Archive May 10, 2025

Danny Dyer criticises EastEnders and discusses personal battles with substance abuse

EXCLUSIVE: Actor Danny Dyer is opening up about his time on much loved Soap, Eastenders, after playing Mick Carter for nine years from 2013 to then departing in 2022

Danny Dyer is opening up about his time on much loved soap Eastenders(Image: Brett Cove/Shutterstock)

Danny Dyer has slammed EastEnders in a foul-mouthed tirade, saying the soap is now “s***”. Speaking at a charity event on Friday night, Danny gave a no holds barred account of his time on the show, recalling how he’d often be drunk on set, and take Valium and diazepam before scenes.

He also told how stars had the “hump” when he joined as pub landlord Mick Carter in 2013 and made things “tricky”. Asked what he thought of the BBC show since he left, he said: “S*** now though, ain’t it,” he shrugged. “Serves them right.”

He took the part at a low point in his career after his Human Traffic and The Football Factory success had waned and with bailiffs at his door.

Linda Carter (KELLIE BRIGHT);Mick Carter (DANNY DYER)
Danny played Mick Carter on EastEnders for nine years(Image: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)

Dad-of-three Danny, 47, claims he didn’t get a warm welcome on Albert Square. “I will be honest, it is a very clicky place to work,” he said. “We took the pub over from Jessie Wallace and Shane Ritchie. Kat and Alfie had an 11 year run and then they want to get rid of them.

“So they brought us in and they had the hump. That was getting tricky. I was like ‘What’s the matter with these people, I’ve not made this call’. So there was a lot of people blanking us when we turned up.”

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Whilst he looks back fondly on the first three years of working on the show, he said it went downhill from there. “I really cherish those first three years,: he recalled, “Then a new producer came in and sacked every f***er. It is a very ruthless job. I learned a lot. Nine years was enough for me.”

Talking at the Paul Strank Charitable Trust event in Wimbledon, south London – where he donated thousands of pounds of his own money – Danny opened up about the emotional rollercoaster and how he struggled with the lack of downtime from draining scenes, saying there wasn’t enough “duty of care”.

Danny spoke at the Paul Strank Charitable Trust event in Wimbledon
Danny spoke at the Paul Strank Charitable Trust event in Wimbledon(Image: Brett Cove/Shutterstock)

“In a film you properly cry and go to a dark place,’ he said. “You have time to recover. But on soap, you ain’t. On a soap, it f**** a lot of people’s heads up. I tell you most people in soap are off their nut. You meet them on the street and they’re f***ing lunatics, I’m telling you.

“If someone dies in your family, they won’t even let you go to a f***ing funeral because it is such a machine there wasn’t much duty of care there.”

Danny, who has suffered from drink and drug abuse in the past – going to rehab in 2017 – said he would down pints on set, before bosses stepped in.

“When I first arrived the pints were reaI,” he recalled. “I was slipping and sliding around having a few lagers and they found out, so they started to put TCP in the f***ing beer!

“I was off my nut for a lot of that job, I’ve got to say. I was on a lot of valium and diazepam, that is why. Still got that f***ing job done somehow.”

Linda Carter (KELLIE BRIGHT), Mick Carter (DANNY DYER), Johnny Carter (SAM STRIKE), Nancy Carter (MADDY HILL)
Danny admitted that the producer of the show was not keen on a family unit, hence Mick Carter’s departure(Image: BBC/KieronMcCarron)

Danny has seen a career resurgence since EastEnders gave him a chance, landing his first ever BAFTA nomination for his role in Sky comedy Mr Bigstuff.

He’s also received rave reviews playing Freddie Jones in the television adaptation of Jilly Cooper’s novel Rivals for Disney. He concedes he’s got EastEnders to thank for it.

“I was a snobby f***er going I will never go in EastEnders looking down my nose at it,” he said. “It saved my f***ing career. I’d be f***ed without it.”

Describing Rivals as his most lucrative job so far in his career, he revealed how daughter Dani’s appearance on Love Island gave him an expected boost in his pay packet.

“My wages tripled when my daughter won Love Island,” he told. “Honestly, I was the father of the f***ing year and I’d done f*** all. I thought, what a touch!”

Currently filming the second series of racy Rivals, Danny has promised to flash more flesh for his return. “I do think I will get my c*** out in the second series!” he teased.

Danny Dyer stars in Disney+ hit show Rivals
Danny Dyer stars in Disney+ hit show Rivals

Enjoying his current purple patch, Danny says he’s always had faith in his ability despite various knockbacks in his career. “I’ve always believed I had something about me and that I can act.

“It is just a matter of never giving up, really. Especially in our world where you get used to a lot of rejection. I’ve never faded into the shadows and always thought ‘No, f**k it, I want to do something, I want to get out the council estate and earn a few quid’.”

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Looking ahead to his next role, Danny says he wants to challenge himself and do something “completely left field”

“I want to play a gay aristocrat,” he said.

Glasgow’s top-two hopes severely dented by Benetton

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United Rugby Championship

Benetton (19) 33

Tries: Odogwu, Maile, Smith, Menoncello, Umaga Cons: Umaga 4

Glasgow (0) 7

Glasgow Warriors’ hopes of a top-two finish in the United Rugby Championship were all but dashed as they fell to a heavy defeat by Benetton in Italy.

Riding high off the back of four Warriors players being selected for the British and Irish Lions tour this summer, two Benetton tries in the first 10 minutes stunned the visitors and they never recovered.

Despite Glasgow welcoming Scott Cummings and Huw Jones back, it was Italy international Paolo Odogwu and hooker Siua Maile who crossed early on, both tries converted by fly-half Jacob Umaga.

Rhyno Smith added another for Benetton before the break, with Glasgow failing to register a single first-half point.

The dominance continued in the second half as Tomasso Menoncello and Umaga both scored, with the latter adding his third and fourth conversions.

Warriors were able to get one try back when George Horne took a quick tap before finding Jones out wide, with the centre crossing.

Benetton: Smith, Mendy, Menoncello, Brex, Odogwu; Umaga, Garbisi; Gallo, Maile, Ferrari, Scrafton, Ruzza, Favretto, Zuliani, L Cannone.

Replacements: Creevy, Spagnolo, Zilocchi, N Cannone, Negri, Casilio, Marin, Fekitoa.

Glasgow Warriors: Smith, Dobie, Jones, McDowall, Steyn; Jordan, Horne; Bhatti, Matthews, Richardson, Williamson, Samuel, Cummings, Darge, Vailanu.

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Gloucester’s play-off hopes hit by Quins thrashing

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Gallagher Premiership

Harlequins (28) 38

Tries: Murley 3, Evans, Isgro 2 Cons: M Smith 4

Gloucester (7) 19

Gloucester’s hopes of reaching the Premiership’s play-offs suffered a major blow as they were thrashed by Harlequins.

Victory would have seen them leapfrog Sale Sharks and Saracens into fourth spot, but they were second best from the off as Quins turned on the style at Allianz Stadium.

Cadan Murley grabbed two tries and Will Evans and Rodrigo Isgro one each as the hosts had a bonus point by half-time.

Murley completed his hat-trick and Isgro added another in the second period as Quins moved up to seventh with this win.

Fun in the sun for Quins

Harlequins’ own top-four hopes had effectively been ended by three straight defeats, but they were determined to put on a show across the road from The Stoop as part of their fourth annual Big Summer Kick-Off.

Two days after being announced in the Lions’ squad, Marcus Smith was again a focus of attention.

Whether he’s a full-back or a number 10, Smith showed why he is on the plane to Australia, with a cute pass to Alex Dombrandt that led to Murley scoring the first try to get the scoreboard ticking, although there was a hint of the pass being forward.

There should have been a second try quickly after but full-back Tyrone Green dropped the ball as he was about to touch it down, and seven points went begging.

Another try was disallowed, but there was nothing wrong when Evans finished off a catch-and-drive from a five-metre lineout.

Christian Wade diving down to score his try at Twickenham Getty Images

Gloucester’s hopes fading

In their previous game, the Cherry and Whites had run in 13 tries in a club-record-breaking win over Exeter Chiefs.

That level was nowhere to be seen in the opening 30 minutes as they chase a top-four spot for the first time since 2019.

When they produced a moment of quality, Wade showed what rugby league’s champion side Wigan Warriors will be getting when he heads north at the end of the season, with his 91st Premiership try, moving into solo third on that list.

But they soon slipped back into bad habits as Murley sauntered through big gaps in the Gloucester defence to collect the bonus point by the break.

And he ran in his hat-trick score early in the second half as Quins exploited more holes, before Argentina winger Isgro almost walked over for his second.

The game was now over but Carreras and Cotgreave went over as they chased a bonus-point, but they came up short.

Harlequins: Green; Murley, Isgro, Beard, Waghorn; M Smith, Porter; Baxter, Walker, Lamositele, Herbst, Hammond, Kenningham, Evans, Dombrandt.

Replacements: Jibulu, Els, Streeter, Launchbury, Lawday, Murray, Benson, Northmore.

Sin-bin: Dombrandt (52), Murley (68)

Gloucester: Carreras; Wade, Harris, S Atkinson, Morris; Anscombe, T Williams; Rapava-Ruskin, Blake, Clark, Fasagbon, F Thomas, Clement, Ludlow, Ackermann.

Replacements: Singleton, Knight, Gotovtsev, Jordan, Clarke, Engelfield, C Atkinson, Cotgreave.

Sin-bin: Ackermann (56)

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Hearts to make approach for Kilmarnock’s McInnes

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Hearts will make an official approach to Kilmarnock on Monday in a bid to secure Derek McInnes as their new manager.

Since Neil Critchley’s dismissal last month after six months as Tynecastle boss, McInnes has been the strong favourite to take over.

His Kilmarnock team beat Dundee 3-2 on Saturday to secure Scottish Premiership safety with a third straight victory in what has been an otherwise difficult season.

In the aftermath of the win McInnes would not be drawn on the reports linking him with a move to Tynecastle, saying there had been “no contact from club to club”.

McInnes is an experienced manager in Scotland having started by taking St Johnstone to the top flight in 2009.

After a brief stint at Bristol City he then had seven years at Aberdeen where they never finished lower than fourth and won the League Cup in 2014.

McInnes departed Pittodrie in 2021 and took charge of Kilmarnock the following January, leading them to promotion back to the top flight and keeping them up on their return.

His spell at Rugby Park peaked last season when he guided the Ayrshire side to fourth place and European football.

Hearts themselves have had a turbulent season which started with their worst-ever beginning to a campaign and cost Naismith his job.

Critchley steered the club away from the bottom of the table but failed to get them into the top six and was dismissed, while there are changes off the pitch.

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Israeli protesters in Tel Aviv demand an end to war on Gaza

Thousands of Israelis rallied in central Tel Aviv, calling on the government to end the war on Gaza and secure the immediate release of Israeli captives held in the besieged Palestinian enclave.

The Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported that in Tel Aviv, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, an Israeli campaign group, held its weekly rally Saturday in “Hostages Square”, while another demonstration by families of captives is taking place outside the Israeli military headquarters.

A separate antigovernment protest is also occurring at Habima Square in Tel Aviv.

The Times of Israel reported that Shai Mozes, whose parents were held captive and released in separate exchange deals, told the crowd at the protest in Habima Square that Israel’s “real enemy is not Hamas, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is destroying Israel as a Jewish and democratic state”.

Netanyahu’s critics in Israel have accused the prime minister of extending the war for his own personal and political survival.

Haaretz also reported that protests are expected in other cities, including Jerusalem, Haifa, and Beersheba, as well as at dozens of other sites and intersections across Israel.

After Netanyahu announced an expanded offensive in the Gaza Strip on Monday, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum criticised the move in a statement, saying the plan is “sacrificing” those still held in the Palestinian territory.

A demonstrator wearing a mask representing US President Donald Trump and carrying a doll with a mask depicting Netanyahu at an antigovernment protest in Tel Aviv [Jack Guez/AFP]

Hamas releases video of two Israeli captives alive in Gaza

Hamas’s armed wing released a video on Saturday showing two Israeli captives alive in the Gaza Strip, with one of the two men calling to end the 19-month-long war.

Israeli media identified the pair in the undated video as Elkana Bohbot and Yosef Haim Ohana.

The three-minute video released by Hamas’s Qassam Brigades shows one of the captives, identified by media as 36-year-old Bohbot, visibly weak and lying on the floor wrapped in a blanket.

Ohana, 24, speaks in Hebrew in the video, urging the Israeli government to end the war in Gaza and secure the release of all remaining captives.

Dragons’ worst season confirmed by loss to Stormers

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United Rugby Championship

Stormers (14) 48

Tries: Simelane 2, Senatla, Ungerer, Willemse, Hartzenberg, De Wet Cons: Feinberg-Mngomezulu 3, Willemse 2 Pen: Feinberg-Mngomezulu

Dragons (0) 12

Dragons’ worst season was confirmed with their 16th successive loss in the United Rugby Championship (URC).

Defeat by Stormers means they cannot better their previous lowest points tally in a one-division version of the competition’s 24 years.

Ironically that fate was sealed despite one of their better displays.

Few gave them a chance of victory in Cape Town even before Stormers opened the scoring after just 73 seconds.

It was a tough scoreline for Dragons after so much effort but was the least those inside the DHL Stadium had expected after Wandisile Simelane sped past Harry Wilson in the second minute.

Even the most optimistic Dragons fan must have feared the worst.

But reaching for the record books proved premature as they held out until just four minutes before half-time.

They had Stormers’ over-confidence, a yellow card and full-back Huw Anderson to thank for that.

Seabelo Senatla somersaulted over for Stormers’ second but captain Salmaan Moerat was sin binned and against seven forwards, Dragons closed the gap to 14-5 when fit again Ben Carter shoved Wainwright over from close range early in the second half.

However, the Dragons’ lineout faltered too often and eventually allowed Stefan Ungerer to cross from distance before Damian Willemse capped his 100th appearance with a try.

Soon-to-retire Dragons veteran Dan Lydiate made his 150th league appearance but it could be his last after leaving on the back of a medical buggy following a head injury.

Trailing 29-5, Dragons mustered a response and again Anderson was pivotal, snagging Simelane behind the try-line.

From the resulting scrum, Aneurin Owen thundered into the defensive line before Blacker snuck over.

But when Stormers’ passes stuck they were simply electric and they finally showed their class with three late scores to all-but secure their place in the play-offs.

Stormers: Warrick Gelant; Ben Loader, Wandisile Simelane, Damian Willemse, Seabelo Senatla; Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Stefan Ungerer; Vernon Matongo, Joseph Dweba, Sazi Sandi, Salmaan Moerat (capt), Ruben van Heerden, Paul de Villiers, Marcel Theunissen, Evan Roos.

Replacements: JJ Kotze, Ali Vermaak, Zachary Porthen, Connor Evans, Louw Nel, Paul de Wet, Dan du Plessis, Suleiman Hartzenberg.

Sin bin: Moerat (39)

Dragons: Huw Anderson; Harry Rees-Weldon, Harry Wilson, Aneurin Owen, Jared Rosser; Angus O’Brien (co-capt), Rhodri Williams; Rhodri Jones, Brodie Coghlan, Chris Coleman, Ben Carter (co-capt), Ryan Woodman, Shane Lewis-Hughes, Dan Lydiate, Aaron Wainwright.

Replacements: James Benjamin, Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths, Paula Latu, Joe Davies, Barny Langton-Cryer, Dane Blacker, Lloyd Evans, Ashton Hewitt.

Referee: Andrea Piardi (FIR)

Assistant referees: AJ Jacobs (SARU), Hanru van Rooyen (SARU)

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