Danny Dyer reveals moment he quit EastEnders and a celebrity’s voodoo doll may be to blame

EastEnders legend Danny Dyer has confirmed that his serial drama days are behind him, ahead of the release of new comedy series Mr Bigstuff.

 

 

Danny, who played Mick Carter on the BBC soap, left the role in 2022. In dramatic Christmas Day scenes, the character went missing at sea after jumping in to save

 

Linda Carter (Kellie Bright).

 

Now, he is starring as Lee in new Sky Max comedy series Mr Bigstuff, alongside the show’s writer, Ryan Sampson, who is taking on the role of Glen.

Danny and Ryan recently sat down with Metro.co.uk to tell us all about the show, and how the stars aligned for Danny to take on the role.

Lee holding a biscuit tin and Glen touching his head in a carpet shop store room in Mr Bigstuff
Danny and Ryan are the stars of Mr Bigstuff (Picture: Sky UK Ltd.)

‘I wrote Lee for Danny,’ Ryan revealed – but things didn’t go totally to plan at first, as he explained.

‘I poured myself into it, furiously writing it, gave it to a producer and he was like, “Yeah, it’s good and everything, but do you realise that Danny is in EastEnders for the foreseeable future? What have you done? You’ve wasted your time.” And I genuinely had not realised that had happened.

‘I was talking to my friends about it, they commiserated me, we went on a big old night out, and I came home in the morning. And on the very morning of me leaving this night, I drunkenly went past a newsagents and on the front of the Daily Express was “Dyer quits ‘Enders”.

Lee sitting at a table in his dressing gown in Mr Bigstuff

Danny is enjoying doing comedy (Picture: Sky UK Ltd. / Mark Johnson)‘I was like, “God wants this to happen, and he’s talking to me through the front of a tabloid.” I was very drunk.’

Danny was quick to tell me that this was the first time he’d heard this story, but joked that it may have been the reason he left EastEnders.

‘I didn’t know this, but I feel that maybe Ryan had some sort of Voodoo doll, because I did just wake up one night and go, “I must leave EastEnders! It’s been nine years now, I’ve done 1100 episodes. There’s something out there calling me…”’

On a more serious note, Danny went on to explain why he really made the decision to leave the soap after 9 years.

Danny Dyer taking a selfie with a rug that looks like him
Danny was thrilled by the prank (Picture: PINPEP)
Danny Dyer and Ryan Sampson drinking pints in front of a giant rug shaped like Danny
Danny and Ryan play brothers on the show (Picture: PINPEP)

‘I was coming to the end of my run, I had a wonderful time there, but I felt I needed to go out and try some other stuff, if there’s any other stuff out there – nothing was guaranteed – and this script landed on my lap. It really confirmed to me why I’d left.’

Unfortunately for soap fans, Danny went on to admit that his time in serial drama has come to an end, joking that even Coronation Street was off the cards.

‘Ooh no, don’t fancy a stint in Corrie,’ he joked.‘[EastEnders] was a big chapter of my career – almost a third of my career, to be fair.

‘No, I’m ready for new challenges now. I think the beautiful thing about what we do as actors is that you just don’t know what’s around the corner.

‘That’s what keeps it petrifying and exciting at the same time. You can’t plan it. You’re not guaranteed anything in our industry so it’s just about praying that you get opportunities.’

Related articles

SHOCKING NEWS!! EastEnders announces Ruby Allen return as Louisa Lytton reprises role

Ruby was perhaps best known for her friendship with Stacey Fowler, but this relationship broke down when she got involved with Stacey’s ex-husband Martin. A fierce rivalry…

SHOCKING NEWS!! EastEnders: Chrissie Watts return triggers fans with its ‘multiple flaws’

EastEnders has aired Chrissie Watts’ shock return – however, fans have spotted several ‘flaws.’ The legendary character hasn’t been seen on the soap since 2005 – when…

SHOCKING NEWS!! EastEnders’ Diane Parish pays sweet tribute to long-time co-star

EastEnders icon Diane Parish has paid a lovely tribute to her co-star and on-screen husband Scott Maslen, and shared a photo of them recreating a pose they…

SHOCKING NEWS!!! EastEnders confirms Ayesha’s identity as Eve proposes to Suki

EastEnders has confirmed the identity of new character Ayesha, as she makes her first appearance in Albert Square next week. Last week it was announced that Laila…

SHOCKING NEWS!!! EastEnders: Jay pays heartbreaking tribute to Lola and fans are in tears

Fans of EastEnders were left misty-eyed last night, as Jay and the residents of Walford held a fundraiser for the late Lola Brown. In an evening of…

SHOCKING NEWS!! SHOCK BABY EastEnders fans predict shock pregnancy twist for one of Walford’s most popular residents after ‘abysmal’ affair plot

EASTENDERS fans have predicted a potential pregnancy shock for one of Walford’s most iconic residents. Speculation has been mounting among fans that Cindy Beale could find herself…