Ray Winstone reveals why he keeps rejecting EastEnders roles

It’s often speculated that he could be joining the BBC One soap (Picture: Getty)

Acting legend Ray Winstone has been discussing why he doesn’t want to join BBC One soap EastEnders.

Recently, EastEnders denied reports that Ray was joining the show, who has been previously asked to join as Billy Mitchell’s (Perry Fenwick) brother, but couldn’t take the role as he was then called away to Los Angeles for a job.

Perry told Inside Soap Magazine at the time that he pitched a storyline to Ray that he liked the sound of.

He said: ‘Ray Winstone almost came in to play Billy’s brother! It was mine and his wife Elaine’s idea that he’d come in and give Billy a load of money, but none of the regular characters would see him.’

Perry explained how Ray – who played Gary in the film Sexy Beast – was thinking about it, but he then got a role in Indiana Jones.

He added: ‘If it was a choice between Hollywood or Borehamwood, I know which way I’d go!’

Ray, 66, has now shut down any hopes of him arriving in Walford, as he’s said he isn’t actually interested in the soap world.

‘I’ve been asked many times. I’m very flattered by it and I’ve got some great friends there, like Perry Fenwick, and over the years I’ve made many more’, he told The Sun.

Perry pitched an idea for Ray to join (Picture: BBC)

‘But again, it’s the same scenario as theatre – I don’t want to get locked into something that long, because I may as well go and do a 9 to 5 job in an office somewhere.’

Ray’s daughter, Jaime, played Peggy Mitchell in a flashback episode of the BBC One soap last year.

He added: ‘I told her not to listen to anything I say, because these kids know more!’.

The actor has also highlighted in the past how the tough soap schedules detract him from joining.

Ray spoke to BANG Showbiz and said: ‘That thing about turning up five times a week, these guys work really hard, it just ain’t for me. I wondered if I’d probably be the only one from the East End in the show. Apart from my mate Perry [Fenwick].

‘I wouldn’t do it, and that’s it. But never say never!’

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He won’t be heading to Walford anytime soon.