EastEnders: Southend stars who joined Albert Square

Eastenders loves  Southend. Last week, the Echo illustrated how big-name stars have filmed in the town for dramatic storylines for the hit BBC soap. But there is more to it than that. Southend and south Essex have produced many actors starring in EastEnders over the years.

Former Chalkwell Junior School pupil Maisie Smith has filmed her final scenes for EastEnders, the BBC has announced. The actress, 20, who plays Tiffany Butcher, joined the programme in 2008 at the age of six. She filmed her final scenes for the soap on Friday. In January 2017 she signed up to take part in an online fitness programme called Results 4 Teens to inspire youngsters aged 13 to 17 to get healthy.

Smith attended Belfairs Academy in Leigh and the Sandra Singer Stage School and also attended South Essex College, to study musical theatre.

In October 2016, it was announced Smith would be releasing her first single, "Good Thing". The Essex youngster shot a music video accompanying the song at the Belt Craft studios and the song and video was uploaded to her YouTube channel in November 2016. The young actress also released her second single, "Where My Heart Is", in March 2017.

She's just one of many who have grown up in our borough but made Albert Square their new home.

DAVID WITTS

FORMER Southend school boy David Witts landed the role of Joey Branning in Eastenders in 2012.

He attended Southend High School for Boys and in 2013 he won the newcomer award at the National Television Awards.His final scenes with the BBC One soap were aired on December 26 2013. He also won “Sexiest Male” at the Inside Soap Awards and was nominated again for “Sexiest Male” at the British Soap Awards in 2013.

In early 2014 he starred as Link Larkin in a production of Hairspray at the Curve in Leicester.

He appeared in the pantomime Aladdin at the New Theatre, Hull over the festive period of 2014 and 2015. In March 2015, it was announced that Witts would star in the new American TV series Recovery Road, as Craig, with the series beginning on January 25, 2016 on Freeform.

In May 2016, it was announced that the show had been cancelled. In May 2018, it was announced that Witts would making his West End debut in the hit musical Wicked, replacing Bradley Jaden as Fiyero from 23 July 2018. In March 2019, Witts appeared in an episode of the BBC daytime soap Doctors. Witts left Wicked on 20 July 2019 and was replaced by Alistair Brammer.

KIERSTON WAREING

Kierston Wareing who grew up in Leigh and played Kirsty Branning in Eastenders from December 2012 until January 2014.

In her youth she did acting workshops at the Palace Theatre in Westcliff and also performed at Leigh Festival and Southend Festival.

Her first film role was the lead in Ken Loach's It's a Free World followed by a supporting role in Andrea Arnold's Fish Tank – which won the BAFTA award for ‘Best British Film’ and the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival.

She played the character Heather in Channel 4's Top Boy and joined the cast of BBC soap opera EastEnders in 2012, making her first appearance as Kirsty Branning in December 2012.

She left the show in January 2014. Wareing also played Delilah in the television series The Bible in 2013 and also joined the cast of Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks in 2015 as new villainess Ashley Davidson with her first episode airing in September 2015.

In a shock twist, Ashley was killed by the unknown Gloved Hand Killer as part of a ten-month long storyline which saw the unknown assailant kill various villagers. Her last appearance was aired in October 2015, during the 20th anniversary week of the show.

KELLIE BRIGHT

Actress Kellie Bright, who is from Great Wakering, has played Eastenders’ Linda Carter since 2013 alongside her on-screen husband Danny Dyer who plays Mick.

The pair have run the show's Queen Victoria pub since joining.

She won the 2015 British Soap Awards for Best Actress and Best Dramatic Performance for her portrayal of the character in the soap.

In 2015, the Essex actress became runner-up in the 13th series of the BBC One show Strictly Come Dancing. Bright has also had main roles in Bad Girls and BBC radio programme The Archers. She has also guest starred in Da Ali G Show and made an appearance in the film Ali G Indahouse.

Bright has made several guest appearances on British television programmes, her credits include Holby City, Casualty, the Catherine Tate Show and Vera. Bright appeared as Joan Trotter in the Only Fools and Horses prequel, Rock and Chips, from 2010 until 2011.

In 1992, Bright voiced the character of Beauty in the Bevanfield Films production of Beauty and the Beast. She has also voiced several video game characters, including the Hero of Brightwall in the game Fable III in 2010. In 2011, Bright did voice work for Nintendo and Monolith Soft's Xenoblade Chronicles as the medic Sharla.

JASMINE ARMFIELD

Jasmine Armfield, from Thundersley, has been gracing our screens in Eastenders as Bex Fowler the daughter of veteran Albert Square favourites, Sonia Jackson and Martin Fowler since 2014.

She attended the King John School in Thundersley and became a student at the Wickford's Pauline Quirke Academy for the Performing Arts when it opened in September 2010.

In 2017, she was nominated for Best Soap Actress at the TV Choice Awards. In January she left the show.

BINDYA SOLANKI

Southend actress Bindya Solanki is best best known for playing the role of Nita Mistry, Robbie Fowler’s girlfriend (and later wife) in EastEnders from 2001 to 2003.  In 2002, she launched an Indian festival in Southend to raise cash for charities. She appeared at Portcullis House, in Victoria Avenue, for a series of charity events to mark Diwali, the Indian festival of lights.

Her other acting credits include Nima Shah in Sky One's Dream Team in 2001.

Solanki has also appeared in many stage productions including playing Juliet in Romeo and Juliet at the English Shakespeare Company. In 2004 she played Pramila in RIFCO Arts The Deranged Marriage and in 2006 she played Frehia in Mercy Fine. In 2005, she guest starred in the Doctor Who Sixth Doctor audio drama The Juggernauts, returning to Doctor Who audios again in 2009 in the Seventh Doctor audio drama Enemy of the Daleks.

She made her television debut in the ITV children's programme My Parents Are Aliens in 1999, playing a teacher.

She went on to have roles in the BBC drama Sweet Revenge.

RICKY CHAMP

Ricky Champ, from Southend, is best known for his role of Stuart Highway, Mick Carter’s childhood pal in EastEnders but his impressive acting CV also include the character Gatins in Game of Thrones Season Six, sitcoms Crims and Him & Her, plus appearance in movies such as the World’s End and Mortdecai. In October 2019 it was announced Ricky had signed up for a Strictly special for BBC Children In Need.

#Champ will be dancing with Luba Mushtuk. His others roles include Big Ugly Bastard in science fiction comedy film the World's End in 2013, Gravedigger Butch in the TV adaptation of David Walliams's book Grandpa’s Great Escape in 2018 and also Mark Burton in popula medical drama Casualty in 2012.

He also landed the role of Barney Ford in well known police drama The Bill in 2006.

DENISE VAN OUTEN

TV and radio star, Denise Van Outen, was born in Basildon and landed the role of Karin Smart in EastEnders in 2015 She played Phil Mitchell’s dodgy car dealer’s wife, and the new love of Max Branning.

She was a mysterious “blonde bombshell”, who sent sparks flying through the Albert Square as soon as she arrived.

The Essex girl's extensive CV covers a range of TV, radio, stage and voice over work.

She presented The Big Breakfast, played Roxie Hart in the musical Chicago both in the West End and on Broadway and finished as runner-up in the tenth series of the BBC One dancing show Strictly Come Dancing.

She was a judge on Any Dream Will Do in 2007, Born to Shine in 2011, and she had also been a judge on Ireland's Got Talent which ran for two seasons in 2018 and 2019. Van Outen also narrates the ITVBe reality television series The Only Way Is Essex. At the age of seven, she began modelling for knitting patterns, and showed an early flair for performing.

This resulted in her attending the Sylvia Young Theatre School. In 2007, Van Outen co-presented Who Dares, Sings! with Ben Shephard and in 2008 she fronted Sky1's Hairspray: The School Musical. Van Outen guest presented This Morning in 2005, The Friday Night Project in 2006, The 5 O'Clock Show in 2010, Lorraine in 2010 and 2012 and Sunday Brunch in 2013.

She has also recently starred in Australian soap, Neighbours. She also married Holby City actor, Lee Mead – from Eastwood – who won the TV contest Any Dream Will Do.