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What happened to EastEnders’ ‘Italian stallion’ Marc Bannerman: Noughties lothario was axed from soap over co-star romance, then battled with booze before falling for Cerys Matthews on I’m A Celeb – while his girlfriend watched in horror

BBG News

He was the charismatic figure of Albert Square, known for his widespread popularity among female viewers, to such an extent that a large bag of knickers, sent as tokens of affection from ardent fans, were once donated to Oxfam by him.

Between 1998 and 2000, Marc Bannerman captivated audiences on EastEnders with his portrayal of Gianni di Marco. He managed to secure the role by misleading producers into believing he was half-Italian, although he was actually born in Dublin.

His meteoric rise to prominence suddenly plummeted just as swiftly after being written off his show, leading him into a deep depression, excessive weight gain, alcohol abuse, and difficulty managing life’s challenges.

After experiencing an unexpectedly fast ascent to stardom, he faced a sudden downfall when he was removed from the series, plunging him into depression, causing weight gain, turning to alcohol, and finding it tough to handle daily struggles.

In a later statement, he argued that his dismissal by the BBC was due to his off-screen relationship with Nadia Sawalha, which was affecting his popularity among female viewers. Regardless of the facts, it wasn’t the only instance where his romantic relationships created complications.

In 2005, there were rumors that he was in a relationship with Suranne Jones. However, he later found love with Sarah Matravers, his co-star from Footballer’s Wives: Extra Time. The two were reportedly contemplating starting a family when he participated in the 2007 season of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!

Picture Sarah’s astonishment when he started showing interest in fellow camper Cerys Matthews, a member of the Welsh band Catatonia, who had just ended her four-year marriage with American music producer Seth Riddle.

The viewers observed as the couple locked gazes, engaging in deep discussions while facing the campfire.

Additionally, they frequently snuggled up together in the hammock, with fellow camper John Burton Race asserting that the duo shared intimacy beneath the starlit sky. Furthermore, it was reported that the show’s producers opted against broadcasting this particular footage.

He told TopMob: ‘There were times when the pair disappeared off together. I have to say that.

‘I’ve made myself clear about what I already understand. From there, you can infer the remaining details. Given our maturity, we all grasp the essence of the situation.’

He mentioned that certain aspects might not be apparent to the audience, but connections are being made.

Marc confessed he behaved like a ‘rat’ after breaking Sarah’s heart.

During the I’m A Celebrity… Coming Out Show, he confessed: “I grew attached to someone inside and I have a wife waiting for me at home. I feel like a traitor. I can’t blame anyone else. Responsibility is mine.

However, he insisted nothing untoward had happened, despite their ‘deep’ connection. 

As for Cerys, there’s no current development between us, but we hit it off wonderfully. We connected swiftly. She’s an exceptional young woman, he mentioned.

‘It’s a difficult thing [being in the jungle]. It’s a strange scenario.’

I’m feeling quite anxious because I know I need to apologize. Unfortunately, I’ve made Sarah feel uncomfortable, and in doing so, I’ve also made a fool of myself.

Later on, Declan Donnelly informed him that Sarah had initially planned to travel to Australia to see him, but upon observing his behavior, she decided against it and had already returned to London.

Upon viewing videos of him and Cerys in the jungle, he commented, “I’m nauseous. It’s painful to watch that for Sarah. I feel incredibly foolish.

“We didn’t have any connection whatsoever, but I understand why Sarah left.” (This version retains the original meaning while sounding more casual and conversational.)

Overwhelmed and visibly upset, he quickly reached for his cell phone to call Sarah. Before the screen went black, all that was audible were his apologetic words, “I’m really sorry, my love.

Additionally, he penned a rather formal missive to Cerys, stating: ‘Various issues have arisen in London, compelling me to return in an attempt to resolve them. However, should you decide to leave, I might just make it back to welcome you, if you so choose. Yours sincerely, Marc.’

Bannerman returned to the UK to handle a personal issue at home, yet his apology to Sarah failed to be heard or acknowledged.

Apart from the fact that there was no chance of mending the relationship, she additionally mentioned that heated arguments were frequent throughout their two-year period together.

She once shared that there was an instance when, due to a drunken altercation among them, she needed to reach through a window pane to intervene physically.

She shared with The Sunday Mirror, “I was extremely terrified. At that moment, I recall thinking, ‘He’s not supposed to behave like this towards me.’

Later on, Sarah shared about their altercation by saying, “In utter desperation, I shoved my arm through the window. At that moment, it was the only thing I could think of doing. Yes, there’s a scar on my arm now, but it did its job. It halted the situation. Who knows what might have happened next – we may have accidentally caused each other severe injury.

Concerning their relationship with Cerys, she stated emphatically: “I no longer have any interest in their current situation. He’s broken up with me, the relationship is finished. If he believes he can return, begging for another chance, he should reconsider.

‘It honestly feels like my partner has died… and people don’t come back from the dead.’

She also claimed that she’d uncovered him cheating with a barmaid in the wake of his jungle tryst. 

Marc was dishonest, both by lying and cheating. If there’s one barmaid, there must be others. I find this behavior utterly repulsive,” she expressed.

In another interview with Closer magazine, Sarah stated: ‘This is an individual she’s been acquainted with for just a week, someone who she was aware had a partner. It suggests either extreme callousness or utter confusion. They seem perfectly suited and I wish them nothing but eternal misery.’

‘Thank God I’m not carrying his child. If they do go out, he’s bound to cheat again.’ 

Marc had a series of ups and downs with Cerys, and their relationship concluded at the end of the year 2008.

She ended their relationship close to Valentine’s Day, apparently due to the fact that he struggled to handle her parental duties.

It’s said that Marc often expressed his dissatisfaction with Cerys’ clothing choices, suggesting on multiple instances that she might want to switch her outfits.

At the given time, Cerys shared with News of The World: “I recall him asking, ‘Do you have any additional sweaters?’ I believe he was taken aback by my minimalistic lifestyle, dislike for shopping, and lack of an extravagant clothing collection.

At the given time, Cerys, being a single mom of two, mentioned that the intricacies of her situation further affected their relationship. She elaborated that it was challenging for him to manage the children when she brought them to London to spend time with him.

The situation turned out to be quite dire. Everyone in our group came down with a cold, including Glenys Pearl who was wracked with fever. Throughout the night, we kept changing beds. I recall Marc expressing his fear, saying something like, ‘This might be my future.’ His face betrayed genuine worry.’

Cerys is now a mother-of-three and has been married to former Decay singer Steve Abbott since 2011.

Since dating Cerys, Marc has continued to act, although EastEnders remains his most famous role. 

In the previous year, he featured in the action-thriller titled “Fyre Rises,” and moreover, he made a brief appearance in an installment of the popular Netflix show “The Witcher” during 2023.

He also had a role in the TV series Snatch, a spin-off of the Guy Ritchie film.  

Despite generally avoiding public attention regarding his private life, Marc made an exception during a 2022 interview on Channel 4, where he opened up about his two kids, Grace and Leo.

On the Packed Lunch program hosted by Steph McGovern, he expressed that he had no idea what his life was like prior to becoming a father.

3 years back, Marc left EastEnders, having portrayed the character ‘Gianni Di Marco’, the Italian stallion, for a span of 3 years.

He explained that he had become depressed after the axe fell on the Di Marcos in EastEnders.

He told the Mirror: ‘I suffered depression and turned to the bottle to get me out of it.’

He commented: “The entire incident left me utterly stunned. It distressed me to such an extent that I am just now finding the strength to discuss its impact on me.

I distinctly recall a strong sense of resentment, particularly concerning their method of dismissal that left us with no notice. We simply found ourselves out without any prior notification.

‘I’ve managed to adapt, but it hasn’t been a smooth ride. Since our sudden exit from the Di Marco show, I’ve lost touch with other actors because the experience was incredibly difficult. When I initially left the show, I didn’t realize it then, but I turned to unhealthy habits – overeating the wrong foods and drinking excessively.’

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2025-06-22 13:19

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