Ex-EastEnders star Shane Richie: 'I'd jump at the chance to play Alfie Moon again!'

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Redwater Shane Richie

EastEnders viewers were surprised by recent reports that Shane Richie will not be returning to the BBC 1 soap and his popular character Alfie Moon could be killed off. But it looks like we might still see Alfie back in Albert Square after all!

Ex-EastEnders star Shane Richie has confirmed he is not ruling out a return to the BBC 1 soap following various news reports he had turned down the chance to play Alfie Moon again.

"I wouldn't - and in fact have never declined going back to EastEnders - as it's part of my life. It's like family!" Shane told Metro.co.uk. "And it goes without question that if EastEnders want me, I'd jump at the chance of stepping back into Alfie's boots!"

But for the moment Alfie's fate remains unknown, since the character's life was hanging in the balance after emergency brain surgery in last year's EastEnders spin-off, Kat & Alfie: Redwater. And when Alfie's wife Kat Slater (played by Jessie Wallace) re-appears in Walford this Spring, Alfie will not be by her side.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUlt_b2Ic3g

However, Shane is keeping busy with other projects at the moment. He released a new album, A Country Soul at the end of last year and will also be back on our screens as entertainer Sammy Valentino in four episodes of ITV comedy Benidorm which returns for a 10th series next month. The actor recently tweeted a photo of himself from the set in Spain.

Ex-Brookside star Claire Sweeney, Nigel Havers and pop singers Carol Decker, Tony Hadley and Holly Johnson are also among the guest stars who will be checking into the Solana Resort.

Catch Shane Richie in the new series of Benidorm which starts on ITV in February

Simon Timblick
Simon Timblick
Writer

Simon has long been a fan of soap operas, and especially loves OVER-THE-TOP plots involving evil twins, hair-pulling catfights and natural disasters. Anyone remember the Sunset Beach earthquake/tidal wave? Or when Krystle Carrington got locked in the attic and replaced by look-a-like Rita in Dynasty?!

Simon has written for a variety of TV and childrens’ magazines/websites including Inside Soap, Nickelodeon, What’s On TV, Radio Times, Metro, Girl Talk, Disney Girl, Toxic! and Digital Spy. He has reported LIVE from the red carpet at The British Soap Awards interviewing glammed-up stars from soapland, and hosted a Facebook LIVE session for Metro with Home and Away legend Ray Meagher (Alf "Stone the flamin' crows!" Stewart) to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Aussie soap.

Simon is also co-author of The Treasures Of Coronation Street (Carlton Books)

And the writer and director of (very!) low budget fright flick, Midsummer Night's EVIL and the sequel webisodes series, The Hatchet Woods HORROR.