EastEnders star slams soap and says show was ‘far from a highlight’ of his career

Jamie Foreman slams EastEnders 13 years after exit (Image: BBC/Jack Barnes)

Former EastEnders star Jamie Foreman, who played Derek Branning in the BBC soap has criticised his time on the show. The star, who played the role of a Branning brother from November 2011 until December 2012 has said the role was “far from a career highlight”.

Despite only being on the soap for a year, Derek Branning had a number of memorable storylines, including his affair with Kat Slater (Jessie Wallace), who was married to Alfie Moon (Shane Richie) at the time. In 2012, Derek starred as a main part of the Christmas Day episode, in which he had a heart attack and died.

However, despite the huge storylines, actor Jamie Foreman has revealed his time on the soap wasn’t a “highlight” in his career at all.

Jamie Foreman left the soap in 2012(Image: The Daily Mirror)

Speaking on the Lewis Nicholls Show, Jamie said: “I’m going to be a little bit controversial here. I don’t see EastEnders as anywhere near the highlight of my career. It was another job.

“And I know how iconic it is for people out there, and I respect it and what it represents, especially for the BBC. But for me… they’d asked me so many times before.”

Jamie then revealed he was out filming in Germany when he got the phone call offering him the role – “again.” He was then told he’d be “joining the best family,” and could join for however long he wanted. “I said, ‘I only want to do it for a year,'” he said.

Jamie said EastEnders was ‘nowhere near’ the highlight of his career (Image: BBC/Jack Barnes)

Explaining his reasoning behind his short stint, Jamie revealed he didn’t want to get burn out, or become “trapped” when he had other work behind him.

However, Jamie went on to reveal that the soap “made promises they never kept”. Jamie claims he was told he wouldn’t have to work on Saturdays – although he later claimed: “I did every Saturday. I was the first in, last out every day.”

Speaking on the long hours, Jamie revealed he once filmed “36 scenes in a day,” claiming working on a soap “burnt him out.” Despite this, Jamie said he was thankful for the experience, although it was “far from a highlight of his career.”

Since departing Walford, Jamie has Double Decker Driving School, Birds of a Feather and Porters, to name a few.