EXCLUSIVE: Richard Blackwood has enjoyed a successful career in the entertainment industry, but it was his time on EastEnders that taught him some valuable lessons about acting
Richard Blackwood, 53, has been a fixture on UK screens for decades. The multi-talented performer has built a career spanning comedy, radio, television presenting, acting, and stage work. He is also a devoted father to his son, showcasing a more private side behind his public persona.
While many know him from his quick wit and energetic presence, Blackwood has also made a lasting impact in British soaps, portraying Vincent Hubbard in EastEnders and later Felix Westwood in Hollyoaks.
Speaking recently, he reflected on the funniest person he has ever worked with. Blackwood acknowledged that while stand-up is naturally full of comedians, there was one actor in particular who had him laughing on set.
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“Oh, it’s a good question. Do you know what, I will work with many funny people, but in terms of acting wise it would be Tameka Thompson,” he revealed.
His admiration for Tameka is not just limited to their work together. Blackwood has been keeping up with her current appearance on Celebrity Traitors, which has showcased her personality to a wider audience, before she was banished by her castmates. When asked if he had been watching, he laughed: “Yeah, yeah, she’s out now, but of course I had to watch her. Love it.”
For Blackwood, it’s a reminder of the broad spectrum of talent he has encountered throughout his career. However, his mind quickly turns to the soaps that helped establish him as a household name.
Reflecting on his time in front of the camera, he explained the lessons he learned from working in soaps. “Do you know what, when you’re doing a soap, you’re working with people that are equally as good or even better than you, yeah. Because remember, we are all actors and actresses, right? We all come from different backgrounds — some are trained, some are not trained — but you all now are on this equal plane where you have to deliver.”
Blackwood was particularly influenced by the veteran cast members on EastEnders. “When you’re watching EastEnders and you see all these new characters come in and then you see them do scenes with the veterans like Steve McFadden that plays Phil, or Diane that plays Denise — you know what I mean — these are veterans.”
“Like Diane, I can’t remember what acting school she went to, one of the top ones in the country, but she’s just… when you’re on set with her and she starts acting, you know you’ve gotta bring something. She’s just doing it because it’s what she knows — it’s natural. But when you deliver your line and then she delivers hers, you’re thinking, ‘Shit, my line was shit,’ because she was so bam-bam-bam, so in character, that she makes you internally go, ‘Yo, you see your next line? You better bring that.’”
However, it was working opposite Steve McFadden, the legendary Phil Mitchell, that left a lasting impression. “The same with Steve. You know, when I did scenes with Steve, I maybe once — if that — forgot a line.”
“And it’s not that he demanded that, he was cool, but because of the level he was on. He never messed up his lines. He’d come in, script down, everything in his head. So if they said, ‘Do another take,’ he didn’t even look back at the script. He was just bam, straight into it.”
Richard described how this professionalism influenced his own approach to acting. “So me, I’d do the same — I’d learn my lines, put the script down. And he’d see that and sometimes give me a little nod, because he understood that you came here prepared.”
“And in a weird sort of way, you’re giving the other actor or actress respect — you’re saying, ‘I’m gonna make sure that our scene, our dance, isn’t messed up by me.’ It’s a dance, you know? So when you’re both on the same level — trust me — when you finish, they’ll give you a little nod or a touch between takes that lets you know two things: number one, you delivered; and number two, I respect that you respect me.”
He added, “Actors will understand exactly what I mean when I say that. You’re saying, ‘I respect this whole scene. I respect you, who I’m working with, and I wanna make sure there’s no weak link on my side.’ That’s what I’ve learned from doing these shows.”
Even years later, Richard remains recognised for his role as Vincent Hubbard. “I love Hollyoaks, yeah — I loved Felix. But Vincent… there was something about Vincent. It was that family aspect. He was edgy, but family-driven — you knew, ‘I’ll do whatever I need to do for my family.’ Especially when you first saw him, you knew not to mess with him.”
He recalls one particularly memorable scene: “The scene with me and Fatboy, where I locked him in the cupboard and said, ‘Don’t let me tell you twice,’ that scene was about him dating my disabled sister and not taking her seriously. My thing was like, ‘Oh, so you played her, and you knew it was my sister, and you thought that was OK? Alright.’ People saw that and thought, ‘OK, he don’t care,’ but it wasn’t that — it was, ‘You deal with her correctly, otherwise you’ve got to come see me.’ People liked that, you know what I mean?”
Asked if he would ever return to EastEnders, Blackwood was careful but optimistic. “I would never say never,” he said. “You could say, ‘No, I’m not going back,’ and block your blessings, because God might be saying, ‘Hey, you might need that to get you to there.’ So now I just say — I never say never.”
Currently, Richard is starring in ITV ’s Union Black, which airs on tonight (20 October). Created and directed by Sebastian Whyte, the programme features voices from across the Black British experience, including Llewella Gideon, ENNY, Afua Hirsch, Jazzie B, Travis Jay, KG tha Comedian, Eddie Kadi, Vanessa Kingori, Ola Labib, Slim, Wretch 32, and Curtis Walker.
Discussing why he joined the show, Richard explained, “Do you know what, with me, right, I, I, I am very — I don’t know if guilty is the right word — but I’ve always cared about my people first. I know that sounds… well, I don’t know how that sounds, but I’m not gonna apologise for it. I’ve always been, I’ve always been that way.”
Watch Union Blacks now on ITVX.
