McFadden apologises to 'EastEnders'

EastEnders star Steve McFadden has apologised for causing disruption to the soap's filming schedule.

The actor, who plays Phil Mitchell on the show, was forced to miss work for a week after getting involved in a fight at the British Legion in Falmouth, Cornwall, on July 29. Producers had to write his character out of some scenes and delay others, as he was too bruised to appear on camera.

"I'm only human, I snapped. I'm sorry for any aggravation I've caused for EastEnders," Steve told the News of the World. "In the old days before the show it was normal to have a fight on a Friday night. There would be a pint, a curry and a punch-up. Now I've got to realise I can't behave like that."

McFadden has denied a newspaper claim that his eye socket was broken in the fight, insisting that he only suffered a black eye.

He said: "I had a puffy black eye like Dennis the Menace. I thought, 'Oh no, I'm going to have to deal with this now'. I couldn't possibly work because the black eye couldn't be covered with make-up. I had to take all week off. EastEnders weren't best pleased."