Martine reveals 'Echo Beach' depression

Martine McCutcheon has admitted that her role in Echo Beach left her feeling "depressed".

The actress played unhappy housewife Susan Penwarden in the ITV1 soap, a character ten years older than herself.

While the programme's sister show Moving Wallpaper has already been recommissioned, the future of Echo Beach remains uncertain following disappointing ratings and criticism in the press.

"I have to admit I didn't read the reviews," Martine, 31, told the News of the World. "I felt depressed because I was playing a character who'd let herself go, and that state of mind affected me. I could feel myself getting down.

"One night, I decided to go out clubbing with the crew. Jason [Donovan] and I were the oldest there and I put on my skinny jeans, jewellery and make-up. When I came downstairs, everyone was saying how great I looked, how young I looked. I was like: 'Well, I am still young!'"