Latest news with #DerekBranning
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EastEnders star Jamie Foreman says soap isn't 'anywhere near the highlight of my career' as he accuses show bosses of breaking promises
Jamie Foreman has revealed that EastEnders is 'nowhere near the highlight' of his acting career as he accused show bosses of failing to keep promises made before he joined the soap. The actor, 67, played Derek Branning from November 2011 until the character's death in the dramatic Christmas Day episode of 2012. Despite his role in one of Walford's most infamous families, Jamie said he doesn't consider the part a standout moment in his career - even though it gave him the opportunity to work alongside icons like Dame Barbara Windsor. Speaking on the Lewis Nicholls show, Jamie admitted: 'I'm going to be a little bit controversial here. 'I don't see EastEnders as anywhere near the highlight of my career. 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. 'It was a lovely job and I respect it. But for me… they'd asked me so many times before.' He went on to explain that producers promised him flexibility and favourable working conditions before he signed on. He continued: 'They said, "it's with the best family, it's full on, you can do as long as you want". I said, "I only want to do it for a year." 'I went and met with them and they made me all manner of promises that they never kept, like "you'll never work a Saturday". I did every Saturday. I was the first in, last out every day.' The BBC declined to comment, and Jamie's representative has also been approached. During his short tenure on the show, Derek Branning made a significant impact. He had an affair with Kat Slater, tormented Pat Butcher on her deathbed, and revealed the truth about Dennis Rickman to his son, Denny Watts. This isn't the first time Jamie has voiced criticism of his time on EastEnders. In a 2013 appearance on Daybreak, he said: 'I hated the scenes in the Queen Vic, I'm terribly sorry to everybody! 'I'm sure a lot of the cast will say the same thing - they're so long and laborious. 'You've got to stand there and wait for somebody over there to stop talking, so you're listening to that conversation, then it cuts to somebody else. You never shoot a scene quickly in there.' In 2020, Jamie revealed he suffered a heart attack, just like his character did in the BBC soap. Speaking to The Sun about his health scare, Jamie said: 'I had a massive heart attack a couple of years back and nearly pegged it. 'That put everything in perspective. All the years and energy I'd spent stressing about work and now I think "I've been there, done that".' Jamie has had an illustrious film and TV career, starring in movies such as Layer Cake, Oliver Twist and Nil By Mouth. Despite his successful career, he has been candid about the challenges he's faced in finding work. He told the Business & Money supplement in The Sunday Times: 'I've been sort of struggling on the work front. 'I wasn't terribly well a few years ago and it made me really reappraise things, so I'm in a transitional period. I'm only working if something nice comes in. 'My wife and I set up a little fashion business, Jules Boutique, in Surrey a while ago, which is her shop really and it's still burgeoning.' Jamie was previously married to EastEnders actress Carol Harrison, who played Louise Raymond. They share a son, Alfie.
The Sun
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Huge EastEnders star slams time on soap and claims bosses ‘made promises they never kept'
A FORMER EastEnders star has slammed his time on the show and claimed bosses 'made promises they didn't keep'. Jamie Foreman starred as Derek Branning in EastEnders from November 2011 until December 2012. 3 3 3 Despite being part of one of Walford's most iconic families, Jamie, 67, has confessed his time as Derek is not 'a career highlight'. Speaking on the Lewis Nicholls Show, he said: 'I'm going to be a little bit controversial here. 'I don't see EastEnders as anywhere near the highlight of my career. 'It was a lovely job and I respect it. But for me… they'd asked me so many times before.' Recalling the offer from EastEnders, Jamie continued: 'They said, 'it's with the best family, it's full on, you can do as long as you want'. I said, 'I only want to do it for a year'. 'I went and met with them and they made me all manner of promises that they never kept, like 'you'll never work a Saturday'. I did every Saturday. I was the first in, last out every day.' Jamie's character Derek was killed off during the Christmas Day 2012 episode when he suffered a heart attack. In his short time as a resident of Albert Square Derek cemented himself as one of the soap's most notorious bad boys. He had an affair with Alfie Moon's wife Kat Slater, tormented Pat Butcher on her death bed and told Sharon Watts' son Denny the truth about his dad Dennis Rickman. It's not the first time Jamie has spoken negatively about his time on the show. Penny Branning calls her dad 'big man Jack' in EastEnders In 2013 he appeared on Daybreak and said: 'I hated the scenes in the Queen Vic, I'm terribly sorry to everybody! 'I'm sure a lot of the cast will say the same thing - they're so long and laborious. 'You've got to stand there and wait for somebody over there to stop talking, so you're listening to that conversation, then it cuts to somebody else. You never shoot a scene quickly in there.'
