Former 'EastEnders' actor Phil Daniels has branded the soap "opium for the masses".

Phil Daniels

Phil Daniels

The 56-year-old actor - who played Kevin Wicks on the long-running BBC One soap from 2006 to 2008 - is urging the broadcaster to axe the much-loved drama after it celebrated its 30th anniversary earlier this year.

He said: "I'd take it off the telly if I could. I just think it's run it's course.

"It's nothing to do with any of the acting as I think people do really good work in it.

"I just feel like it's time for something different.

"'EastEnders' and 'Coronation Street' seem a bit like the opium of the masses now. Why don't they try something else for the British public?"

Phil - who featured on Blur's hit 1994 single 'Parklife' - also slammed producers for creating such depressing storylines.

He told The Sun newspaper: "I went into the show to be a comedy part ... Then the gags started disappearing and I had a kid that died of cystic fibrosis and a wife that was violent.

"My character got more and more miserable. I just don't think they've got the writers for gags on that show. They need a few more jokes."

Daniels has appeared on the BBC crime drama 'New Tricks' since quitting 'EastEnders' and is currently set to star in the West End production of 'Les Miserables'.


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