EastEnders' Howie star Delroy Atkinson's life off screen including Johnny Depp connection

Liam Fox first appeared on our screens as Dan Spencer in Emmerdale back in 2011 and he's remained on the soap ever since.The actor, 53, was initially contracted for just eight episodes, but he was soon offered a spot as a soap regular with Dan becoming a prominent character in the fictitious village. However, Liam's time on the ITV soap is soon set to come to an end after 12 years, with Dan facing a lengthy prison sentence after he was charged with manslaughter following the death of daughter Amelia's stalker Lloyd Sawyer.

The much-loved Emmerdale character Bob Hope has been a resident of the Dales for over 20 years and in that time has been a part of the biggest storylines to hit the show. Even in the last week, Bob has been central to a storyline involving his discovery of Wendy and Liam's secretive affair and after a tense confrontation he is now fighting for his life in hospital. But off screen, the actor Tony Audenshaw, who plays Bob, has been through ups and downs of his own in both his professional and personal life.

And just like that, we have another contestant confirmed for Strictly - this time Bobby Brazier - best known to fans as Freddie Slater from EastEnders.The handsome curly-haired 20-year-old is set to join forces with Adam Thomas and set hearts racing as he dons full-on glitter, tight trousers and plenty of fake tan and takes to the dancefloor next month. But first, OK! takes a look at the actor's life away from the Square. Before finding fame and arriving on-set last September though, Freddie worked in a milkshake shop.

Confirmed as the eighth contestant taking part in 2023's Strictly Come Dancing series, Adam Thomas is set to be a massive hit. Likely to be this year's hunk of the show, we predict great things for him even though he hilariously admits he "can't dance to save himself!" The Thomas brother is ready to hit the dancefloor with a bang, but just who is Adam Thomas behind-the-scenes? OK! takes a deep dive into the cheeky Manc to find out a little more about the star who will be foxtrotting into our livingrooms every weekend.The former Emmerdale star has already been on our telly for years, even winning a Best Soap Newcomer at the TV Choice awards for his explosive storylines in the soap.

Former EastEnders actor Joe Absolom looks so different 23 years after leaving the soap. Joe had a massive storyline during his time in the soap in which his character, Matthew Rose, was wrongly jailed for the murder of Saskia Duncan (Deborah Sheridan-Taylor) in 1999. Saskia was bludgeoned to death with an ashtray by her boyfriend Steve Owen (Martin Kemp), and though he didn’t kill her, Matthew did help Steve hide her body.

With Strictly Come Dancing’s 21st series just weeks away from hitting our screens, the long-running dance show is set to welcome its oldest ever contest, Angela Rippon. The 78 year old broadcaster was just one of three stars announced to be taking part in the show, when The One Show revealed that Angela would be joining Sherlock star Amanda Abbington and Bad Education actor and singer Layton Williams.

With just weeks left to go until the return of Strictly Come Dancing for its 21st season, the first celebrity revealed to be competing in the 2023 series was announced on Friday as Amanda Abbington. Announcing the news on BBC’s The One Show, a delighted Alex Jones revealed that Amanda would be taking part in the show, as she said: “I’m really excited and incredibly nervous!” Amanda is well known for her role as John Watson’s wife in the BBC series Sherlock, with the popular star having been keen to participate in the show for a number of years before finally getting the chance to compete in hopes of securing the coveted glitter ball trophy.

Leslie David Baker, part of the ensemble that kept people laughing on the long-running comedy hit “The Office,” is giving up plans to launch a spin-off series featuring his character, Stanley Howard.

There was another dramatic night afoot in the dales on Thursday, when Emmerdale’s Lloyd Sawyer passed away after weeks of fighting for his life in hospital following a brutal altercation with Dan Spencer. As regular viewers will know, Lloyd first appeared on our screens earlier this summer, when he became unhealthily obsessed with Dan’s daughter Amelia, after discovering her account on social media.

Emmerdale fans are in for a treat next week, when one familiar face returns to the dales as a brand new villain, over twenty years since last appearing in the soap. Actor Robert Beck will no doubt be a blast from the past for many viewers, after originally starring in the show for 78 episodes, when he played Bernice Blackstock’s love interest Gavin Ferris - who famously was caught kissing Jason Kirk amid his engagement to the B&B owner! It has since been revealed however, that Robert will once again be returning to the ITV soap, but this time in a far grittier role as new villain Harry, who will debut on the show next week as part of a new storyline involving Nate Robinson, Caleb Miligan and newcomer Corey.

Anton Du Beke is one of the more mysterious Strictly Come Dancing stars - and even kept his exact age under wraps for years. Anton, 57, was part of the show’s original line up and spent a decade and a half starring as one of the show’s dancers, before moving over to the judging panel in 2020.The pro was originally supposed to be a temporary replacement for Motsi Mabuse, who was isolating with the coronavirus at the time, but proved to be such a hit that he became a permanent addition to the panel in 2021. It hasn’t always been smooth sailing for Anton on the show, though, as he’s been plagued by rumours of a feud with Bruno Tonioli, who he replaced on the judging panel.

EastEnders fans will know Clay Milner Russell for his role as the fifth incarnation of Bobby Beale, replacing Eliot Carrington. Bobby is the son of Ian and Laura Beale, the adoptive son of Jane Beale, brother of Peter and Lucy, the adoptive brother of Steven and foster brother of Cindy.The character has been part of some of the show's biggest storylines. In February 2015, it was revealed as part of the 30th anniversary celebrations that Bobby is his older sister Lucy's killer.

Captain Lee isn’t just caught up on Below Deck drama — he also has plenty of thoughts on Tom Sandoval‘s Vanderpump Rules cheating scandal with Raquel Leviss.

Ashley Peacock was once a staple of Coronation Street, as the character was a regular on the cobbles for some 15 years between 1995 and 2010. Ashley, who was played by Corrie legend Steven Arnold, was one of the victims of the tragic 8 December 2010 tram crash. He was killed off as a part of a series of episodes to celebrate the show’s 50th anniversary and included a special live episode on 9 December, which Steven appeared in as an off-screen voice actor.

Johnny Depp is back on tour with his band Hollywood Vampires.

Follow OK! on Threads here: https://www.threads.net/@ok_mag Emmerdale star Bhasker Patel has been involved in a number of dramatic storylines since he first arrived in the Yorkshire Dales in 2011 playing the role of Rishi Sharmas. Just this week he threatens to jeopardise his son's wedding, Jai (played by Chris Bisson) in a shocking turn of events, leaving a swirl of sadness through the village. An hour long episode of Emmerdale airs on Thursday, 27 July, with Rishi at the forefront of the storyline.

EastEnders newcomers Molly Rainford and Francesca Henry have proved they are just as close off-screen as they are on after they were spotted shopping together in North London during a day off. Molly and Francesca came into the show last month as Anna and Gina Knight along with their dad George.They moved to Walford from Marbella to join George’s girlfriend and Linda Carter’s mum, Elaine Peacock, in running The Queen Vic.

Johnny Depp and Amber Heard battled it out in a U.S. courtroom.

Follow OK! on Threads here: https://www.threads.net/@ok_mag Since joining the cast of EastEnders back in 2009, Tameka Empson has been at the centre of some dramatic storylines on Albert Square - especially over recent months. As part of an ongoing storyline regarding mental health, BBC One viewers will have seen Tameka’s character Kim Fox suffer from panic attacks after being involved in a car accident earlier this year.

Johnny Depp and Amber Heard‘s much talked about trial is getting the Netflix treatment with the new Depp v. Heard docu-series.