In a raw and eye-opening revelation, former EastEnders star Danny Dyer has pulled back the curtain on his turbulent time portraying Mick Carter on the beloved BBC soap. During a candid charity event at Wimbledon Football Club, the actor shared personal struggles he endured behind the scenes—painting a stark contrast to the upbeat image often associated with the show’s stars.

Dyer, who joined EastEnders in 2013 and played pub landlord Mick Carter until 2022, confessed he was “off his nut” on prescription drugs for a significant part of his tenure. With the demanding schedule of learning and performing 30 pages of script per day, he turned to Valium and Diazepam to cope, eventually landing in rehab twice during his time on the show.

“There’s no messing around. You don’t rehearse, you’ve got to organically make scenes work. It messes with your head,” Dyer admitted to the crowd. He revealed that the intense workload, paired with the lack of support or personal time, made his job one of the hardest he’s ever faced in the industry.

His struggles weren’t just confined to pills—he also revealed a sneaky attempt to drink on set. When he first arrived, he admitted to slipping off for a few lagers behind the scenes. Eventually, the crew caught on and took drastic action by spiking the Queen Vic’s beer barrels with antiseptic liquid to stop him from drinking. Though Dyer claims he wasn’t “off his nut” on alcohol, he did admit to drinking occasionally despite the show’s efforts.

More than just substance issues, Dyer offered a scathing critique of the overall working environment on EastEnders. He lamented the lack of a proper work-life balance, stating that while the pay was good, he barely had time to access his money—“You earn good money, but you ain’t got time to go to a cashpoint,” he said. According to him, the pressure was so relentless that the production would even prevent cast members from attending family funerals, emphasizing that the show functioned like an unrelenting machine with minimal concern for personal well-being.

The actor didn’t stop there. He also took aim at some of the show’s major plotlines. Dyer bluntly called Mick’s romance with Janine “mental” and criticized the writers’ decision to kill off beloved character Lola Pearce (played by Danielle Harold), describing her death as a total “waste.” This isn’t the first time Dyer has shared controversial views about the direction of the soap, but this time, his comments were more pointed and personal than ever.

While speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs, Dyer opened up further, admitting he only took the role of Mick Carter out of sheer desperation. He explained that he was in dire financial straits, with bailiffs at his door, a tarnished reputation, and an unhealthy dependency on drugs and alcohol from doing endless nightclub appearances. “No one would hire me,” he said, painting a bleak picture of the period leading up to his soap opera comeback.

Even in his personal life, Dyer’s erratic behavior had severe consequences. On The Assembly podcast, he spoke about being kicked out by his wife, Joanne Mas—his partner since 1992—due to his reckless lifestyle. “She controls everything now,” he said. “Sometimes I would go out, get off my head, take drugs, and not come home for three days.” He acknowledged that she had every right to throw him out and admitted she deserved better.

Despite his scathing criticism of EastEnders, the BBC issued a measured response, stating that they don’t comment on private matters but emphasized that the show has robust support systems in place to protect the welfare of cast and crew. A source close to the production also expressed confusion over Dyer’s comments, suggesting that his statements may surprise many colleagues who never observed the kind of neglect he described. They also pointed out the irony, given Dyer’s repeated claims in the past that he’d be open to returning to the show.

Since exiting EastEnders, Dyer has transitioned into new roles, most notably starring in the Disney+ series Rivals. However, this latest wave of revelations has cast a long shadow over his time in Albert Square and may impact how fans—and the industry—perceive his legacy.

This behind-the-scenes exposé adds a new, sobering dimension to one of the soap’s most iconic characters. For fans who watched Mick Carter’s storyline unfold on screen, Dyer’s revelations serve as a powerful reminder of the personal cost behind the camera. While EastEnders continues to be a powerhouse of British television, Dyer’s claims offer a compelling look at what might really lie behind the glamour and drama of soap stardom.

Would you like a thumbnail caption or social media blurb for this story?