Colin Salmon joins BBC EastEnders to be close to his wife

The 60-year-old star of the James Bond film series confirmed that he took on the role in the historical soap because he “couldn’t be far from home” because his wife was “not well”.

The Resident Evil actor will arrive Albert Square As part of a new family, he plays father-of-two George Knight.

Who is Colin Salmon’s wife?

Colin Salmon has revealed the moving reason he is joining the EastEnders cast. (BBC) (Image: BBC/PA)

The British actor is married to artist and illustrator Fiona Hawthorne.

Speaking to PA News Agency, Salmon explained why he took on the role: “My wife is unwell so I can’t be far from home… and the universe has given (me) something very extraordinary.”

Hawthorne has Hello! The magazine reported that she has been diagnosed with a rare lung condition, interstitial lung disease, which means she has to use an oxygen tank.

Salmon added, “(Executive Producer) Chris (Clenshaw) was passionate, he was clear, he was progressive, he had a vision and a clear love for the show and the people who watch it, so I think that’s the premise .” for every job.”

As someone from London’s East End, Salmon has stated that he understands the importance of the show.

He shared, “Growing up, everyone I know who I’ve told I’m doing this was really, really excited and then some were like, ‘How could you do that?’ EastEnders?’ You do not know me. It’s a no-brainer, it worked, and the universe was really nice.”

The Doctor Who The actor went on to say that veteran BBC soap actor Steve McFadden – whom fans know as the tough Phil Mitchell – has taken on the role of friend and mentor both on and off screen.

When asked what advice the actor gave him, Salmon said he told him, “Just do it.”

He added, “Steve comes on set and Steve is ready. Steve is there and he’s quietly the boss… and we had our phone call, I think the opening line was “You’re crazy” followed closely by “Get a bike”. Because this way you can easily get on and off. My wife just asked, ‘Is he crazy?’”

Salmon also said that he’s a “family man” along with McFadden and the other men on the show, so “the conversations are just so refreshing because it’s not that much nonsense.”

Colin Salmon is best known for his role as MI6 Deputy Chief of Staff Charles Robinson in three Bond films. (BBC/PA) (Image: BBC/PA)

Who is Colin Salmon playing at EastEnders?

Colin Salmon plays George Knight, father of two and partner to Elaine Peacock (Harriet Thorpe), mother of Linda Carter (Kellie Bright).

Executive producer Clenshaw has described George as a boxer with a lot of baggage who knows Phil.

Meanwhile, Linda has teamed up with her “larger than life” mother to run the Queen Victoria Pub, while Knight takes his two daughters, Gina (Francesca Henry) and Anna (Molly Rainford), to Walford.

Kellie Bright opened up about what her character thinks about the new arrivals, saying: “Linda is very marked by Janine so to her everyone is the enemy and nobody is to be trusted.”

“Especially not this man, who she doesn’t think her mother knows anywhere near well enough, so that’s where she starts, so there’s no openness.”

The Knights will appear in an EastEnders episode on BBC One on June 1.