'EastEnders' bosses are scaling back James Bye's storylines to ease his workload.
James Bye's busy schedule has left him exhausted
The 38-year-old actor - who portrays Martin Fowler on the BBC soap - has been cramming in the hours, juggling filming for the show with training for 'Strictly Come Dancing' with partner Amy Dowden, so he's relieved producers are going to let his character take a back seat in the coming months so he'll have a bit more time.
He told the Daily Star Sunday newspaper: "This week has been a busy week at EastEnders. I’ve been on set every day.
"Amy has come over to the set a few days this week.
"We have been getting two hours of training in the morning and sometimes getting another two in the evening...
"'EastEnders' have been great and they are going to lighten the workload for me.
"As soon as 'Strictly' was confirmed for me, 'EastEnders' put the wheels in motion.
"But unfortunately, the way it works with scheduling is always a few months behind. So hopefully next week it will lighten."
And James admitted he's been left "exhausted" by his gruelling schedule.
He added: "You are exhausted from training which helps you sleep. As soon as my body hits the pillow, I am out."
James and Amy are currently fourth bottom of the leaderboard with combined week one and two scores of 46, so the actor is worried they'll be the first couple to be eliminated.
He said: "I’ve been working hard. I just hope it is enough to get us through."
The actor's co-star, Rose Ayling-Ellis, won the programme last year and she warned her friend to savour the experience because it goes so quickly.
He said: “Rose is just like a ray of sunshine and her only advice to me was just take every second in as it goes so quick.
“Bear in mind she was there every week, she did the full thing and she said even that went so fast.
“You make friends so quickly, don’t throw anything away, just enjoy every moment and that’s sort of what we’re doing to be fair.
“I don’t feel like I’m wasting any moment, we are going for it, every opportunity, and the choreography this week is incredible and the song is great, so let’s just hope I don’t balls it up again!”