Yahoo News Richard Blackwood insists EastEnders cast 'are happy' following claims actors are exhausted - EXCLUSIVE
EastEnders star Richard Blackwood has insisted that the cast of the long-running BBC soap “are happy” and are not under “pressure” to work unreasonable hours.
Back in February it was announced that Dyer would be taking a short break from his role in EastEnders to rest up in South Africa, after claims he was exhausted from their hectic filming schedule.
It’s something Adam Woodyatt may have preempted last year when he exposed the soap for asking its stars to work six days a week, and said he was so fed up that he was ready to go on strike.
Then, last month former EastEnders boss Diederick Santer claimed the show was losing well-loved characters and “has not been brilliant in the last few months”.
But asked if he thinks soap bosses need to reduce the show’s output to benefit the actors and its storylines, Richard – who plays Vincent Hubbard on the beloved sereis – exclusively told Yahoo Celeb UK at the TV Choice awards in London’s The Dorchester hotel last night: “I think we’re all happy with the way it is. We’re not under any pressure, we like it, we’re used to what we’re doing.
“We’re used to the schedule. Every single actor, person behind the camera, every single director, loves their job, so even if it was five episodes a week we’d still give it 100 per cent.”
And the star thinks fans will stick with the show regardless of the ups and downs in its storylines.
“EastEnders have got their core fan group, so regardless of if the stories are good, bad, or indifferent, our people follow us which is really lovely. But we’ve got some surprises coming up, so it’s going to be good,” he told us.
Meanwhile, Diane Parish – who plays Denise Fox on the soap – confessed when she’s not working on EastEnders, she loves Netflix and big dramas, “Greenleaf, Ozark, Power, Big Little Lies, Anything Netlix!”
And Richard added: “We work on BBC, but we love Netflix!”
Keeping tight lipped on the explosive storyline that’s set to come to a head this week, Diane said: “It’s going to be a big week, it’s going to be an event, there’s going to be some unexpected things happening. There’s going to be some tragedy, and real drama, things are about to change on Albert Square.
“But it’s best to keep your mouth shut and your nose clean!”
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