EastEnders stars rule out major theory about new Queen Vic owner after ‘red herring’

Two EastEnders stars have told The Mirror rumours circulating about The Queen Vic having new owners are simply not true(Image: BBC)

Two EastEnders stars have told The Mirror rumours circulating about The Queen Vic having new owners are simply not true.

Cast members Harriet Thorpe and Colin Salmon seemed genuinely confused when we asked them about the famous pub being up for sale. In fact they very quickly denied this, and the theories surrounding some potential new owners.

Just weeks ago viewers claimed to spot a ‘for sale’ sign outside the pub in a backstage video. With that it was believed the Knights would no longer run the pub, and that someone else would be taking over.

Speaking exclusively to The Mirror at the British Soap Awards, Harriet, who plays landlady Elaine Peacock, was quick to shut down the claims – while of course she could have been throwing us off the scent. Co-star Colin, who plays Elaine’s husband George Knight, also denied any knowledge of the pub being up for sale, or their characters being booted out.

Instead, Harriet claimed the sign and speculation was all a massive “red herring”. When we asked if the pub was being sold, Colin said this was not the case while Harriet told us: “No… it could be a red herring.”

The pair looked at each other appearing confused by the rumours too, while viewers will just have to wait and see what the sign was all about.

EastEnders’s current Queen Vic owners Elaine and George Knight ‘are going nowhere’(Image: CREDIT LINE:BBC/Kieron McCarron)

Whatever happens, Colin says the show is in “a good place” as Ben Wadey takes over as Executive Producer, following Chris Clenshaw stepping down this year. “I have always been a fan. There’s great writing, we all work really hard.

“I think the authenticity of the humour of the East End, it’s that you get stuff thrown at you and go, ‘oh that’s fine, we’ll deal with it’, and then it all comes crashing down later, like in life. We’re in a very good place with the show and it’s fantastic for us.”

Harriet added: “Ben is wonderful. He’s creative, collaborative and that’s all you need.” Colin teased with Ben’s takeover will come new focuses, one being the younger cast really taking centre stage. He shared: “It’s great, we watch the show, we learn, we collaborate. It’s nice to see the youngsters coming forward. They’re all brilliant, amazing actors.”

It follows spoilers revealing Elaine and George could hit the rocks once more, amid trouble with George’s ex Cindy Beale and Elaine’s own drama. Teasing their future as a couple, Harriet commented: “The thing about Elaine and George is that they are mature adults and can talk things through, but we’ll have to see won’t we.”

Cast members Harriet Thorpe and Colin Salmon seemed genuinely confused when we asked them about the famous pub being up for sale(Image: Getty Images)

Asked whether love rival Cindy could ultimately tear the couple apart for good, Harriet savagely quipped: “Cindy who?” She added of Elaine’s turmoil: “Cindy is always lurking in the bushes, ready to jump out at George and as far as Elaine is concerned, she’s an irritant. The trouble is that Cindy is everything that Elaine isn’t.”

Colin hinted it isn’t Michelle Collins’ character who he wants George to end up with, adding: “If Cindy has her way we’re all screwed!” As for Harriet, the ever-changing plots and unexpected twists all make the job worthwhile.

She said: “You never know what is happening next and that’s the gift of the job. It gives you the opportunity to play different things you’d never think of, it’s so wonderful.” Colin went on: “It could all change at any time,” with Harriet agreeing that “in a nanosecond” everything alters.