Jody Latham wept over 'Enders research

Jody Latham has revealed that he cried after meeting real-life prostitutes to research his dark EastEnders storyline.

The former Shameless actor has recently been appearing on the Walford soap in the role of sinister Rob Grayson, who befriended show regular Whitney Dean (Shona McGarty) before sexually exploiting her.

Speaking to The Sun about how he consulted girls with similar experiences, Latham explained: "It was heartbreaking. I was not prepared for their horrific stories. I couldn't believe what these poor women go through in real life."

He continued: "I arranged to go to a drop-in centre where prostitutes go to hide away from their pimps. It felt horrible being there, looking in on their lives and knowing I could walk away and they had to continue with that really tough life.

"I felt so sad for these women. I went home that night and I'm not ashamed to admit that I cried."

Whitney managed to escape from Rob's clutches in the drama's special Comic Relief episode last Friday, but the storyline has not yet concluded as the troubled teenager is still missing.

Comic Relief bosses, who worked closely with EastEnders during the development of the plot, have praised the soap's producers for "bringing a very welcome awareness" to the issue of sex exploitation.

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