EastEnders star Shane Richie reveals cancer storyline has saved lives
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
SHANE Richie has revealed that EastEnders has saved lives following his powerful prostate cancer storyline.
The actor, 61, loveable Alfie Moon in the BBC One soap, embarked on the hard-hitting storyline nearly two years ago, to raise vital awareness and encourage more men to get checked out.
2
Shane Richie has revealed his prostate cancer storyline has saved lives
Credit: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron
2
Kat and Alfie are set to marry for a third time this week
Credit: BBC
One in eight men will get prostate cancer in their lifetime, according to Prostate UK, who along with Macmillan Cancer Support, worked with Shane and the EastEnders writing team on the storyline.
And now, the popular actor and entertainer, reveals the huge impact Alfie's cancer story has had.
He said: 'I was going to events, men my age were coming up to me, but mostly women, wives saying 'thank you so much for covering that storyline, because my husband, my brother... they don't want to go to the doctors.'
'One guy in particular, and I don't personally take credit for saving his life, but that storyline did.
'He got checked. His daughter was a big EastEnders fan, and just quite casually said, come on, we love Alfie, you should go and get checked and he did just to appease his daughter.
'He found out he had prostate cancer but it was at the early stages, had it left in any longer it could have been fatal. So if we just save one life, that's the power of soaps.'
This week viewers will see Alfie once again struggle with intimacy, a common side effect of his cancer treatment, as he prepares to marry Kat, actress Jessie Wallace, 53, for a third time.
Shane filmed the emotional scenes before going off on an extended break where he spent a month touring with best mates, Bradley Walsh, Brian Conley and Joe Pasquale.
Dubbed The Prat Pack! the quartet performed all over the country, and provided Shane with a welcomed respite from Alfie's cancer story.
Shane said: 'It was one of the most brilliant experiences I've had in a long time.
Watch the moment EastEnders' Shane Richie takes cheeky swipe at ex-wife Coleen Nolan as he appears on This Morning
'EastEnders are brilliant at letting me go off. I did a lot of stuff before I became Alfie so they're very accommodating, hopefully again next year I'll do the same thing, another tour.'
Shane also revealed how they turned down a big money deal from streaming giant Netflix to film the tour.
He said: 'We got approached by Netflix to go behind the scenes, and we were like, not a hope in hell!.'
What are the symptoms of prostate cancer?
Symptoms of prostate cancer can include: needing to pee more frequently, often during the night
needing to rush to the toilet
difficulty in starting to pee (hesitancy)
straining or taking a long time while peeing
weak flow
feeling that your bladder has not emptied fully
blood in urine or blood in semen
Source: NHS
Explaining how they weren't tempted by the offer he said: 'No, because once we do it the gags are gone. Maybe in five years time if we're all still alive we may do it.'
Shane was speaking on the red carpet at the British Soap Awards where EastEnders scooped eight gongs. Fans can watch the ceremony on ITVX.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Brit pop icon Adele thanks Netflix hit Adolescence for 'changing her relationship with her son' in heartwarming letters
Brit pop star Adele has written letters of thanks to the creators of the Netflix hit series Adolescence. The singer, 37, told director Philip Barantini, 44, that she made a point of watching the hard-hitting crime drama with her 13-year-old son, Angelo. Adele praised the series for 'changing her relationship' with Angelo, whom she shares with ex-husband Simon Konecki, 51. Adolescence, starring Owen Cooper and Stephen Graham, follows the story of a 13-year-old schoolboy accused of murdering a classmate after being radicalised by misogynistic online content. Director Philip said: 'I am getting messages, inundated on Instagram, from people from all over the world who can relate to this story or have really been affected by it. That, for me, has blown my mind a little bit.' From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the Daily Mail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Speaking during a masterclass with the Royal Television Society in words obtained by The Sun, he added: 'I had a text message from Steven Spielberg who has watched it twice, and I got letters from Adele last week - handwritten letters from Adele. He continued: 'I mean, just like saying that she had watched it with her son, and it has changed their relationship.' The director added that the show has surpassed their expectations as he gushed about the power of Netflix which has elevated the show to such a level. The four-part series has become Netflix's second most-watched English-language TV show ever, behind only Wednesday, the Addams family spin-off. Since its March 13 debut, Adolescence has racked up 141.2 million views. The series has sparked a national conversation and even prompted Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to suggest it be shown in schools. He revealed that he watched it with his 14-year-old daughter and 16-year-old son, saying: 'As a dad, I have not found it easy viewing.' It comes after Adele made a rare public appearance with her fiancé Rich Paul, 44, at an NBA game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Minnesota Timberwolves earlier this year. While Adele and Rich have chosen to keep their relationship largely out of the spotlight, they have frequently been photographed together at sporting events. Adele previously revealed to Rolling Stone that they met through a mutual friend, having both got up to dance to a Drake song at the birthday party. The couple, who have been dating since 2021, announced their engagement in August of last year when Adele flashed her engagement ring. Following a proposal from a fan, Adele admitted: 'I can't marry you, because I'm already getting married.' The romance is Adele's first relationship since she divorced her ex-husband Simon. The couple were married between 2018 and 2021 and are said to have parted on amicable terms after Adele decided to end the relationship. She told British Vogue: 'I wasn't miserable miserable, but I would have been miserable had I not put myself first. 'But, yeah, nothing bad happened or anything like that.' Following Adele's announcement that she and Rich were engaged, she revealed that she would be taking an extended break from music. She has been full of praise for the relationship and said that she would like to have more children. 'Once I am done with all my obligations and all of my shows, I want to have a baby,' she said on stage last May. 'I want a girl because I've already got a boy. I feel like she might be like the person I love the most in the world, but also probably hate the most in the world. 'That is what I feel will happen. She's going to put me in my place all the time, isn't she? With me as her mother and Rich as her father, she's going to be a bossy little queen, isn't she?' Rich, from Ohio, already has three children - Reonna, Richie, and Zane - from a prior relationship.
Scottish Sun
3 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Brit pop superstar thanks Netflix hit Adolescence for ‘changing her relationship with her son' in heartfelt letters
The four-parter has become Netflix's second most-watched English language TV series SHOW OF THANKS Brit pop superstar thanks Netflix hit Adolescence for 'changing her relationship with her son' in heartfelt letters Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) SUPERSTAR Adele has written letters of thanks to the makers of Netflix hit series Adolescence. The British singer, 37, told the director of the award-winning show that she had made a point of watching it with son Angelo. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 3 Adele has written letters of thanks to the makers of Netflix hit series Adolescence Credit: Getty 3 The series stars Owen Cooper and Stephen Graham Credit: AP 3 Adele pictured with Angelo Credit: Alamy And she praised the hard- hitting drama for 'changing her relationship' with the 12-year old — who she shares with her ex-husband Simon Konecki, 51. Film director Steven Spielberg is also a fan. The series, starring Owen Cooper and Stephen Graham, tells the story of a 13-year-old schoolboy accused of murdering a girl in his class after being brainwashed by misogynistic online content. Director Philip Barantini said: 'I am getting messages, inundated on Instagram, from people from all over the world who can relate to this story or have really been affected by it. 'That, for me, has blown my mind a little bit.' Speaking in a masterclass with the Royal Television Society, he added: 'I had a text message from Steven Spielberg who has watched it twice and I got letters from Adele last week — handwritten letters from Adele.' He continued: 'I mean, just like saying that she had watched it with her son and it has changed their relationship. 'Things like that are just beyond anything I ever imagined from this little show that we made with our family. 'You see things like Baby Reindeer and all of those shows — they come out and then they just blow up. 'It's a huge thing and that is the power of Netflix. Evil Adolescence teens butchered our kids after knife taunts & love feuds online…it's an arms war & no one feels safe 'For some reason, because we made it in Yorkshire and it is set in a small town in England, I never thought in a million years it would be the number one show in India or Venezuela.' The four-parter has become Netflix's second most-watched English language TV series, behind only Addams Family spin-off Wednesday. Adolescence has amassed 141.2million views since its debut on the streamer on March 13. It has also triggered a national debate and led to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer saying schools should show it to children. Sir Keir said he watched the series with his 14-year-old daughter and son, 16. He added: 'As a dad, I have not found it easy viewing.'
The Sun
3 hours ago
- The Sun
Brit pop superstar thanks Netflix hit Adolescence for ‘changing her relationship with her son' in heartfelt letters
SUPERSTAR Adele has written letters of thanks to the makers of Netflix hit series Adolescence. The British singer, 37, told the director of the award-winning show that she had made a point of watching it with son Angelo. 3 3 And she praised the hard- hitting drama for 'changing her relationship' with the 12-year old — who she shares with her ex-husband Simon Konecki, 51. Film director Steven Spielberg is also a fan. The series, starring Owen Cooper and Stephen Graham, tells the story of a 13-year-old schoolboy accused of murdering a girl in his class after being brainwashed by misogynistic online content. Director Philip Barantini said: 'I am getting messages, inundated on Instagram, from people from all over the world who can relate to this story or have really been affected by it. 'That, for me, has blown my mind a little bit.' Speaking in a masterclass with the Royal Television Society, he added: 'I had a text message from Steven Spielberg who has watched it twice and I got letters from Adele last week — handwritten letters from Adele.' He continued: 'I mean, just like saying that she had watched it with her son and it has changed their relationship. 'Things like that are just beyond anything I ever imagined from this little show that we made with our family. 'You see things like Baby Reindeer and all of those shows — they come out and then they just blow up. 'It's a huge thing and that is the power of Netflix. Evil Adolescence teens butchered our kids after knife taunts & love feuds online…it's an arms war & no one feels safe 'For some reason, because we made it in Yorkshire and it is set in a small town in England, I never thought in a million years it would be the number one show in India or Venezuela.' The four-parter has become Netflix's second most-watched English language TV series, behind only Addams Family spin-off Wednesday. Adolescence has amassed 141.2million views since its debut on the streamer on March 13. It has also triggered a national debate and led to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer saying schools should show it to children. Sir Keir said he watched the series with his 14-year-old daughter and son, 16. He added: 'As a dad, I have not found it easy viewing.'
