EastEnders star Ian Lavender reveals he is unable to return to the soap as BBC bosses can’t insure him due to health problems
He left the show last year after he became ill with sepsis
EASTENDERS star Ian Lavender has revealed he is unable to return to the soap as BBC bosses can't insure him due to health problems.
The actor, 72 - who found fame in Dad's Army - left the show last year after he became ill with sepsis.
He previously battled cancer and a heart attack.
He appeared in EastEnders as Derek Harkinson, a friend of Pauline Fowler, who was played by his real-life pal Wendy Richard.
Ian, first famous for his role as Private Frank Pike, said he would go back to the soap.
But added: "I don't think they could get me insured now."
In an interview with he said: "I've got nothing but admiration for all the soaps, for the getting on to the screen of three and four episodes a week."
He added: "The pure discipline of that."
Lavender said after the last episode of Dad's Army in 1977 he asked creator David Croft if Uncle Arthur was Pike's father.
Ian added: "He looked at me and said, 'Of course he is!'" Radio Times is on sale now.
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