EastEnders star Jamie Foreman says soap isn’t ‘anywhere near the highlight of my career’ as he accuses show bosses of breaking promises
According to Jamie Foreman, EastEnders doesn’t represent the pinnacle of his acting career because he believes the show’s management hasn’t fulfilled commitments they made to him prior to his joining the soap.
The 67-year-old actor portrayed Derek Branning from November 2011, continuing until the character met his end in a thrilling Christmas Day installment in 2012.
Although Jamie is associated with one of Walford’s notorious families, he downplays its significance in his career, as it wasn’t a particularly memorable achievement for him – yet it allowed him to collaborate with screen legends such as Dame Barbara Windsor.
On the Lewis Nicholls program, Jamie boldly stated: “Let me stir things up a bit. I have something somewhat contentious to share.
‘I don’t see EastEnders as anywhere near the highlight of my career.
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‘It was a lovely job and I respect it. But for me… they’d asked me so many times before.’
He shared that the producers had guaranteed him a flexible work environment and advantageous terms prior to his agreement.
He went on to say: “They told me, ‘It’s in the finest household, it’s quite busy, you can stay as long as you wish.’ In response, I stated, ‘I’d like to commit for just a year.’
I visited them and they swore to me under various pretenses that would never happen, such as ‘You will never have to work on Saturdays’. However, I ended up working every Saturday. In fact, I was the first one to arrive and the last one to leave, each day.
The BBC declined to comment, and Jamie’s representative has also been approached.
In a relatively brief span on the program, Derek Branning left a substantial mark. He became involved romantically with Kat Slater, caused distress to Pat Butcher near her final moments, and disclosed the truth about Dennis Rickman to Denny Watts, his son.
This isn’t the first time Jamie has voiced criticism of his time on EastEnders.
In a 2013 interview on Daybreak, he admitted: “I disliked the scenes at The Queen Vic, I genuinely apologize to everyone!
‘I’m sure a lot of the cast will say the same thing – they’re so long and laborious.
In simpler terms, the scenario involves standing patiently while someone talks elsewhere, overhearing their conversation, followed by a cut to another person. Rapid filming isn’t typically done in this location.
In 2020, Jamie revealed he suffered a heart attack, just like his character did in the BBC soap.
In conversation with The Sun about his past health issues, Jamie shared that he experienced a severe heart attack a couple of years ago and came very close to passing away.
Reflecting on this moment, I can’t help but see things more clearly. The countless hours and effort I invested into my work seem to have taken a different meaning now. It feels like I’ve already walked that path, experienced the challenges, and emerged stronger each time.
Jamie boasts a distinguished career in films and television, featuring prominently in productions like Layer Cake, Oliver Twist, and Nil By Mouth.
Despite his successful career, he has been candid about the challenges he’s faced in finding work.
He expressed to the Business & Money section of The Sunday Times that he has been facing some challenges in his professional life.
A few years back, I wasn’t in the best health, which made me reconsider many aspects of my life. Currently, I’m going through a transformative phase and I’m only taking on projects that seem appealing to me.
‘A few years back, my wife and I started a small fashion venture called Jules Boutique in Surrey. It’s more so her store, but it continues to thrive and grow.’
Previously, Jamie was hitched to the actress Carol Harrison from EastEnders, known for her role as Louise Raymond. Together, they have a son named Alfie.
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2025-06-06 21:19