Exclusive: EastEnders actor reveals sweet former co-star connection

EastEnders actor Matthew James-Bailey has revealed that his former Hollyoaks co-star Rita Simons provided essential advice when he took on his current role as baddie Craig Ingram.

Prior to his time in Walford, Matthew appeared in Hollyoaks for three years as Ethan Williams, Sienna Blake's husband who she accidentally pushed to his death on their wedding day. At the same time, Rita played Marie Fielding in the soap.

Matthew's current character Craig is involved in a twisted grooming storyline with teenage Amy Mitchell, the daughter of Rita's EastEnders fan favourite character Roxy Mitchell, who she played until 2017.

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Speaking exclusively to Inside Soap, Matthew opened up about the support that Rita offered him when he got his role in EastEnders.

"One of the first things I did when I got the role was message Rita and say, 'I need tips!'" laughs Matthew. “Rita was so excited for me, she was just a great mentor to bounce back and forth with and prepare me for everything that was to come.

"When Rita and I had scenes together on Hollyoaks, there were moments the crew would have to split us up!" he adds. "We were terrible. We have such a shared sense of humour so
we just couldn’t get through it without laughing!"

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Matthew's current role is completely different to his Hollyoaks character, and he emphasises that taking on such an important issue-based storyline was no easy feat.

"I was apprehensive and a bit scared, especially coming from playing someone like Ethan, who was this lovable character," says Matthew. "But then you have to have a word with yourself and go, 'This is a really important message to get out there.'

"I've grown up with three sisters, and I wanted to do them justice as much as anything else. Manipulation can be extremely charming and unexpected, especially in positions of power. So after reading where the story would go, I grabbed it with both hands."

Read Matthew's full exclusive interview in the next issue of Inside Soap, out Tuesday 27 October.

EastEnders airs on Mondays-Thursdays at 7.30pm on BBC One. The show also streams on BBC iPlayer, where most episodes drop early at 6am ahead of their TV broadcast.

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