EastEnders’ Barry star Shaun Williamson’s incredible off camera life with rarely seen wife
By the age of 22, Shaun had fought alcoholism and fathered a secret love childClick to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) HE played one of EastEnders most iconic characters, meeting his demise on a cliff at the hands of evil wife Janine. But actor Shaun Williamson, who starred as hapless Barry Evans, has had quite a colourful life away from the BBC soap too. EastEnders Shaun Williamson has had quite the life off screen 6 EastEnders Shaun Williamson has had quite the life off screenCredit: instagram/@shaunwilliamson64 His iconic haracter Barry died at the hands on Janine on the BBC soap 6 His iconic haracter Barry died at the hands on Janine on the BBC soapCredit: BBC Over his rollercoaster six decades, he has battled alcoholism and fathered a secret love child with a circus performer. Here we look back at the off-screen drama that the 57 year-old actor has dealt with. Battle with the bottle Shaun has opened up about how he downed 12 pints a day in his youth 6 Shaun has opened up about how he downed 12 pints a day in his youthCredit: The Sun After leaving his Catholic school aged 16, Shaun worked as a postman but his life spun off the rails after he developed a drinking problem. By the age of 18, he was downing up to 12 pints a day.
HE played one of EastEnders most iconic characters, meeting his demise on a cliff at the hands of evil wife Janine.
But actor Shaun Williamson, who starred as hapless Barry Evans, has had quite a colourful life away from the BBC soap too.
Over his rollercoaster six decades, he has battled alcoholism and fathered a secret love child with a circus performer.
Here we look back at the off-screen drama that the 57 year-old actor has dealt with.
Battle with the bottle
After leaving his Catholic school aged 16, Shaun worked as a postman but his life spun off the rails after he developed a drinking problem.
By the age of 18, he was downing up to 12 pints a day.
He has previously said: “I was a mess. I meet people sometimes who I knew when I did Club 18-30 and they tell me stories of what I got up to because I can’t remember. I was on my way to becoming a chronic alcoholic.”
In a bid to “break the cycle” he was in, Shaun set his sights on a new career…
Booted out the navy
Shaun decided a job in the Royal Navy would be the fresh start he needed, but a surprising health diagnosis put paid to that.
After completing his training, Shaun intended to become a helicopter pilot but then a routine eye test delivered a devastating blow.
Shaun learned that he was colour blind and as a result, was rejected from the navy.
With his dreams in tatters, he took odd jobs working in Pontins and for supermarket chain Safeway.
Aged 26, he decided to pursue a new dream of acting and enrolled in a stage school.
Secret son
Shaun had his first child when he was 22 and in a relationship with a circus performer.
He learned she was pregnant after they broke up and he went to follow to work at Camp America in the States, but promised to help care for the child when he got back to the UK.
When he returned, however, his ex had married another man and listed her new husband’s name as the child’s father on the birth certificate.
Shaun only met his son, Gary, for the first time when his son was 32 years old and randomly got in touch with him.
Shaun, who also has daughter Sophie, 22, and son Joe, 20, with ex-wife Melanie Sacre, told the Sun of their first meeting: “It’s the most frightening but amazing discovery I’ve ever made.
“When I found out I had another son, I was stunned. I was shaking when I went to meet him.”
“We shook hands, drank together, had some food, played pool and then had a big hug at the end of the night.
“He’s got the same droopy eye as me when he gets tired or drunk. He’s part of my family now.”
I do x 2
Shaun has been married twice – the first time to Melanie, the mum of his kids.
After 16 years, they divorced in 2013 and Shaun met his now second wife Adele Seager.
He proposed to her in 2017 and announced the news they were walking down the aisle on twitter.
Announcing the news online, Shaun wrote: “Today I asked my Baby girl to be my Wife and she said….. YES!!!!!”
The pair wed in 2018 and while Adele does not live her life in the public eye, Shaun occasionally shares sweet snaps with her on his social media.
