EE: Bobby Davro to join The Square

[faceless]

Bobby Davro to join EastEnders as the lover of barmaid Shirley Carter.

The comic who first found fame doing impressions on BBC's Who Do You Do? in the 80s starts filming today. Davro, 47, plays a lovable rogue called Vince Monks. His romance with Shirley begins when he takes her to hospital - after knocking her down with his car.

A source on the BBC soap said: "Vince is warm and funny and he sees Shirley as a bit of a challenge. He knows she's a tough old bird but it becomes his mission to make her smile." Last night Bobby said: "I'm chuffed and looking forward to becoming a soap opera luvvie."

Shirley, played by Linda Henry, is currently warring with Walford's new arrivals Ronnie and Roxy Mitchell, who have taken over the Queen Vic against her wishes. And the source added: "Shirley could really do with something, or someone, to take her mind off all the aggro." Davro will first appear on screens at the end of next month.

He is the latest in a long line of funnymen turning up in TV soaps. EastEnders first gambled with the late Mike Reid in 1987. The Cockney comic, who died last month, was a hit as Prank Butcher for 20 nearly years. More recently Shane Richie was a success in Albert Square as Alfie Moon. Comedian Bradley Walsh joined Coronation Street in 2004 as chirpy Danny Baldwin. And Red Dwarf star Craig Charles arrived in Corrie in 2005 as cab driver Lloyd Mullaney. Stand-up comedian Sean Hughes recently joined him as a love rat who seduces cab office controller Eileen Grimshaw. Even Peter Kay made a cameo appearance in Weatherfield in 2004, taking Rovers barmaid Shelly on a disastrous date.

Davro's popularity peaked in the late 80s with ITV shows including Bobby Davro on the Box and TV Weekly. In 1991 he moved back to the Beeb to make Public Enemy Number One and Rock with Laughter. In 1997 he was fronting quiz Winner Takes All for Challenge TV. A panto regular in the last few years, he had a bitter split in 2003 from his glamour model wife Trudi, with whom he has three daughters, and suffered depression.

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[Skylace]

I've not heard of him before. Should be interesting.

[HandoGod]

Just read this on teletext. Bobby rocks! Hope he turns out to be agood actor.

[pirtybirdy]

This Bobby guy looks way too good looking for the likes of that disgusting wench Shirley. Nobody should be Shirley's lover unless they want an STD.

[eefanincan]

It'll be interesting to see Shirley's storyline be expanded beyond trying to get in good with her kids.

[pirtybirdy]

Is there anyway to make Shirley more softer looking, maybe more feminine? If they do that, coupled with a change in the way she behaves, I might be willing to fall for it, in a non reality sort of way...LOL!! I'd fall for it in a soap opery kind of way. :-)