EASTENDERS actor William Ellis has paid a touching tribute to son Dash who died six years ago.
The BBC actor told how it was important to “keep his memory alive” as he opened up on the heartbreaking tragedy, during what is Baby Loss Awareness week.
William, 43, who joined EastEnders in April as villainous and creepy Theo Hawthorne, took to his Instagram page to upload the poignant post.
He shared a black and white image showing him and wife Alice cuddling their newborn while in hospital.
In his caption, he bravely wrote: “This week is Baby Loss Awareness week, and ends with a Wave of Light on Sunday 15th when we – as a family – light a candle in memory of our wee boy, Dash, who we lost in 2017.
“It’s important for us to keep his memory alive and in doing so wear our grief visibly at times, for that allows us to remember it mattered.
“Sending love and light to everyone affected by this type of loss.”
His followers were quick to offer their sympathy, with one writing: “Lots of love William and to your wife.”
A second put: “Lots of love from one angel family to another. Never forgotten.”
A third simply added: “Thinking of you both.”
Recently, William opened up on the impact his dark stalker storyline has had on his off-screen life.
His teacher character has been giving Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner) a hard time in recent months as he has started to stalk her in an attempt to get her affection.
He exclusively told The Sun that the reactions to his character have been “sometimes quite harsh.”
William then explained he has even had to face small backlash for his TV work during a trip just as viewers were led to believe his Albert Square alter ego was grooming a pregnant Lily Slater.
“I was on a flight to Ibiza six weeks ago when the storyline kicked in as Theo might be grooming Lillia (actress Lillia Turner aka Lily Slater) and I was flying on my own”, he recalled.
“In very good humour, I was called a ‘nonce’ by various stag parties and hen parties behind me.”
But while this could have left him in shock, William stated he took it all in his stride, seeing the interaction as “a real bonus.”
The annual Baby Loss Awareness Week runs from Monday 9 to Sunday 15 October.
The awareness week runs annually with many parents who’ve lost babies turning to social media to ‘light’ a virtual candle in memory of lost little ones.
As one in four known pregnancies end in miscarriage it is something that happens sadly too often.
Previously, Amanda Holden has lit a candle for her late son Theo to mark his memory.
High street retailer Marks and Spencer also launched a special range of T-Shirts and candles to raise funds back in 2018.
