Harry Redknapp was greeted with a roar from the crowd when he walked on to the set of EastEnders.
Cast and crew cheered and clapped as the ex-soccer gaffer arrived this week for his first day of filming.
Harry, 74, has joined the soap as an associate of Danny Dyer’s character Mick Carter.
The former Spurs boss was said to have had an immediate natural chemistry with Dyer, 43.
Insiders said the two hit it off straight away, laughing and joking between takes.
And the pair – both born in East London – bonded over a shared love of West Ham.
Dyer is a fan of the club, which Harry played for in the 60s and managed in the 90s.
A source revealed that the two had become “inseparable” during the eight-hour filming days.
Harry’s 8am arrival at the BBC’s Elstree studios on Tuesday had been kept under wraps, with a chauffeur-driven car sweeping him through the gates.
Staff there checked him for Covid before allowing him on set.
The following day he drove himself in his silver Range Rover for a second day of filming.
The insider added: “Harry isn’t a bad actor, especially for EastEnders. He brought a real-life Cockney feel.
“It looks like this might not be the last viewers see of him. He and Danny were a great team-up.
“They were both clearly over the moon to be working with each other. Everyone adored having Harry around.”
The footie boss, pictured with wife Sandra, was catapulted into a showbiz career after winning ITV’s I’m a Celebrity in 2018.
Viewers will see his soap debut on screen next month.
