DYER STRAITS

Soap chiefs reel as Danny jumps ship to appear in Sky drama C, He ditches Elm deal but is ‘over the moon as TV offers flood in

- HALINA WATTS

EASTENDERS star Danny Dyer has quit after being poached by Sky - plunging the soap into crisis.

The actor - who has played Queen Vic landlord Mick Carter since 2013 has signed to an upcoming drama on the satellite channel.

The deal is thought to be worth six figures - much less than the £lmilliona-year so-called golden handcuffs” deal he is on with the BBC. But it will open the door to a raft of offers that could ultimately dwarf what he earns now.

Strict BBC rules have prevented him appearing on rival channels - which has irked the 44-year-old Cockney and some of his fellow co-stars.

CHANGE

One source said: “Danny has offers coming in left right and centre, and a lot of the things he has wanted to do he can't because EastEnders have such strict rules about what he can and can't do.

It's driven him mad at times and he's now ready for a change. But it hasn't been easy to walk away, BBC bosses have been desperate to keep him. But he's been insistent and when Sky approached they gave him an offer SCHE he couldn't refuse. It's a show new chapter for Dan and he's over the moon.

An exact date for his departure is not known but scriptwriters must now turn their pens towards Mick's exit plot. And bosses are only too aware they are losing their most valuable asset.

Viewing figures have plummeted and morale on the programme is said to be at an all-time low”.

The source said: “There's been a lot of tension about Danny going as he is their Nol star. To say they were upset to see him go is an understatement. But in the end they couldn't convince him.” Father-of-three Danny first appeared on EastEnders in On December 2013.