EastEnders star Shane Richie has shared that his character's cancer storyline saved a fan's life.
Richie's character Alfie Moon's world was turned upside down in 2023 when the fan-favourite was diagnosed with prostate cancer.
The heartbreaking storyline saw Alfie keep his diagnosis a secret as he underwent surgery and additional treatment. He also struggled with erectile dysfunction and incontinence before eventually sharing the news with his friends and family.
EastEnders worked alongside Prostate Cancer UK and Macmillan Cancer Support to raise awareness of the illness, and Richie has now shared the impact of the important storyline.
"I was going to events, men my age were coming up to me, but mostly women, wives saying, 'Thank you so much for covering that storyline, because my husband, my brother... they don't want to go to the doctors,'" the actor told The Sun.
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He explained how Alfie's storyline encouraged at least one fan to see a doctor, resulting in an early cancer diagnosis that he said "could have been fatal".
"One guy in particular, and I don't personally take credit for saving his life, but that storyline did," Richie said.
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The actor continued: "He got checked. His daughter was a big EastEnders fan, and just quite casually said, come on, we love Alfie, you should go and get checked and he did just to appease his daughter.
"He found out he had prostate cancer but it was at the early stages, had it left in any longer it could have been fatal. So if we just save one life, that's the power of soaps."
EastEnders airs on Mondays - Thursdays at 7.30pm on BBC One. The show also streams on BBC iPlayer, where most episodes drop early at 6am ahead of their TV broadcast.
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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.
