EastEnders actor Shane Richie is set to take a brief break from the soap after securing a festive stage role away from Walford.
The 60-year-old, who plays Alfie Moon, will star in Theatre Royal Plymouth’s Christmas production of Dick Whittington, running from December 12 until January 10. His absence from Albert Square will be short-lived, with filming schedules arranged so Alfie remains present on screen.
A source explained: «Shane will be taking a short break from the soap but it won’t affect Alfie’s time on screen.»
Richie is not the only EastEnders star heading to panto season this year. Ellie Dadd, 19, who plays Amy Mitchell, will perform as Belle in Beauty and the Beast at Croydon Fairfield Halls between December 12 and January 4.
Meanwhile, Steve McFadden, best known as Phil Mitchell, has confirmed he will appear in Aladdin at The Alban Arena.
Kursiv also reports that Bruce Willis’s wife Emma Heming Willis has said she made the «hardest decision» to move the actor out of their family home as his dementia progresses.
