EastEnders spoilers follow.
EastEnders star Shane Richie has opened up about the real-life impact of the Alfie Moon cancer storyline.
The BBC soap recently began the plotline, which sees the character diagnosed with the disease. The show has also been working closely with Prostate Cancer UK and Macmillian Cancer Support on the story.
Appearing on yesterday's (September 20) The One Show, Richie spoke a bit about the importance of shining a light on cancer, revealing that he happened to have been for a prostate cancer check-up days before he was told about the plotline.
Related: EastEnders airs alarming twist in Alfie Moon cancer storyline
"Two days before that meeting, I went for a health check for prostate cancer," he said. "Only because it was on my radar."
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The actor elaborated that he was "starting to get to that age now where I was kind of starting to get reminded by friends of mine", revealing that a close friend of his had prostate cancer.
"A very close friend of mine, who I've known since I was 16, went through prostate cancer. Thankfully he's out the other side. He's not that much older than me," Richie said.
"I've got a young family. I had a couple of days off from EastEnders, I went along for a check. Thankfully, I was alright. But two days later, I had the meeting."
Related: EastEnders' Alfie Moon upsets Tommy with break from Walford
The star also praised EastEnders for highlighting important subject matter, opening up about the research he did by speaking to real-life people who had had cancer.
"EastEnders has a track record. They did it with Lola with the brain tumour," he noted. "And I think the strength of the BBC, and certainly EastEnders, when they take on board subjects like this they really do their homework.
"That gentleman [in a film shown before the interview], I spent an afternoon with him. And he sat down with me, and at the end of it, I was a mess. I remember coming out of it going, 'This is such an important story to tell'.
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"And the fact that they gave that particular storyline to a character like Alfie Moon… because I think people are familiar with Alfie over 21 years. Maybe doing it with another character might not have had the same impact, I don't know.
"But to [EastEnders executive producer] Chris Clenshaw who trusted me with that story, I'm thankful. And to see how it plays out now."
He added: "EastEnders is essentially still a drama, so there's going to be drama around Alfie's illness always, whether it's to do with Phil Mitchell, with Linda or with Kat. But the essence of the story is seeing how this particular man, Alfie Moon, deals with his journey."
EastEnders airs on Mondays - Thursdays at 7.30pm on BBC One. The show also streams on BBC iPlayer.
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For more information on Alfie's prostate cancer storyline in EastEnders, you can find resources through the BBC Action Line website, or on 08000 560 190 at any time for a record message. Viewers are also encouraged to contact Prostate Cancer UK and Macmillan Cancer Support.
