'Enders baby axed over travel costs

One of EastEnders' youngest actors has been axed in order to cut back on travelling costs.

Gabriel Miller Williams, who plays Max (Jake Wood) and Tanya Branning's (Jo Joyner) son Oscar, has been dropped from the part after his £300-a-day taxi fare from his family home in Leigh-on-Sea in Essex to the BBC soap's studios in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, was seen as an excessive expense.

The 10-month-old's mother Claire Miller, 39, claims that she only discovered that her son had lost the part when his usual taxi failed to collect him, despite having signed what she believed to be a six-month contract.

She told The Mirror: "It's a disgusting way to treat people. We still haven't had a call explaining why he was sacked. I've sent his contract to solicitors to investigate legal action."

However, a spokeswoman for the Walford-based soap said: "It is not unusual for babies to be recast several times in continuing drama series such as EastEnders. In this instance the decision to recast at this time was in part due to Gabriel's travelling costs."

She added: "As the BBC strives to deliver value for money across all its productions, travel costs are a factor that must be considered."

The BBC this afternoon confirmed to DS that long-term contracts are not issued to babies or children. Instead, performance licences are granted by the local authority to allow those subject to such a licence to be booked on an 'as-and-when-needed' basis.

It is understood that the production team at EastEnders are now looking for a more local baby to take on the role.