Ever since Stuart Highway arrived on EastEnders a few months ago, he’s caused nothing but anguish for his old ‘friend’ Mick Carter and family.
Despite his evil intentions onscreen, however, actor Ricky Champ has revealed that when the camera turns off, they are all good friends – and even chat about Love Island!
Now would Stuart do that?
Read more: EastEnders fans cheered as Stuart was arrested and rejected by brother Halfway
Appearing on Lorraine on Friday (3 August), Ricky told host Christine Lampard what it was like as the new boy on set.
And he couldn’t have spoken more highly of his co-star Danny Dyer.
Talking about those early scenes with the fan favourite, Ricky said: “It was a really lovely introduction to EastEnders because I had Danny showing me around, showing me the ropes.”
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He continued: “He’s a lovely man, such a pro. I loved seeing how he works, which is really quick.
“[He’s a] very generous man and very generous actor. Always feel very supported when you’re with Danny.”
Ricky also revealed that the subject of Love Island was a hot topic on set, while Danny’s daughter Dani appeared on the ITV show.
He said: “There has been [conversations on set] about Love Island. I remember talking briefly at the start with him about the show.
“I think he was quite apprehensive of his daughter going in there. But what we’re left with is, she’s got out of it with her integrity intact. She’s won the money and won the show but I think that was more important – and a bit of a feat on a show like that.
“Good luck to her, I’m sure her parents are very proud.”
Asked by Christine about being Albert Square’s latest baddie, he replied: “There’s a golden lineage of villainy in EastEnders and it’s good to be part of it. I grew up watching it.”
He warned that Stuart’s assault on Tina “will have an effect on stories to come” and promised that “more unfolds” in some big autumn storylines.
The dad of one also discussed working with Woody Harrelson in the theatre and appearing on Game Of Thrones where he “got murdered”.
https://twitter.com/SeasonOneTV/status/1025291040213934080
Marlon Brando's method acting in the Godfather as Don Corleone was nowhere near as convincing as Ricky Champ as psychopathic Stuart Highway in EastEnders. My goodness he has been absolutely outstanding. If you bumped into him on a dark night you would have a tena moment lol
— SarangHae68 (@annmariebrown68) August 3, 2018
Ricky is so kind! His interview on Lorraine was amazing, cannot wait to see what is coming up for Stuart!❤️ @RickyChamp1 xx
— leah (@leah_kerr04) August 3, 2018
outstanding actor. His behavior&facial expressions are spot on. Stuart is brilliantly portrayed as a scary psychopath
— BEV G (@BEV1971) August 3, 2018
Despite being the perfect gent on the morning chat show, some fans were still incapable of separating fact from fiction…
One fan wrote: “Even stuart on Lorraine with Christine is making me cringe!”
Others praised Ricky on his utterly convincing portrayal of Stuart, writing: “Marlon Brando’s method acting in the Godfather as Don Corleone was nowhere near as convincing as Ricky Champ as psychopathic Stuart Highway in EastEnders.
“My goodness he has been absolutely outstanding. If you bumped into him on a dark night you would have a tena moment lol.”
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