EastEnders star admits he has ‘no regrets’ over controversial ITV sitcom

EASTENDERS prima Rudolph Walker has made it wide helium has “no regrets” astir starring successful the arguable 1970s sitcom Love Thy Neighbour. 

Rudolph, 85, is champion known for playing Patrick Trueman connected the BBC soap, but archetypal roseate to fame playing Bill Reynolds successful the ITV sitcom Love Thy Neighbour. 

After a agelong career, Rudolph has written a tell-all book astir his life. In it, helium opens up astir immoderate of his vocation highlights, counting Love Thy Neighbour among them. 

In caller years, the sitcom has been criticised for the mode it handled race, arsenic Eddie Booth (Jack Smethurst) takes offence erstwhile helium finds himself surviving adjacent to a achromatic antheral (Rudolph). 

The bid besides utilized immoderate racist slurs. 

In an extract from his upcoming publication owed for merchandise this week, Rudolph reaffirmed that helium is “proud and delighted” to person been chosen to prima successful Love Thy Neighbour, contempt the backlash it aboriginal received.

He said: “I played the portion with each the dignity I could muster, and it made my name, for which I’m grateful. 

“Many consciousness it is 1 of those roles I mightiness privation not to acknowledge, but it was a large stepping chromatic for maine and though I tin respect – and stock – different views today, astatine the clip it was a large opportunity.”

The sitcom centred astir Eddie and Bill’s rivalry. 

“A achromatic working-class socialist has his satellite turned upside down erstwhile an educated achromatic antheral moves successful adjacent door,” the synopsis explains. 

The Two men perpetually conflict implicit seemingly trivial offences; portion their wives are the champion of friends and forced to enactment arsenic referees. And arsenic the sanction suggests, the 2 couples effort to triumph a love-thy-neighbour competition, but Eddie and Bill’s rivalry means they person to bash this by lying.

Love Thy Neighbour ran for 8 bid from 1972 to 1976. 

When it ended, Rudolph went connected to prima successful EastEnders, having played the relation of Patrick for implicit 23 years. 

His upcoming autobiography volition screen each aspects of his beingness and career, with Rudolph nary uncertainty sharing immoderate secrets from behind-the-scenes of the BBC soap.

Rudolph’s publication explores his upbringing and puerility successful Trinidad, and what was often a challenging narration with his mother.

He besides explains that backmost successful his hometown the streets became bare whenever Love Thy Neighbour was transmitted, arsenic they were delighted Rudolph had go a household name.

Ahead of his publication release, Rudolph has opened up astir different periods of his life, including being near stateless successful his 70s. 

He joined 2nd woman Dounne Alexander successful 1998, yet erstwhile the brace split, helium told however helium was near cash-strapped and surviving a “double life.”

The BBC One prima candidly said: “It was painful.

“It was highly difficult. I conscionable didn’t person immoderate fiscal means.”

He added to MirrorOnline: “Some days connected my mode to the studio, I would propulsion up astatine the broadside of the road, person a cry.

“I accidental it was a benignant of treble life.

“Questions of: ‘Who americium I? Why americium I successful this position?’

“There was nary mode the nationalist watching maine arsenic Patrick each different nighttime were alert that was what was happening.”

His acting skills meant helium covered up his heartache portion portraying Patrick to the federation - a quality they person taken to heart.

Thankfully, helium turned a country financially and besides recovered emotion again. 

Off-screen, helium is happily joined to his 3rd woman Evangeline Vincent, with the brace saying I Do successful 2016.