EASTENDERS legend Shaun Williamson says he’s doing reality TV to “pay the mortgage”.
The actor, 55, was left out of work after his BBC sitcom was cancelled because of coronavirus.
But he has since been revealed as one of the famous faces set to star on MTV’s Celebs On The Farm alongside Duncan James, Montana Brown and Holly Hagan.
Shaun said: “My career goal has been to earn enough money to survive basically.
“I’m a divorcee, so I’ve got a mortgage on a second house, so my career plan is just to have fun, enjoy myself, and survive financially.
“So Celebs on the Farm was great to come along in what was a very tough year.”
He added: “I was in a lovely sitcom last year called Mister Winner. It got canceled because of the BBC’s funds were depleted because of COVID, I’ve always thought we were going to do a second series. It’s just bad luck.
“I was supposed to tour in a musical, that was cancelled. So I’ve just got to wait and see what happens.
“Nothing’s going to happen until the vaccine comes out, that’s for sure. Just got to wait and see how quickly it works.
“I’m not a star, I’m not in a position to guide my career. I’m one of these people who waits for the phone to go and see where it takes me.
“There’s something quite fun about that as long as the phone keeps going because you never know what’s around the corner. I just want the phone to keep ringing.”
Shaun started off as a bit-part actor in EastEnders in 1994 before becoming a regular playing Barry Evans.
His on-screen death in 2004 — pushed off a cliff by girlfriend Janine Butcher — is one of the show’s most famous endings and was watched by 15million people.
Since leaving the BBC soap, the 55-year-old revealed that he would love to swap his EastEnders fame for a new role on Emmerdale in The Woolpack playing a “cockney character”.
Celebs on the Farm was filmed last year under strict COVID-19 protocols throughout the production.
- Brand new to MTV, Celebs on the Farm premieres early next month.
