David Essex to play Shane Richie’s Uncle in EastEnders

The BBC has just announced that singer, actor and West End star David Essex will join the cast of EastEnders later this year playing Eddie Moon - father of Michael and uncle to Alfie played by Shane Richie.

Essex actually hails from East London and said he was "really excited to be joining the square Eddie Moon is a great character and I can't wait to get to grips with the role and work and such a fantastic cast."

Essex has just finished playing Captain Hook in the panto Peter Pan and last  appeared in the West End in his musical All the Fun of the Fair which is due to play again at the Mayflower Theatre in Southampton from 11th-15th October with  a tour meant to be  following, but I don’t know if this will be affected by his EastEnders role.