‘It's an important story, to be told...

London’s Burning legend Ross Boatman on why the time is finally right for him to be in Walford

- ALISON SLADE

THIS AUDITION WAS MY FIFTH OR SIXTH FOR EASTENDERS – I’VE LOST TRACK!

EASTENDERS

MON, TUE, THU & FRI / BBC1 / TIMES VARY / SOAP

Back in 1988, a young Ross Boatman shot to fame in ITV’s firefighting drama London’s Burning. Over 30 years later, he’s in another London-based show, BBC1’s EastEnders, playing Harvey Monroe, an amiable single dad who may not be all he seems.

Here, Ross, 57 – who’s now as famous for his poker-playing skills as he is for performing – talks to TV Times about life in Albert Square and why it’s been a long time coming...

You seem a natural fit for EastEnders. Have you auditioned for a role in the soap before?

Have I! This audition was my fifth or sixth – I’ve lost track! They’d always be very positive and say, ‘We think Ross is perfect for the show, but this part isn’t the one.’

On my last audition, a few years ago, apparently I got down to the last two [EastEnders bosses have asked us not to reveal the name of the character that Ross missed out on] and Julia Crampsie, the head of casting at EastEnders, said to me, ‘There will be something!’

Now, we’ve finally found the part, and it feels right that they didn’t give me the ones I went for previously, because this one makes much more sense for me.

Why did you connect with the character of Harvey Monroe? Can you identify with him?

I didn’t feel, ‘This is me.’ In fact, I felt, ‘This is absolutely not me.’ I can’t say very much about why that is, but it will be revealed. It’s an important story to be told.