In a surprise casting move on the part of The CW, the network announced today that Ashlee Simpson-Wentz and Colin Egglesfield are being evicted from Melrose Place.

Even though the move might come as a shock to fans,the show’s producers claim it was always part of the plan. Executive producer Todd Slavkin told EW: “We always knew that this murder mystery would end in episode 12…And once that murder mystery was solved, [Ashlee] would go on her way.”

Ashlee and Colin’s last show will air as early as January 2010. As for how their end will come, it’s already been reported by several news outlets that there will be another death of a major character and that’s tied to the big mystery surrounding Sydney’s murder.

As to why they made the announcement now rather than letting speculation build, a CW insider said, “they wanted to get it out of the way.”