EastEnders star announces major Netflix role after being axed from BBC soap
Former EastEnders star Ricky Champ has teased a new role a couple of years after leaving the BBC soap following over a decade in Walford
Former EastEnders star Ricky Champ has teased his new role, which seems to be his first on-screen since he left Albert Square in 2022.
Taking to Instagram, the 43-year-old actor shared a photo of him in character holding what looks like a cooked rat on the end of a pointed stick, while Ricky’s character is looking rather rough and ready. He captioned the photo with: “I wonder who this disgusting fellow is?… coming soon on Netflix…”
There is no hint as to what Ricky has been filming but checking on his IMDb page, it shows that he has been working on My Names Tim, in which he seemingly plays a delivery driver for gangsters and the project is in post-production.
Ricky Champ as Stuart Highway on EastEnders (
BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)
Ricky was popular with soap fans, playing Stuart Highway in the Walford-based soap, and when he exited from the show, Ricky shared a collage of photos on Instagram of him playing Stuart. He wrote in the caption: “What a crazy, amazing journey. It’s going to be strange not having this guy living in my head. Farewell Mr Highway, it’s been emotional #eastenders (thanks for the pics Jess @stuart_highway on Twitter).”
Ricky received plenty of praise in the comments, including from co-star Milly Zero, who played Dotty Cotton, who wrote: “Incredible man and actor & so blessed to have worked with you, Rick.”
Ricky Champ has teased his new role on social media (
Instagram/ @rickychamp2)
Since leaving the soap, Ricky has spent some time performing on the West End in which he starred in a thriller that has seen a number of celebrities star in its rotating cast. In the summer of 2023, Ricky starred in 2:22 A Ghost Story at London’s Apollo Theatre and he proved to be a hit with theatregoers.
The critically acclaimed play promises to provide an adrenaline-filled night where secrets emerge and ghosts may or may not appear. It was named Best New Play at the 2022 WhatsOnStage awards and was nominated for three Olivier awards. Ricky is the second former EastEnders star to grace the play after Jake Wood., who starred alongside popstar Cheryl. Among other celebrities making their stage debuts were former Love Island presenter Laura Whitmore and singer-songwriter Lily Allen, who have received acclaim for their turns in the play.
