Dean Gaffney and all the ‘EastEnders’ cast are afraid of getting axed by new boss Kate Oates.
The 40-year-old actress has played Albert Square lovable loser Robbie Jackson on and off since 1993, making his latest full-time comeback in April 2017.
Kate has joined the BBC One soap after running ‘Coronation Street’ as the series producer for two years and introducing some of the darkest storylines in the ITV programme’s history, including Pat Phelan’s murder rampage and kidnapping plot and the harrowing rape of David Platt.
Although her appointment comes with excitement, Dean admits everyone is on edge about potentially getting cut by Kate as she will want to make her mark.
Speaking at the Inside Soap Awards to the Daily Star newspaper, he said: "I think everyone’s a little worried. You wouldn’t be human if you were not worried when your contract comes up for renewal. It’s squeaky bum time for every actor as no one is bigger than the show. The Queen Vic and Albert Square, they are the show."
Kate has had a meeting with the entire cast and has urged everyone to pull together to get ‘EastEnders’ back to the top of its game.
Speaking to the Daily Mirror newspaper, Dean spilled: "We’ve had a cast meeting with Kate, which has been nice. Everything she said was all good stuff. She was saying how ‘EastEnders’ is a big show and we need to carry on moving forward, she had fighting talk, it was great to hear. I think if you’ve run three of the biggest shows in soap history – the accolades speak for themselves. She’s 38 to do that at her age is incredible. John Yorke’s been great but we’re all excited to have a commander in chief."
As well as her acclaimed with on ‘Corrie’, Kate has also worked as a producer on BBC Radio 4 soap opera ‘The Archers’ and as a story editor and series producer of ‘Emmerdale’.
She joined the BBC in October, taking charge of ‘EastEnders’, ‘Holby City’ and ‘Casualty’.
Dean Gaffney: EastEnders cast fear axe from Kate Oates
