EastEnders star Brian Conley teases shock return after Rocky Cotton was banged up
EASTENDERS star Brian Conley has teased a shock return to the soap after Rocky Cotton was banged up.
The 62-year-old actor joined the BBC soap in 2021, with his alter ego Rocky getting into all sorts of bother during his time in Walford.
Late last year, Rocky's gambling spiralled out of control and it lead to him burning down wife Kathy's cafe in the hope of an insurance pay out.
Unfortunately, that didn't happen and after Rocky started to suspect Kathy was hiding something following her involvement in Keanu Taylor's death on Christmas Day at the Queen Vic, she was encouraged to grass him up to the police by the other women involved in the murder to get him off their case.
Rocky's final scenes aired on December 29 as he confessed all to the police after a tearful goodbye with Kathy.
But despite his alter-ego being banged up for the foreseeable, Brian has teased a return to Albert Square in the future.
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Speaking to the , he said: "Playing Rocky was nerve-wracking at first because the show is so iconic and I look back with very fond memories.
“I am in prison so I haven’t died and that’s a nice thought and I could get off with good behaviour.”
You can’t really do anything else and I wanted a break from that.
Brian Conley
Brian's daughter Lucy, 21, was also part of the interview, and she admitted she loved seeing her dad on the show - for the most part.
She said: "I loved your character and it wasn’t that far from who you are I’ve got to be honest.
"I don’t think you would burn down the café though."
She added: “I found it so weird seeing him drink a pint, he stopped drinking when I was two and also seeing him with someone who isn’t mum.”
Brian agreed that on-screen kisses were "weird" even though he got on so well with Gillian Taylforth, who plays Kathy.
He also said he used to hate the non-alcoholic beer he had to drink on the show as it was very salty.
Brian is now on the road with his show, The 3rd Farewell Tour, and admitted it was projects like this that encouraged him to leave EastEnders.
He explained: "It was great fun and it was my choice to leave because you are very restricted in the show as you can’t really do anything else and I wanted a break from that.
"Three years was long enough for me as it has been a wonderful journey and everyone there is so lovely in front of the camera and behind it.
“They are so supportive and I remember Natalie Cassidy who plays Sonia Fowler telling me that they had all been in my shoes and know exactly what it is like to come into the show."
EastEnders airs on BBC One and is available on BBC iPlayer.