Home » TV & Movies » I'm A Celeb's Adam Woodyatt discusses his EastEnders exit and why he took BBC soap break
I'm A Celeb's Adam Woodyatt discusses his EastEnders exit and why he took BBC soap break
EastEnders legend Adam Woodyatt discussed his impressive soap career on Tuesday's episode of ITV's I'm A Celebrity.
The actor, 53, is currently on a hiatus from the BBC One soap after playing Ian Beale since 1985 and he revealed the reason behind his break to his campmates.
It comes as I'm A Celebrity returned to TV screens on Tuesday (30 November) after Gwrych Castle was hit by Storm Arwen, resulting in "technical issues" and the contestants being removed from the camp.
During Tuesday's episode, both Adam and fellow campmate Coronation Street star Simon Gregson spoke about their impressive soap careers around the camp fire.
Adam, who recently revealed he has "no plans" for an Albert Square comeback anytime soon as he is on tour with Looking Good Dead until April 2022, said: "I started when I was 9. There was a kid in my class who went off and was doing commercials. My mum spoke to his mum, got the details, went round to this lady's house in Leytonstone.
"She had a piano. She said, 'Can you sing?' Back then I could. Sang a few tunes and read a bit of a book. And that was Sylvia Young's front room. Way, way before she had the school."
Frankie Bridge then asked: "What made you leave EastEnders Adam?"
To which Adam admitted "I just had another opportunity. This play came up. I just fancied doing something different. The way the storyline is, they needed me to take a break. Yeah.. the break's just got longer."
Asked if he would ever do film, Adam replied: "I'm available as of April!"
It comes after the actor revealed he won't be returning to the BBC soap after I'm A Celebrity in an interview prior to his entrance on the ITV competition
Speaking to the Mirror and other publications, Adam was quizzed about whether he would return to EastEnders after I'm A Celebrity, to which he said: "So I literally come out of the castle whenever that is, have Christmas off and then we're back into rehearsals because Laurie Brett's taking over from Gaynor Faye.
"And then we're doing that until the end of April. It's been it's been a lot of fun working and seeing [Laurie] again. It's kind of bittersweet.
"I'm looking forward to Laurie coming in, I'm going to miss Gaynor because she's been an absolute joy to work with. It's been wonderful."
The star added on his decision to sign up: "Why have I finally said yes? Because I am not in EastEnders! That is the honest answer. I am not in contract with the BBC so I can come and do it.
"Everyone thinks I am Ian Beale and so it's going to be great to show I am not."
Speaking further about potentially returning to EastEnders in the future, Adam said: "I will go with what happens. I might take the summer off and go and work at my mate's restaurant when he does the pop up stalls at food festivals.
"I did it a couple of times this summer and I enjoyed it. But I am just now really looking forward to doing I'm A Celebrity. Programmes like this were a blessed relief during the lockdowns last year and I can't wait to go in."
Adam filmed his final scenes for EastEnders in November 2020, reflecting on the past year, the actor listed off all the experiences he has had so far.
I'm A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! continues to air at 9pm on ITV and ITV Hub every night.
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