Latest news with #AdamWoodyatt
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
JONATHAN BROCKLEBANK: So playing Doctor Who is tough, Mr Gatwa? Try being a nurse in a busy hospital - then you'll know the real meaning of exhaustion
Forty years ago a teenage actor called Adam Woodyatt appeared in the launch episode of a new soap opera which the BBC hoped would rival ITV 's Coronation Street in the ratings war. The 16-year-old figured he would give it until the end of the year in the role of Ian Beale and decide then on any longer-term commitment. Sensible boy. EastEnders could have tanked. Acting may not have proved his forte. I felt a lot like young Adam did when I took my first job in journalism in 1990. Let's see where this malarky takes us. Plenty of time to reinvent myself if it doesn't work out. It so happens Woodyatt, aged 57, is still playing Ian Beale in EastEnders, which makes him the longest serving male cast member of the show. I am the same age – and, after 35 years, still doing journalism, and still trying to figure out whether it is working out or not. No doubt there have been ups and downs in the actor's four decades in the fictional East London community of Walford – times when he has felt close to quitting, when the job seems to grow prison walls which must be breached. I've often daydreamed about tunnelling out of my job too. Who doesn't dwell on the road not taken after more than half a lifetime on the same, familiar one? I mention Woodyatt because he is in showbusiness and yet, somehow, too, practically a regular member of the UK workforce. More than any other actor I can think of, he seems to understand the meaning of graft. He has those qualities most of us earning a crust require to keep those wheels of self- sufficiency turning – staying power; stamina; resilience. Now let's meet someone who may be his polar opposite. Poor Ncuti Gatwa gave an account the other day of why he quit Doctor Who after two series playing the Time Lord. It's because he's 'too old' and his body was getting tired. The man is 32. Playing the Doctor left him drained 'physically, emotionally and mentally'. Wow. Perhaps not for him then a role playing a real doctor on a cancer ward, say, as opposed to a pretend one zipping around the universe in a police box. Here is some more on the challenges involved in portraying a character who, almost uniquely in television drama, doesn't even have a fixed character to portray: 'The actors playing the Doctor are only actors playing the Doctor. Unfortunately, we are mere mortals.' And this priceless beauty: 'I would love to have the energy and youth to be able to do this full time for the rest of my life, but my knees are telling me it's time.' His knees? Professional tennis players say this kind of thing in their careers' twilight and we kind of get it. They're normally in their late 30s, decades of punishment to their joints on the clock. Yes, Djokovic, Nadal et al did all their own stunts. And is the suggestion that superhuman powers would be required to drag himself into work on a third series when the role is as demanding as that of the Doctor? We're talking eight episodes. I cannot pretend I have been particularly interested in who has been at the controls of the Tardis since Tom Baker took his leave of the show after seven years in 1981. I remember he was in his late 40s at the time. I don't remember any chat about his knees. I am aware that long after my regular viewing days were behind me Peter Capaldi managed to struggle through three series between 2014 and 2017 before, pushing 60, he decided this was a young man's game. How on earth did the man cope? Pure grit, I imagine. And then, in 2023, the 15th incarnation of the Doctor – Rwandan born and Scottish-educated Ncuti Gatwa who cites every kind of exhaustion as his reason for exiting stage left. Adam Woodyatt has been in EastEnders for eight years longer than Gatwa has been alive. You have to wonder how knackered he must be – how physically, emotionally and mentally draining it is to be Ian Beale every time you go to work. How are his knees? His character has spent plenty of time down on them. The actor may well have allowed himself a rueful chuckle on learning just how exhausting it was to be on BBC's flagship sci-fi drama, where they shoot a handful of episodes a year, as opposed to its flagship soap, where they shoot many dozens. But of course most of those reading of the 32-year-old's trials at the coal face of television entertainment will not be in steady employment in the showbiz industry. They will be veterans of real workplace fatigue and stress and burn-out. Playing a fictional Time Lord is a tough gig? Try playing a real-life teacher in an inner city school or an NHS nurse frantically attending to patients on trolleys in hospital corridors because all the beds are full. Try being shouted at all day in a call centre or running a convenience store where teen thieves daily help themselves to your stock. And now imagine you're still doing the same gig 25 or 30 years later. I think that is rather more what exhaustion looks like than shooting a grand total of 16 episodes of Doctor Who over two years. How in the real world do we shoulder the burden of our roles as society's worker ants? Well, for most of us, by telling ourselves it's not a choice but a responsibility. By looking at the alternative and shuddering. I've been shuddering at the alternative to my role since I was 22 – Adam Woodyatt for even longer than that – and sure, there are days when 32 or 42 or 52 might appear an appropriate age to have stopped. Then there are those other days when pride in the ability to keep on keeping on is an energy in itself. My contemporaries in this industry – and many others, I suspect – are operating largely on post-exhaustion reserves. We've lost count of the brick walls we've hit, of the days from hell and the sleepless nights that long innings in the workplace inevitably bring. Some of us are so spent we can barely think back to the time when the tank ran empty, yet mysterious afterburners propel us forward and we remain grateful as long as they do. Being a Time Lord is a whole different kettle of fish. Being the Doctor for a season or two is but a fleeting indulgence for any actor lucky enough to land the role. Indeed, the whole conceit of Doctor Who – that its main character can regenerate endlessly into fresh human forms – is perhaps a useful metaphor for a modern, flaky generation that doesn't stick at anything for very long. Doctors come and Doctors go and that's showbiz. But let's at least be honest about it, Ncuti. You left the programme not because you're old but because you're young and the world is at your feet. Others, with fewer options than you, know the real meaning of exhaustion.
Yahoo
13-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Police 'arrest EastEnders actor on suspicion of indecent assault in front of shocked BBC soap opera stars'
The cast and crew of EastEnders were left stunned after an extra was arrested on set over an alleged indecent assault. Filming was underway at Elstree Studios in Hertfordshire when a woman claimed that a fellow extra, a man in his 50s, had forcibly tried to kiss her. Security staff for the BBC One soap quickly intervened and restrained the man, leading to a tussle, The Sun on Sunday reports. 'In all the years of filming EastEnders nothing this dramatic has happened — with police turning up at the studios,' an insider said. 'Everyone was quite shaken up by it all. No one could quite believe what was happening. The main focus was the woman's welfare as she was clearly very distressed.' The source added that things became 'very heated' when the man 'squared up to' security staff. Police were called and the man was arrested on suspicion of indecent assault of the woman and common assault against another individual. He has since been released on bail while enquiries continue. Several cast members, including Adam Woodyatt — the show's longest-serving actor who has played Ian Beale since EastEnders began in 1985 — were reportedly present and witnessed the incident unfold. Filming was paused as producers gave the cast and crew an extended break. The woman was cared for by on-site staff before production resumed. A spokesperson for Hertfordshire Police said: 'We can confirm we did receive a report of an incident that took place in Eldon Avenue, Borehamwood on Wednesday May 7. 'The suspect, a man aged in his 50s, was arrested on suspicion of common assault and sexual assault in relation to two victims. He is on police bail whilst enquiries continue.' Crew members are said to have thanked EastEnders bosses for their 'professionalism and understanding' in handling the situation. A spokesperson for the show added: 'While we would never comment on individuals, EastEnders has on-site security and well-established procedures in place to safeguard the safety and welfare of everyone who works on the show.'
Daily Mirror
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
EastEnders actor arrested on set as 'assault' left woman 'very distressed'
An extra in his 50s was arrested on the EastEnders set at Elstree Studios, Hertfordshire, on May 7 after a woman complained he had tried to forcibly kiss her while filming An actor was arrested on the set of EastEnders following an alleged assault that left a woman "clearly very distressed", reports say. Cameras stopped rolling at Elstree Studios, Hertfordshire, on May 7 after a woman complained that a fellow extra, a man in his 50s, had tried to forcibly kiss her. Security stepped in to grab the man, which led to a scuffle before the actor was handed over to police. According to reports, the man was arrested on suspicion of sexual assault of the woman and of common assault against another person, which is alleged to have happened while he was escorted away. He is said to have been released on bail while investigations continue. Filming resumed after the incident. A source told The Sun that the incident was "dramatic" and "everyone was quite shaken by up by it all." The witness said: "No one could quite believe what was happening. "The main focus was the woman's welfare, as she was clearly very distressed. Obviously, filming had to be stopped while the incident was dealt with by production managers and security. "It got very heated when the man squared up to the security staff as they tried to calm things. Eventually, he was questioned and taken away by police." It is understood that the cameras didn't capture footage of the alleged attack, but it's not clear whether the scenes filmed on the day of the incident have been screened on TV yet. According to the publication, Adam Woodyatt, who plays Ian Beale in the BBC soap opera, was one of the stars filming at the time. The source added that "everyone involved in the production, including the cast and crew, acted very responsibly in an extremely difficult situation." Crew members were said to be grateful to bosses for the "professionalism and understanding" they showed in handling the incident. Hertfordshire Police confirmed that a suspect in his 50s was "arrested on suspicion of common assault and sexual assault in relation to two victims." The force added: "He is on police bail whilst enquiries continue." EastEnders said in a statement on Saturday: "While we would never comment on individuals, EastEnders has on-site security and well-established procedures in place to safeguard the safety and welfare of everyone who works on the show."
Metro
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
EastEnders actor arrested on set after 'indecent assault' on female extra
EastEnders cast members were reportedly shocked as an extra was arrested on set for 'indecent assault'. It's claimed that an unnamed man in his fifties tried to forcibly kiss another female cast member without her consent. The woman complained about the incident, causing cameras to stop rolling. It was then that security intervened, which caused a scene as the man fought back. The extra, whose exact role on the show is unknown, was later removed from the set and detained by police in Hertfordshire. A source told The Sun on Sunday: 'In all the years of filming EastEnders, nothing this dramatic has happened—with police turning up at the studios. 'Everyone was quite shaken up by it all. No one could quite believe what was happening. 'The main focus was the woman's welfare, as she was clearly very distressed.' They added that matters became 'very heated when the man squared up to the security staff as they tried to calm things.' 'Eventually, he was questioned and taken away by police.' While the incident is said to have taken place earlier in spring, it is common knowledge that soaps such as EastEnders film months in advance, meaning the scenes involving the accused extra could have already aired. However, this is not known, nor is it known if he will feature at all. As per the publication, the woman involved received attention from BBC staff while filming was halted for a while. Shooting then continued. 'Everyone involved in the production, including the cast and crew, acted very responsibly in an extremely difficult situation,' explained the insider. Crew members were also said to be thankful for how bosses handled the issue with 'professionalism and understanding'. It's believed that the man accused was arrested on suspicion of indecent assault and common assault, both against two separate people. The latter is thought to refer to his altercation with security when he was escorted away. The individual is currently on bail as an investigation takes place. In a statement, Hertfordshire Police said: 'We can confirm we did receive a report of an incident that took place in Eldon Avenue, Borehamwood, on Wednesday, May 7. 'The suspect, a man aged in his fifties, was arrested on suspicion of common assault and sexual assault in relation to two victims. 'He is on police bail whilst enquiries continue.' Additionally, the BBC said in a statement to Metro this weekend: 'While we would never comment on individuals, EastEnders has on-site security and well-established procedures in place to safeguard the safety and welfare of everyone who works on the show.' At the time, the likes of Adam Woodyatt, who plays Ian Beale and has done so since the soap first aired in 1985, were on set and allegedly witnessed the arrest. Other actors were also present when filming was happening, just a short distance from the iconic Queen Vic pub. View More » It is understood that cameras did not capture the alleged indecent assault itself. If you've got a soap or TV story, video or pictures get in touch by emailing us soaps@ – we'd love to hear from you. Join the community by leaving a comment below and stay updated on all things soaps on our homepage. MORE: Celebrity Traitors hit with a unique problem as cast ignore show's rules MORE: Famous comedian 'honoured' after landing role in EastEnders after 37 years MORE: Gregg Wallace 'banned from BBC' as scathing letter of dismissal revealed
Daily Mail
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Police 'arrest EastEnders actor on suspicion of indecent assault on set in front of shocked BBC soap opera stars'
Police 'arrested an EastEnders actor on suspicion of indecent assault on set in front of shocked BBC soap opera stars', it has been revealed. The famous cast of the popular soap series had been filming scenes on May 7 when camera crews were abruptly stopped after a woman allegedly complained that a fellow extra had attempted to forcibly kiss her. Following a scuffle with security, the man, aged in his 50s, was eventually handed over to police officers at Elstree Studios in Hertfordshire, T he Sun has reported. After a 'lengthy break', filming, which was taking place in the iconic fictional Albert Square, is then said to have resumed. The woman involved in the alleged incident was also given specialist care and support from BBC staff. Adam Woodyatt, the longest-serving cast member in the show's history, was reportedly involved in filming on set during the alleged assault, alongside other famous stars of the program. The man was held on suspicion of indecent assault of the female extra, alongside for common assault against another individual. The unnamed actor is said to be remaining on bail while an investigation into the complaint takes place. A source told The Sun that 'everyone' on set was left 'quite shaken' by the 'extremely difficult situation', adding: 'No one could quite believe what was happening'. Describing the woman as 'very distressed', the source told the publication that the man had 'squared up to the security staff as they tried to calm things.' The source also praised both the cast and crew for their responsible approach towards the alleged assault, alongside their 'professionalism and understanding'. Cameras were reportedly unable to capture footage of the alleged attack, with it also unknown whether any scenes filmed on that day have been aired to viewers. In a statement issued to The Sun, Hertfordshire Police confirmed that they had 'received a report of an incident that took place in Eldon Avenue, Borehamwood on Wednesday, May 7'. They added: 'The suspect, a man aged in his 50s, was arrested on suspicion of common assault and sexual assault in relation to two victims. 'He is on police bail whilst enquiries continue.' It comes just days after the charges were dropped against an actor who was arrested while filming the hit TV show Rivals. Nigel Adams, 45, was arrested by Avon and Somerset Police at Berkeley Castle in Gloucestershire on June 4, while performing a polo scene with former EastEnders star Danny Dyer. Mr Adams, who was also a supporting actor on BBC's Casualty and Doctor Who, was accused of attacking his long-term partner Louise Payne at a house in Weston-Super-Mare, Somerset. After spending two nights in a police cell, the TV extra was later charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm against his girlfriend in an alleged incident on March 31 of this year. Attending Bristol Crown Court on Monday for a plea and trial preparation hearing, Mr Adams pleaded not guilty to the charge. Christine Hart, prosecuting, said she would be offering no evidence against Mr Adams, saying: 'Subsequent to the case being charged, there is a statement by Ms Payne. 'She is here at court today, she sits in the public gallery. Attending Bristol Crown Court on Monday for a plea and trial preparation hearing, Mr Adams (pictured) pleaded not guilty to the charge. Christine Hart, prosecuting, said she would be offering no evidence against Mr Adams 'She has made it clear she didn't wish to proceed with the case. I have spoken to her at length, as has the officer in charge. 'Taking into account the evidence already in the case and that statement, the only option I have is to offer no evidence on the outstanding count.' Judge William Hart told the court he would formally enter a not-guilty verdict in the case. The judge told Mr Adams: 'A not-guilty verdict, you are free to leave, thank you.' Speaking outside court, Mr Adams and Ms Payne said they were grateful the case had been dropped. Hertfordshire Police, The BBC and The Metropolitan Police were all contacted for comment.
