The six huge stars you forgot were in EastEnders before finding fame – from X Factor judge to Bafta nominated star

The Sun

10-05-2025

EASTENDERS has produced many famous faces since it first hit our screens back in 1985
So who's starred in the cast of the beloved soap and gone on to great things?
Here's everything you need to know about which former stars have been catapulted to stardom and a few might surprise you.
Visit our dedicated EastEnders page for all the latest spoilers, pictures and gossip from the square.
Amanda Holden
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Amanda Holden is a talented actress and TV personality, who rose to fame for her roles in television dramas such as Wild at Heart and Cutting It.
She is also a successful TV personality and talent show judge, appearing on shows like Britain's Got Talent and The X Factor.
But she appeared in EastEnders in 1994 as Carmen, who was employed by market inspector Richard Cole to work on Sanjay Kapoor's clothing stall on Bridge Street Market.
Carmen began selling heart-patterned boxer-shorts on the market and a pair were sent anonymously to her boss Richard.
Richard assumed he had a fun secret admirer - until he saw Carmen selling them on the market.
After that stunt with the boxer-shorts Amanda's character was not seen again.
Jonathan Lee Miller
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Jonathan Lee Miller is best known for Sick Boy in the cult film Trainspotting and as Sherlock Holmes in the TV show Elementary.
He also played John Major in the much loved The Crown and won a joint Olivier award with Benedict Cumberbatch for Frankenstein on stage.
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But back in 1992, he played the part of the lazy Jonathan Hewitt in Eastenders.
Jonathan was the lazy layabout son of Christine Hewitt – who employed Arthur Fowler to tend to her garden.
However, Arthur got Jonathan involved in his gardening business until he left London to attend a festival in Scotland with his hippy friends.
Christine took over the job in his place, which was the precursor to her affair with Arthur and Jonathan never appeared again.
Emma Bunton
The Spice Girls formed in 1994 with Emma, Mel B, Mel C, Geri Haliwell and Victoria Beckham achieving huge success with their debut single Wannabe.
However before that happened, Emma best known as Baby Spice went after the role of Bianca Jackson, but lost out to Patsy Palmer.
But at 16, Emma did briefly have a part in the soap when she played a mugger in 1992, and attempted to rob pensioner Jules in an alley way.
This was one year before Bianca arrived in town and just before she met The Spice Girls.
Hugh Bonneville
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Hugh Bonneville is best known for his role as Robert Crawley, Earl of Grantham, in the popular TV series Downton Abbey.
He has also been featured in the Paddington movie franchise, the romcom Notting Hill and Mansfield Park.
His most recent TV appearance was in Douglas is Cancelled but 30 years before taking on the role of Douglas, he appeared in another beloved British TV show.
Back in 1995, he took on the role of Headmaster on the famous Walford streets.
In the episode, he was the headmaster at the school that Martin Fowler attended.
David Walliams
David Walliams is an actor, comedian, writer, and television personality.
He is best known for his work with Matt Lucas on the BBC sketch comedy series Little Britain and Come Fly With Me.
He is also a writer of children's books, having sold more than 50 million copies worldwide.
And from 2012 to 2022, he was a judge on the television talent show competition Britain's Got Talent.
Back in 2003, David appeared in the soap's Christmas Day episode as a fake registrar, Ray, who attempted to marry Walford couple Kat and Alfie Moon.
Ray was an old and slightly confused friend of Alfie's and had been paid by Alfie to conduct their ceremony at the last minute.
The real registrar had of course refused to marry them due to Alfie's divorce not being finalised on time - but in true soap style, the truth eventually came out and Ray's registrar fun was cut short.
Robbie Williams
Brit Award winning Robbie Williams found fame as a member of the pop group Take That from 1990 to 1995, launching a solo career in 1996.
His debut studio album, Life thru a Lens, was released in 1997, and included his best-selling single "Angels".
Most recently he released the film Better Man which highlights the meteoric rise, dramatic fall, and his remarkable resurgence.
But in July 1995, boyband Robbie broke the hearts of thousands of people after quitting Take That shortly before their planned tour.
However, only a couple of months after his departure from the group, Robbie randomly appeared in an episode of EastEnders.
Robbie was seen in The Queen Vic in the background using the telephone behind Alan Jackson as he sat in the boozer talking to Ricky Butcher.
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