Lincoln leaving The Walking Dead!?I was going to stick with the show, but I'm done. Rick is the absolute center. They would have a very hard time doing it well without him. Season 9 should be the end. It doesn't sound like they're going to end it, but they should. — Athos Vartis (@AthosVartis) May 29, 2018

I said from the beginning if Rick Grimes is killed off in The Walking Dead I will quit watching. It appears as though that time has come. It is like losing a best friend. ? But I have to thank Andrew Lincoln for eight glorious seasons. #TWD — FARToons (Ryan) (@fartoonsprod) May 31, 2018

If Andrew Lincoln leaves The Walking Dead, I’m done watching. I’m about done work Fear the Walking Dead too. — xuıq✨ǝıʇʇǝq (@MrsBettieBinx) May 30, 2018

The Walking Dead has been hemorrhaging viewers for a number of series now and season eight’s mid-season premiere received the show’s lowest ever ratings in the States.

Now it seems as if even more longtime fans will stop watching, especially as Lauren Cohan is now leaving too.

Lauren Cohan will depart the show during season nine (Picture: Gene Page/AMC

The Hollywood Reporter writes that the longtime cast member has opted to leave the long-running zombie series after booking the lead in ABC’s upcoming FBI series Whiskey Cavalier.

Cohan joined the show in 2011 to play strong-willed farmer Maggie Greene but is set to depart after shooting six episodes of season nine.

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