Danny Dyer turns down Walford role

Danny Dyer has scrapped plans to accept a role on BBC soap EastEnders, it was revealed today.

The Football Factory actor entered talks with controller of BBC drama production John Yorke last month. He later announced that he hoped to shed his "hard man" image on the programme.

However, Dyer has now called a halt to the career move after realising that he would be unable to cope with the press scrutiny which surrounds the Walford-based show.

"I quite liked the idea of it. But actually, in reality, I just got cold feet," he told the Daily Star Sunday. "Just from having a meeting it's all over the newspapers and it gave me the horrors. Imagine if I went in it.

"With the EastEnders thing, the whole publicity gets out of hand. It's like a whole new beast. It's not something I fancy.

"I didn't come that bad out of it because they said I was going to save the show. I don't want to write it off totally but at this point in my career I think it would be madness."

Dyer recently made headlines after describing Gavin & Stacey star Mathew Horne as a "rubbish" actor.