Star Tom Watt says he’d be ‘open to another return as Lofty’
Actor Tom Watt says he would welcome another return to EastEnders as unlucky in love former barman, Lofty Holloway.
The star was speaking ahead of a guest appearance in the soap next week. In an episode to air on 19th February, Lofty will make a brief visit to Walford along with ex resident Mary Smith, to attend the wake of GP Harold Legg.
Asked how he would respond if he was approached to reprise the role again, the 62 year old said: “They never have (asked), but if they did…yeah! I really like acting. It’s not that I’m doing other stuff because I don’t like acting; I’m just not great at waiting for the phone to ring. A lot of stuff goes on in my head and I’m asked to do other stuff.”
He adds: “It’s harder work now (at EastEnders), I think. They work a lot harder than we did. We were doing two episodes in five and a half days, but they’re doing twice as much now.”
Lofty was a regular fixture in Walford from 1985-1988. He was famously jilted at the altar in 1986 by Michelle Fowler, but the pair later went on to marry. However, their marriage fell apart when Michelle aborted his baby, and Lofty left the square to take up a handyman job at a children’s home.
On leaving the show, Arsenal fan Tom combined acting with his passion for football, and became a sports journalist. He has presented on TV and radio, made documentaries for BT Sport, and ghost-written David Beckham’s autobiography as well as penning a host of other books.
He jokes: “There will always be room for a bit of acting. I’ve kind of been waiting, because I think if I wait long enough, all the other actors will have fallen off their perch and I’ll just get a clear run at everything!”
EastEnders continues on BBC1.
