Jane is the iconic barmaid extra, Tracy, in the BBC One soap (Pictures: BBC)
EastEnders fans were left stunned recently when an iconic extra – Tracy the Barmaid – featured in an interview on BBC One’s The One Show.
Jane Slaughter has played Tracey since 1985 – when the soap began, and featured in a chat with presenter and Strictly Come Dancing star Ritchie Anderson to talk about the BBC’s new project 15 Seconds of Fame.
As part of the channel’s century celebrations, the company is opening up the opportunity for members of the public to become extras in their favourite TV shows for ‘15 seconds of fame’.
Several TV programmes are up for grabs to potentially be featured on, which will entail specific roles if you manage to be chosen.
They include: announcing that the ‘voting is now open’ on Strictly; ordering a drink on EastEnders; lying down as a patient on Casualty; becoming an alien on Doctor Who; making a sound effect on The Archers; or doing some gardening on Gardeners’ World.
Jane has played Tracy since the very start of the show (Picture: BBC)
To help promote the exciting opportunity and offer audience members key tips on what makes the perfect soap extra, Jane told The One Show a little more about her time in EastEnders so far:
‘It was outside on the flower stall, freezing cold but it was so exciting, the energy was amazing!’, she said, remembering her first scene.
Topic of conversation soon turned to the amount of landlords Tracy has worked with over the years including the iconic Peggy Mitchell, played by the legendary Barbara Windsor.
‘It was amazing’, Jane said, describing what it was like to work with her.
‘So supportive and professional too, just a joy, I miss her very much’.
Reflecting on a scene in particular alongside Sean Slater (Rob Kazinsky), Jane revealed Barbara was watching it unfold and explained:
‘She was sat there, willing me on, out of shot and at the end cheered when I had finished it!’.
The day we say goodbye to Tracy will be an emotional one and for Jane, she has already thought about how she’d like to exit.
Black cab? No thank you.
‘It would have to be something really surprising, I think the fans out there would really like to see something a bit exciting with Tracy!’.
And to close the interview, Jane offered advice to those wanting to apply to the BBC’s opportunity to be an extra in EastEnders:
‘Don’t look down the lens! No upstaging and just enjoy it! It’ll be fantastic, what an experience!’.
It was just a three minute interview but it sparked a huge response from fans, who probably hadn’t heard Tracy from EastEnders speak so much!
‘Hang on, Tracy the Barmaid is speaking!’, fan said.
Another wrote: ‘Okay, it’s a bit out there, but #TheOneShow are talking to long running background character Jane Slaughter (Tracey the Barmaid) from #EastEnders and I’m so delighted.’
Find out more about BBC’s 15 Seconds of Fame here.
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What are the chances!