I’m a Coronation Street and EastEnders star but I’ve been forced to quit UK after greedy landlord put up my rent by 15%
BAFTA-WINNING soap legend Daran Little has announced he plans to quit the UK for Spain after his rent got jacked up.
The TV drama star has written more than 100 episodes of Coronation Street and EastEnders over the years.
But Daran has now been forced out of his home after his rent shot up by 15 per cent.
The producer said he will be leaving him Pimlico home to start a new life in Spain after struggling with the rising cost of living.
He shared the devastating news with his fans, writing: "I’m a working class Londoner born on an Ealing council estate. I’ve been very blessed with work to end up living in Pimlico.
"But sadly now I’m leaving London and the UK for Spain as my landlord put my rent up 15 per cent.
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"I can’t afford to live here anymore."
He then took a swipe at his landlord and branded the current state of the housing market "disgusting".
"What’s happening in the UK housing market is disgusting," he added.
"My landlords didn’t care if I moved out as they can get more money on Airbnb with ‘Chinese visitors’."
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Many fans were quick to sympathise with the star.
Ex-EastEnders actor Michael Greco, who played Beppe di Marco between 1998 and 2002, said he was disappointed to see what was happening with the London's housing market.
He commented: "London will eventually become a place full of the rich.
"Many wealthy people from abroad own tonnes of property in London and they know they can get the highest bidder.
"Not the same place as I grew up in, that’s for sure."
Another follower shared their concerns, writing: "I can’t afford to live in London anymore either - unfortunately I won’t be going to Spain."
This person agreed and said: "Yes, I agree. I live in London and the rent is going up all the time.
"Without housing benefit I could never afford to live here. I quite often think about moving in a cheaper area."
Daran has had a hugely successful career as a writer for many popular shows.
He left Granada in 2006 after writing 95 episodes of Coronation Street and introducing the first gay character, Todd Grimshaw.
Daran also created a number of other characters including Sean Tully, Archie Shuttleworth, Bev Unwin and Eric Gartside who was played by Peter Kay.
He created, wrote and produced a 20-part series called Hollyoaks: In the City for and later joined the Hollyoaks writing team, writing 12 episodes.
The star then moved to America and worked on ABC daytime drama All My Children and soap opera The Young and the Restless.
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In 2009, he returned to Coronation Street, writing a further nine episodes, before joining rival soap EastEnders.
In 2013, he was praised for being part of the episode where Johnny Carter came out to his father Mick, played by Danny Dyer.