EastEnders star Ricky Grover has revealed that his role in the soap has won the seal of approval from his family and won him some unlikely new fans. The 50-year-old., who is currently starring as Heather Trott's would-be fiance Andrew Cotton, told Inside Soap magazine, "I've received awards in the past, but now I'm in EastEnders, my family think I've arrived!" The ex-boxer added that the role has also won him fans from his former career. "The people who contact me after an episode's gone out are quite unexpected. Flat-nosed, tough East End boxers text me saying, 'I'm so proud of you!'. I'd never have dreamed that they'd be watching it," he said. However Ricky admitted that he was hesitant at first to sign up for the soap, amid concerns he and Heather (Cheryl Fergison) would be stereotyped. "I was wary of taking the part of Andrew, because I didn't want him and Heather just to be 'the silly fat couple'," he said. "But EastEnders hasn't played that card. We've seen a very different side to Heather while she's been in this relationship."
