‘You don’t have a f***ing talented bone in your body’ Danny Dyer hits out at TOWIE stars following Mark Wright spat

IT'S NOT often that Danny Dyer is lost for words, but as the first subject on the new series of family-tree show Who Do You Think You Are?, he looks pole-axed by two weeks of filming that hit him with “wave after wave of this ridiculous information”.

Including the revelations that he’s a direct descendant of Thomas Cromwell, King Edward III and William the Conqueror.

4

A detail about his ancestry that is – in the very best way – doing Danny’s nut in is the fact that Cromwell

As an Epping Forest resident, Danny beams at the coincidence. It’s doubly sweet considering his violent run-in with former The Only Way Is Essex star Mark Wright and his friends a few months ago.

But as talk turns to reality stars, the subject quickly gets under Danny’s skin.

“All these Z-list pr**ks – this TOWIE reality-TV mob just want fame,” he says. “The ugliest thing. Then they get the fame and refuse to have photos with people as they get above their station.

Then they want respect. You’re not going to get respect because you don’t have a f***ing talented bone in your body. Have your bit of f***ing fame, go and do your f***ing nightclub appearances in Kidderminster, but don’t expect to turn up at the BAFTAs.”

4

He shakes his head. “That f***s me off,” he continues. “They turn up at the BAFTAs and no one takes a blind bit of notice and they can’t bear it. We’re in a weird place at the moment with this fame s**t.

"It’s an obsession. The only downside to my job is the fame. I’ve got a responsibility, but I get it wrong and I say some stupid stuff. I’m an idol to people and I need to start acting like one, but I don’t know how to do that.

"All I care about is my f***ing kids [Dani, Sunnie and Arty] and my missus [wife Jo, 39] and my family, really. And yet I have a following of people who look up to me. You have to live up to that and it’s really f***ing hard.”

“Do I feel royal?” asks Danny, 39. “No. But I am actually royalty. I understand who I am now and why I’m famous. I’ve got this blood in me. I wasn’t meant to tell anyone that, but I’ve told every f***er, sorry!”

Armed with his new-found knowledge about his roots, there’s a revealing moment in the documentary when the EastEnders actor says it’s going to give him more confidence. Wait… is Danny not the self-assured man we believe him to be?

“It’s to do with the fact that I’m self-taught,” he says, candidly. “The fame side of things – I didn’t feel I deserved it. I’ve just always felt there were other people who went to drama school and stuff who deserved it a lot more than me. You always question it.”

4

Danny has spoken before about the strong women in his life who brought him up after his mum and dad split when he was a child.

But his father Tony also puts in an appearance in Who Do You Think You Are? and it’s clear that the pair of them have a strong bond too.

“All my heroes growing up were women – my mother, both my nans,” he reveals. “Strong women who had to bring up children on their own.

"It was that whole era of women washing, cleaning, doing all that b*****ks – the hardest stuff – while the dad goes to work, comes home p**sed, falls asleep on the settee and he’s the f***ing hero, you know what I mean?

“But I love my dad as well. He was petrified going on the show, bless him. Bought himself a new shirt, didn’t he? My family, in front of a camera, they just f***ing freeze and are petrified, while I come alive. I love showing off.”

4

Work-wise, the actor is still having a great time as Mick Carter on EastEnders,but could the discovery of his royal heritage influence his future roles?

“Well, I won’t just be known as the working-class, Cockney, foul-mouthed actor, will I?” he smiles.

“I don’t know what it’s going to do to me. I’m going to keep giving EastEnders 110 per cent, but let’s see what Who Do You Think You Are? does to my career.

It’s gonna shut a few of my f***ing critics up. Yes, I’m crass, I do swear a lot, but I am related to one of the most powerful men ever – and they can stick that up their a**es, Mark Kermode.”

There’s a big grin as Danny considers his detractors, including the film critic.
“My haters will hate it,” he adds. “And that’s what I f***ing love.”

NEW! Who Do You Think You Are?, Thursday 8pm, BBC1

READ MORE:

Danny Dyer’s Funniest Football Foul-Ups gets edited down to 60 seconds of gold

EastEnders favourite Derek Harkinson returns – in ANOTHER storyline about BINS

What’s the easiest way to research family history? Create your family tree online

Don't know what to watch tonight? Get your daily guide to What's On TV from The Sun Online