Television icon lands surprise role in EastEnders after begging for a job
DERMOT O’Leary has landed his dream role – in BBC soap EastEnders.
The television presenter has made no secret of the fact that he’s a soap superfan and has wanted to be in the long-running show.
Last year This Morning soaps queen Sharon Marshall was asked to put a good word in for him with EastEnders bosses.
“I’d quite like to be a police officer on EastEnders or Corrie,” Dermot said at the time.
Sharon agreed that he had ‘the look of an off-duty copper’ adding: “I could see you with Jack [Branning, police detective].”
Presenter Holly Willoughby made the cheeky request on the show then – and now Sharon is a writer on the soap, she’s made it happen.
And now it is available to view – in today’s episode which is penned by Sharon.
But rather than playing a role, instead he played himself – but he sadly wasn’t seen.
Instead he appeared as himself as a radio presenter holding a competition to win a holiday to Greece.
Kathy Beale was listening in the cafe, as Dermot revealed the question:
He said: “What links these three words – mincing, frying pan, little Britain?”
“A trip for two, sun, sea sand, you know the rest…”
Kathy ranted about her last trip to Greece, while Harvey used her phone to enter the competition for her – and he got the answer right being a cabby – London streets.
Later Kathy received a call and was live on the radio with Dermot asking her another question to win the holiday.
SURPRISING SOAP CAMEOS
Ed Sheeran
In 2015 the chart-topping singer/songwriter made his soap debut – down under. The star appeared in Home & Away as Marilyn Chambers’ former charge when she was a nanny in England. He even performed for her and the locals once they realised who he was.
Peter Kay
The iconic Bolton funnyman had always wanted a role in Coronation Street – so his pals on the cobbles made it happen. He played hapless Newton & Ridley drayman Eric Gartside, who took Shelley Unwin on a date. Obviously it all went wrong but it was hilarious to watch back in 2004.
David Walliams
David dropped by for Christmas Day in 2003 EastEnders, when Kat and Alfie Moon were getting married. The children’s writer played Ray, a fake registrar hired because Alfie’s divorce hadn’t been finalised yet. As expected, the truth came to light and the ceremony was swiftly cut short.
Lorraine Kelly
The adored daytime telly presenter took a short break from occasionally hosting her own show in 2019 – to get shot by Corrie icon Gail Platt. In the episode, Audrey (Sue Nicholls) and Gail (Helen Worth) were bizarrely indulging in a spot of archery when they got distracted. Shortly after, an unconvincing cry could be heard. Gail had shot Lorraine in the leg, who stumbled out saying: “You daft wee woman. You could have killed me.” Laughing about her performance, Lorraine told Graham Norton it was “as wooden as a forest of trees”.
Boris Johnson
Before Boris Johnson became Britain’s prime minister, he was the mayor of London – making him an ideal candidate for an EastEnders cameo. In one episode in 2009, Boris, known for his love of cycling, popped into Peggy Mitchell’s Queen Vic for assistance when his bike got punctured. Just before then, Peggy (Barbara Windsor) was telling other Walford residents how she wouldn’t hesitate to give Boris a piece of her mind if she ever met him. Spoiler alert – she didn’t.
Bonnie Tyler
When it comes to the Big Four soaps, Hollyoaks has a reputation for pulling out all the stops when it comes to whacky scenes. In its late-night spin-off Hollyoaks Later, pop icon Bonnie Tyler appeared to Carmel McQueen (Gemma Merna) as her guardian angel. A distressed Carmel had gotten herself locked up after she was arrested for prostitution. In ned of a friend, Bonnie was on hand to offer some words of advice. They even had a mini duet together when they sang Holding Out For a Hero.
She didn’t know that one either, but Harvey did – and she answered in the nick of time before deciding to give Harvey the holiday.
And Dermot got his role on EastEnders.