EastEnders stars’ forgotten pop careers – from Eurovision snub to one-hit wonder

EASTENDERS stars’ forgotten popular careers from a Eurovision snub to a one-hit wonder.

Some of Walford's champion known actors were already popstars earlier they joined the cast.

Like Spandau Ballet's Martin Kemp who played the dashing Steve Owen from 2001 and the popular sensation David Essex before helium joined arsenic Eddie Moon successful 2011.

Blue frontman Lee Ryan was besides palmy successful the euphony manufacture earlier helium joined arsenic Woody Woodward successful 2017.

But what astir the different formed members? An upcoming caller amusement called EastEnders Sings astatine the BBC is lone a fewer days distant - truthful lets look backmost astatine their philharmonic careers - immoderate short-lived immoderate overmuch longer.

Martine McCutcheon

Tiffany Butcher histrion Martine McCutcheon joined the soap successful 1994 and millions watched her bosom breaking scenes successful 1998 erstwhile her quality was killed disconnected successful a peculiar occurrence screened on New Year's Eve.

She near the soap to prosecute a philharmonic vocation and released Perfect Moment successful 1999 which charted connected the fig 1 spot successful the UK and the medium went platinum.

Her 2nd medium had 2 palmy singles – the fig 2 deed "I'm Over You" and the follow-up song, a screen of the Donna Summer classical "On the Radio" which peaked astatine fig seven.

Anita Dobson

Anita played the Queen Vic's alcoholic landlady Angie Watts from the archetypal occurrence of the bid successful 1985 and we were each mesmerised by her narration with her hubby Dirty Den.

On Boxing Day successful 1986, 30.15 cardinal viewers tuned successful to witnesser him handing Angie her divorce papers, giving the soap its highest ever ratings, which has yet to beryllium beaten by immoderate different soap successful the UK.

In 1986, she released the azygous Anyone Can Fall successful Love, which was based connected the EastEnders taxable tune.

It reached fig 4 successful the charts and was produced by Queen guitarist Brian May, who aboriginal became her husband.

She has besides released respective different singles and albums with insignificant illustration success.

Sean Maguire

Sean joined the cast of EastEnders playing Aidan Brosnan, a young Irish footballer playing for fictional broadside Walford F.C.

In 1994, helium near the amusement to instrumentality a starring relation successful the BBC play bid Dangerfield, playing Marty Dangerfield.

Sean past pursued a vocation successful music, releasing 3 albums: his self-titled debut medium successful 1994, Spirit successful 1996, and Greatest Hits successful 1998.

His biggest deed was Good Day, which reached fig 12 successful May 1996.

Sid Owen

Sid joined the soap in 1988 wherever helium played Ricky Butcher and his character's narration with Bianca Jackson (Patsy Palmer) was the worldly of legends.

He appeared regularly connected the amusement until April 2000 erstwhile helium decided to permission the amusement and tried his manus astatine pop music.

He released his screen mentation of Michael Jackson's 1972 song, "We've Got a Good Thing Going" connected Mushroom Records.

The opus reached No. 14 successful the UK Singles Chart successful June 2000. A follow-up azygous was recorded but ne'er released.

John Altman

John was among the archetypal formed members of the BBC soap, playing Nasty Nick Cotton, appearing successful the archetypal occurrence successful February 1985.

He remained connected the amusement arsenic a recurring quality until helium was killed disconnected successful the 30th day occurrence of the amusement which aired successful February 2015.

In 2010, helium became the caller frontman of the set Heavy Metal Kids and released 1 opus called Uncontrollable.

In aboriginal 2011, John announced helium was leaving the set to absorption connected his different commitments.

Sophie Lawrence

Sophie, different known arsenic Diane Butcher, joined the soap successful 1988 arsenic Frank Butcher's daughter.

She released a screen of Donna Summer's Love's Unkind successful 1991 produced by Simon Cowell.

The opus reached 21 successful the UK singles illustration and she went connected to grounds a azygous called Secrets but the tune was ne'er released.

She returned to a palmy vocation successful acting and hasn't released a caller opus since.

Michell Gayle

Albert Square's Hattie Tavernier, played by Michelle Gayle, was a regular quality successful the quadrate betwixt 1990 and 1993.

But Michelle besides launched a precise palmy popular career.

She signed with RCA Records and had 7 Top 40 hits during the 90s, including her archetypal azygous Looking Up and follow-up deed called Sweetness.

Michelle, besides has 2 deed albums but aft she signed for EMI successful 1997 she failed to summation anymore large hits.

She had an introduction for Eurovision successful 2008 but finished 2nd successful the nationalist ballot and was denied introduction to the final.

EastEnders Sings astatine the BBC airs connected Fri Feb 15 astatine 9.10pm.