The UK soap scene, from the cobbles of Coronation Street to the drama-filled EastEnders, is a staple for many Brits, with characters like the beloved pub landlord Mick Carter, played by Danny Dyer, and the iconic Phil Mitchell from the car repair shop resonating with viewers nationwide.

Yet, it’s always a bit of a shocker when soap stars swap their on-screen jobs for real-life roles. Take Katie Jarvis for instance, who graced Albert Square as Hayley Slater in EastEnders from 2018 to 2019.

After a brief two-year run, shorter than many Walford legends, the Dagenham-born actress took a surprising turn as a security guard at B&M, supporting her family post-soap life, MyLondon reports.

Chatting with The Daily Star at the time, she opened up: “I’ve taken a step back from acting. I’ve got a job and I’m looking after my kids.” Jarvis expressed how she was “job-shamed” following her switch from TV screens to a day job.

Speaking to Grazia, the Dagenham-born actress shared her perspective: “It’s the nature of being an actor. Gigs come and go, and after my contract with EastEnders ended in February, I found a new job as soon as I could.”

A year later in 2020, Katie landed herself in legal trouble following a violent altercation with a group of women on Southend seafront. She got into a dispute with a group of women outside a fish and chip restaurant at around 7.30pm on July 31, 2020.

At Basildon Magistrates Court in April 2022, Katie was given a suspended jail term after admitting racially aggravated harassment and common assault at the same court yesterday. Cyrus Shroff, prosecuting, said tensions flared after someone tried to lift an empty chair from a table with four seats where Michelle Antonio, who is black, was sitting with two others of her group of four people.

Ms Antonio had said the chair was being used, then saw the 30-year-old defendant and told her that she could not take the seat as it was needed by a fourth person in her party. He said differing accounts have been provided over what happened next, with Jarvis claiming Ms Antonio was “aggressive” – a claim that was denied.

Katie walked off, shouting “black lives don’t matter anyway”, “black c****” and “I’m a celebrity”. He said it “appears a fight broke out between the parties”. She was given a two-year community order, with 200 hours of unpaid work and a requirement to complete 60 days of specified activities.