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EastEnders stalker hell update as fan who ‘refused to leave set until he kissed stars’ is held by police
It comes after a ring of steel was thrown around stars for last week's National Television Awards
EASTENDERS’ National Television Awards security scare follows police detaining another stalker at Elstree Studios this summer.
A fan was held under the mental health act after he twice visited the BBC soap’s base in north London and refused to leave.
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A source said he was “demanding to kiss” members of the cast, who The Sun have chosen not to name.
Hertfordshire Police confirmed officers were investigating after a man was reported to be acting suspiciously on Shenley Road, Borehamwood, on July 12 and 18.
A police spokesman confirmed a man was detained under the mental health act.
The source said: “The fan visited Elstree a number of times and was trying to blag his way in and was refusing to leave, demanding to kiss some of the female cast.
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“Security called police.”
EastEnders declined to comment.
It comes after a ring of steel was thrown around stars including Jessice Wallace, Adam Woodyatt and Jacqueline Jossa as they attended the NTAs on Wednesday amid threats from another stalker.
Extra security was brought in, and pictures of the suspect - a different individual to the man held at Elstree - were distributed among the beefed-up detail to help keep the soap stars safe.
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An event source said: “Having that many A-listers in one place meant the O2 was already incredibly well guarded but the threat to EastEnders cast meant additional measures were put in place.
“An image of the suspected stalker was sent among staff so they knew who to look out for.”
Soap shocker NTAs shock as EastEnders LOSES best soap to ITV rival
The Sun revealed last week that the stalker, thought to be an overzealous fan, had spammed the BBC One soap’s stars online making it known that they had a ticket to the event and hoped to meet their idols.
We are not revealing more details about the encounters - but it was enough to raise concern for the Albert Square favourites.
They were also protected at the cast’s pre-drinks event at nearby pub Enderby House, where they gathered before arriving at the ceremony en masse.
The fan visited Elstree a number of times and was trying to blag his way in and was refusing to leave, demanding to kiss some of the female cast
Source
My insider said: “EastEnders cast tread the line between being instantly recognisable, household names and also living fairly normal lives.
“They get the tube and train to work, do their own supermarket shops and can mostly go about their business with the odd fan encounter or selfie request.
“But bosses have to draw the line somewhere and when the stalker made their plans clear to attend the event, something had to be done.”
EastEnders stars who QUIT
MICHELLE Collins has seen her second EastEnders stint boost her bank balance. Yet what stars have quit this year?
The Sun exclusively reported how Michelle, 62, was down to £20,000 in her company accounts when she agreed to a shock back-from-the-dead return to Albert Square last year.
Her character, Cindy Beale, was presumed dead off-camera in 1998.
Yet what about the 2024 exits?
Earlier this summer, loyal soap fans appeared to note how Stevie Mitchell had "quit" the long-running series.
It came after Alan Ford enjoyed just six-months on-screen.
Bobby Beale actor Clay Milner Russell also left this year after five years in Walford.
Fans also feared Martin Fowler actor James Bye would "quit out of boredom" over recent storylines.
Additionally, a host of stars have quit the BBC soap for Hollywood fame.
One of the most successful stars to come from the BBC One soap is Rob Kazinsky.
He played Stacey Slater’s brother Sean Slater from 2006 to 2009, he has starred in Hollywood blockbusters Pacific Rim and Captain Marvel.
Ben Hardy, who quit EastEnders as Bobby Beale almost a decade ago, went on to break Hollywood the following year, when he starred as Archangel in X-Men: Apocalypse.
Since then, he has played Roger Taylor in Queen biopic Bohemian Rhapsody, and he starred in Michael Bay’s Netflix movie 6 Underground.
Michelle Ryan played Zoe Slater until 2005.
She starred as the lead in short-lived American series Bionic Woman from 2007 to 2008.
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