‘Still dancing and messing around outside the Queen Vic’: EastEnders’ Adam Woodyatt shares a throwback snap of the original cast dancing as he celebrates 36 years on the BBC soap
EastEnders favourite Adam Woodyatt has celebrated 36 years on the soap with a throwback snap of the original cast after he first joined the set in 1984 as Ian Beale.
The actor, 52, who is the longest-serving member of the BBC One soap, took to Instagram on Friday to share a picture of the original cast dancing outside the Queen Vic.
Adam also shared a sweet picture with his on-screen mum, Kathy Beale, played by Gillian Taylforth, 65, while they filmed on the Square.
Sweet: EastEnders favourite Adam Woodyatt, 52, has celebrated 36 years on the BBC soap after he first joined the set in 1984 as Ian Beale
Captioning the snaps to his Instagram, he penned: ’29th October 1984 was the start of my first contract with EastEnders’
Captioning the snaps to his Instagram, he penned: ’29th October 1984 was the start of my first contract with EastEnders.
’36 years later, three of us are still dancing and messing around outside the Queen Vic.’
The long-time character is also the most-married character on the soap with five marriages to four women including, Cindy Williams, Mel Healy, Laura Dunn and twice to Jane Collins.
Throwback: The actor, who is the longest-serving member of the show, took to Instagram on Friday to share a throwback of the original cast dancing outside the Queen Vic
Earlier this year Adam revealed the pitfalls of filming with Perspex screens on set amid the coronavirus pandemic.
According to the man behind Walford’s Ian Beale, 52, it has not been plain sailing as they resume filming.
Adam shared his struggles with Radio Times Magazine: ‘Some days it works really well. Other times, it’s been a pain.
Back on: Adam revealed the pitfalls of filming with Perspex screens on set amid the coronavirus pandemic
‘If rain gets on the Perspex, you can’t shoot through it and you can only wipe it dry with a certain type of cloth. And when we’re inside, we’re getting reflections.
‘Until everything gets back to normal, if it ever does, this is the way we have to do things.
‘But it’s honestly taking forever. I could fall asleep between takes.’
Slo mo: The soap star revealed that it now takes ‘forever’ between filming takes as he admitted that sometimes the safety measures ‘work’ well and ‘other times, it’s a real pain’
‘And I don’t mind the slower pace. If it means we can keep making television, then that’s great.’
It comes after the actor split from his wife Beverley Sharp after 22 years of marriage.
A friend told The Sun that Beverley was ‘very upset’ at the split but added that it’s a ‘straightforward separation’.
They said: ‘Nobody plans for these things and divorce is a difficult thing to get your head around but they have dealt with it quietly for several months and are now telling friends so it’s less of a secret.
‘They still get on well, and are keen to make sure they stay that way for the sake of their children – even though they are now grown up.’
Adam and Beverley have been married since 1998 and have two children – Jessica, 27, and Samuel, 23.
A spokesperson for the actor said: ‘Beverley and Adam separated in August last year and we ask that the family’s privacy is respected.’
MailOnline contacted Adam’s representative for a comment.
Split: Actor Adam Woodyatt, 52, has separated from his wife Beverley Sharp after 22 years of marriage (pictured together in 2017)