As Bianca's love interest

Terry Alderton is to join the cast of EastEnders.

The 42-year-old comic will play a cab driver called Terry Spraggan, a love interest for loudmouth Bianca Jackson.

He will film his scenes next month, following his current run at the Edinburgh Fringe, and will appear on screen in the autumn.

‘I’m still in shock, it’s all happened so fast,’ Alderton said of his new role. ‘I can’t wait to get started and I love the fact I don’t have to change my name.’

A spokesman for the BBC One soap said: ‘Terry is your typical Cockney cabbie. Definitely a bloke’s bloke, he’s never short of an entertaining story to tell about who he’s had in his cab the night before.’

As an actor, Alderton has previously appeared in Holby City and London’s Burning. He is also starring in new adaptation of the Stephen King classic The Shawshank Redemption in Edinburgh.

Published: 23 Aug 2013