Scott Maslen: 'Fishing dream has come true'

Scott Maslen has appeared on the front of Angler's Mail after catching a giant carp in Gran Canaria.

The EastEnders actor is pictured holding the 35lb fish, which he caught while on holiday from the soap.

Speaking to the publication, Maslen, who plays Jack Branning in EastEnders, said: "It's the best fishing holiday I've ever had.

"It's always been a dream of mine to be on the front of my favourite fishing magazine - I've read it since I was a schoolboy."

The magazine's editor Tim Knight told the Daily Mail: "Not a lot of people know that one of Scott's very first jobs, when he was a youngster, was working in a tackle shop - getting his hands dirty and smelly with all the maggots and baits. That's a far cry from being soap land's sexiest male!

"Scott's not lazy with his fishing and it doesn't appear like it's all about relaxing for him. He's done well when he's entered some physically and mentally demanding events, like the British Carp Angling Championships and America's 72-hour St Lawrence River Challenge."

Maslen has previously been chosen for both sexiest male and sexiest vegetarian awards, but says that he would much rather gain recognition for his work as an actor.