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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Verity Sulway

EastEnders' Ricky Champ's forgotten previous role, stunning home and lookalike daughter

EastEnders hard-man Stuart Highway is set to be rocked by a shock health condition in upcoming scenes on the soap.

After spotting a rash on his body, Stuart heads to the doctor for tests - and while the results are not yet known, spoilers reveal the heartbroken character hits the bottle hard in response.

The storyline will see actor Ricky Champ take centre stage - but what fans might not remember is Stuart was not his first EastEnders character.

He also played a photographer who arrived at The Queen Vic in 2009 to take pictures of Sam Mitchell (Daniella Westbrook) before fleeing when she kicked off.

Nine years later, Ricky landed his regular role as Stuart in 2018, announcing at the time: "I'm so happy to be part of this brilliant team of people on this great show that I grew up watching.

"Look out Albert Square... Stuart’s coming!"

Ricky Champ plays Stuart Highway on EastEnders (BBC / Kieron McCarron)
The actor recently turned 40 (Instagram)

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Before EastEnders, Ricky was perhaps best known for playing Paul Parker in the BBC Three sitcom Him & Her, which also starred Sarah Solemani and Russell Tovey.

He has also starred in films Paddington 2, and The World's End, playing 'Big Nasty B*****d' in the latter.

Ricky has also acted in TV shows such as Doc Martin, Casualty, The Bill, Crims, Plebs, and Game of Thrones, where he played Gathins in series six.

But his background was actually in theatre acting, he told the British Comedy Guide while discussing Him & Her's second series.

For the Royal Shakespeare Company, he has performed in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Hamlet, Romeo & Juliet and Coriolanus.

Back in 2009, Ricky starred in a different role on the soap (BBC)

Ricky explained: "My background has been the theatre, and the transition from theatre to this show has been made easier by lots of similarities in this set-up; like the generous rehearsal process and the run through at the beginning of every week, on set and in front of the producers, writer, set people etc.

"And our director Richard Laxton is beautiful to work with."

Back home, Ricky lives with his wife Samantha, their daughter Beatrix, four, and their sausage dog.

On his social media, he has offered brief glimpses into his wholesome family life, including documenting a trip to Barleylands, a farm in Essex that promises interactions with the animals as well as rides and learning activities.

The 40-year-old posted an adorable selfie with Samantha and little Beatrix, who is the spitting image of her actor dad, and captioned it "Farm day."

Ricky shares daughter Beatrix with wife Samantha (rickychamp2/Instagram)
The family recently went on a wholesome day out to a farm (rickychamp2/Instagram)

He also posted a cute snap of him holding a bunny, with Beatrix on hand to assist him.

One fan told him: "Your daughter is so cute."

Another wrote: "Lovely photo, your little girl looks like you. She's such a cutie".

"Such a beautiful family, Ricky!" added a third.

Ricky married Samantha in 2016, and they moved into a beautiful new family home in 2019 which they have been busy renovating.

Their bathroom has been renovated with vintage-style decor (Instagram)
The couple added a splash of colour to their kitchen (Instagram)

During lockdown, they totally transformed Beatrix's bedroom, painting it a cosy orange shade and stocking it with a huge stuffed tiger toy with a matching wall-mount, neat wicker storage baskets in a white unit, a hanging plant and an ornamental letter B.

The tot's toys are tidied away into a tall basket and she's got a tiny desk and matching chair in a salmon pink colour.

Downstairs, the kitchen is also unrecognisable.

What was before a rather drab affair with wooden cabinets and minimal decor is now transformed with white countertops and blue painted doors and drawers.

Colourful plants and appliances are now dotted across the countertops too, with a cosy rug on the floor and a white side table.

Beatrix's bedroom is a cosy haven with a tiger theme (Instagram)

Samantha posted the snaps on Instagram, writing: "I spose I better get used to having some blue on my feed. I have finished! And I’m also exhausted. I can’t even go for a wee on my own so I don’t know why I thought I could decorate a kitchen with a 2 year old me and @rickychamp2 have been in here every night for a week. [sic]"

She added: "I’m so pleased with how it’s turned out (swipe for the before photo!) it’s amazing what 2 tins of paint, some new handles and some tile stickers can do! It’s gone from being a room I hated being in to one I love!"

The couple's bathroom has newly-added white subway tiles and black grouting, with patterned floor tiles.

A standalone bath tub and shower is adorned with more plants.

Terracotta touches spruce up the bedroom and living room, with mirrors, a TV table and the fireplace all a similar shade, along with the plant pots and candles.

There are mint green walls in the bedroom too, as well as more plants, with Samantha joking: "How many plants is too many plants? Asking for a friend."

Man United fan Ricky often tweets about his team, and he was over the moon when his EastEnders co-star Danny Dyer, who plays Mick Carter, arranged an "amazing day" for him at the football in September.

Danny took Ricky and his dad to the West Ham vs Manchester United game at the London Stadium.

Ricky shared a number of snaps on social media from the event, including one of the trio enjoying a beer together.

He told his 71.7k followers on Instagram: "Massive thank you to the big man himself @officialdannydyer for sorting out this amazing day for me and my dad.

"Great game, great atmosphere."

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