Dyer: I had to adapt to family show

Danny Dyer has admitted he has had to adapt to being part of a “family show” after joining EastEnders.

The hardman actor – who made his debut as Mick Carter, the new owner of The Queen Vic pub, on Christmas Day, confessed his first few months working on the soap have not been easy.

Danny told the BBC show’s official website: “I’m doing really well at the moment. It has only been two months but it is a struggle. I ain’t going to lie.

“I’ve always been real and true to myself and I think people respect that, but I totally get that I’m on a family show so you’ve got to act a bit friendly.”

The 36-year-old actor revealed EastEnders producer Dominic Treadwell-Collins persuaded him to join the show by offering him a role which was unlike the gangster characters he has played so often in the past.

He explained: “The idea of EastEnders and the call at first I just wasn’t that interested. I just thought it was going to be obvious. They’ve approached me before.

“It’s always been the gangster, the villain and I just thought I’m not really interested in that but when I met Dom, within two minutes I just fell in love with him, he’s just got this amazing energy.

“When he explained to me the role about taking over the Vic and coming in with a family, playing the alpha male but not in an obvious way it was all my dreams come true really.”

And even if not all EastEnders fans take a shine to him, Danny is hoping to provoke a reaction.

He said: “I’m totally going to be surprising people. I think there’s been a lot of build-up but they’re not going to know what to expect. I’ve got a persona and a bit of baggage that comes with the name Danny Dyer.

“I think I divide people completely down the middle. I’m either a legend or a joke and that’s the reality of it. I get that! At the end of the day I’m just an actor and I do what I do and either you buzz off what I do or you despise it.

“At least I’m raising some sort of debate.”

Dyer: I had to adapt to family show