There are rumors going around that "Wentworth" season 5 will still see Danielle Cormack return as Bea Smith, but this may not be the case.

The fate of the character in the fourth season not only retired Bea from the show but also marked the end of Cormack's involvement in the series. In fact, "Wentworth" executive producer Jo Porter confirmed Bea's send-off to TV Week.

"It is always an incredibly difficult decision to say farewell to a much-loved and revered character like Bea Smith. Which is why this storyline has had such a huge impact on us all and we are sure fans will feel the same," Porter said in a statement.

"This decision was particularly hard as it meant also saying goodbye to Danielle Cormack," she went on to say, confirming that Cormack will no longer be part of "Wentworth" season 5 and beyond.

Kate Jenkinson, who plays the role of Bea's love interest, Allie, in the series, also said in an interview with After Ellen that Cormack's presence on set will be missed.

As for the move to take out the lead character of the series, the actress said that this goes to show that "the world is not safe" and that no one is either, even a top dog like Bea.

The character's death also opens up new opportunities to explore the character of Allie. In an interview with Curve Magazine, Jenkinson said that without Bea, Allie has no one.

"She's vulnerable, devastated, heart-broken and dangerously obsessed with revenge, so that's a far more interesting character than a happy girl with a crush," the actress explained.

Rumor has it that Cormack will be back in "Wentworth" season 5 in the form of flashbacks, although it is believed that the actress will not have to film new scenes for it as old clips of her could be used instead.

"Wentworth" season 5 will premiere next year on Foxtel.