Danny Dyer and Kellie Bright
'Eastenders' will be saved by Danny Dyer, he's said.
Dyer's coming to Albert Square on Christmas Day, and will become the landlord of the Queen Vic in his role as Mick Carter.
He'll star alongside his on-screen wife Linda Carter (Kellie Bright), and believes the trouble he'll stir up on the square will be more than Dirty Den (Leslie Grantham) - the pub's original owner.
He said: "I'm bringing something to soap land that's never been seen before. I'm telling you that now right.
"You know, he [Dirty Den] was the eighties version, I'm bringing it up to date. I'm honoured that they are, it's never been done, a new character coming in and taking over the Vic, it's the hub of the show."
The 'Business' star rejected a role on the BBC One soap in 2009 because he didn't think he could cope with the pressure, but he's convinced his arrival will boost ratings.
Speaking to Absolute Radio, he added: "It's a big responsibility. I'm ready for that responsibility. I don't want to let them down. I'm a little bit disappointed at how 'EastEnders' has been going sort of in the ratings and you know we're losing out to other soaps. I feel like I'm part of their team. So I want to help. I want to help turn the show round. So I'm going to freak some people out. I'm taking it to the next level. Maybe I'll do a ten stretch. Who knows."
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