'EastEnders'' Shane Richie has said it "messes with your head" filming Christmas scenes so early.
The soap star - who plays happy-go-lucky Alfie Moon in the BBC One drama - finds it "strange" having to film scenes for the festive season in November with his co-stars, before he celebrates the same holiday at home with his actual family.
He told Soap Life magazine: "We have filmed it. It's strange spending three weeks filming Christmas at 'EastEnders' in November and then a real one at home. It does mess with your head."
Shane loves working with Jessie Wallace - who plays his on-screen lover Kat Moon - with whom he is currently filming a number of raunchy scenes, and often spends time with her off set.
He explains: "I love working with Jessie. We're doing a lot of bed scenes at the moment! Even when we aren't working, we spend a lot of time together socially."
Shane's alter ego is delighted he has reignited his flame with his ex-wife because they have so much history, and although he wants to "shout it from the rooftops" he has to restrain himself since he abandoned his wedding with Roxy Mitchell (Rita Simmons).
He explained: "He wants to shout it from the rooftops that they're back together, but Kat has to remind him that he's just left Roxy and it would be best not to rub her nose in it."
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