EASTENDERS legend lands a festive TV special on BBC this Christmas, promising plenty of holiday cheer and nostalgia for fans of the soap star.
The BBC’s heartwarming documentary series My Life at Christmas is back for a third year running with EastEnders star Rudolph Walker.
The three part series will be hosted by Countryfile and Woman’s Hour presenter Anita Rani.
In each episode, Anita will talk to a well-known guest to discover what makes Christmas special for them.
And how it’s been a marker for memorable moments in their careers, family life and faith.
Other guests this year include another one of Britain’s best-loved actors Dame Sheila Hancock, and also TV personality and podcaster Spencer Matthews.
Rudolph, 85, is one of EastEnders’ most adored stars.
The veteran actor has played Patrick Trueman in the BBC soap since 2001.
However, the star recently hit out at EastEnders bosses when he was left out of a book commissioned by the BBC to mark the show’s 20th anniversary.
And he was incensed the publication featured barely any black characters.
Rudolph revealed the secret race row in his new autobiography.
An “angry” BBC colleague had told him about the book.
Co-stars Adam Woodyatt and Shane Richie — aka Ian Beale and Alfie Moon — told him it should have been “withdrawn and reprinted”, he said.
Rudolph demanded an explanation from showrunner John Yorke.
He wrote: “I had to have a meeting with him to express my total disgust at the way they conducted their printing/publicity/PR business.”
Rudolph was told characters with prominent storylines at the time of printing in 2005 got greater coverage in the book.
This again rattled him, as a new family The Millers, who had not even appeared on screen yet, were featured — including their dog.
Despite his on-screen sons Paul (Gary Beadle) and Anthony (Nick Bailey) being pictured on the cover, there was little mention of them either.
He said, in his book Walking With Dignity: “By the end of 2004, I had appeared in 300 episodes over three years and in 2004 had eight ‘doof doofs’ [the sound effect marking the end-of-episode climax].
“The absence in the book of one of the first black families in the Square — despite their small photos, there were scant references inside to Gary Beale and Nick Bailey either — caused many eyebrows to be raised and questions asked.”
He added: “My picture was nowhere to be found.”
Thankfully, Rudolph sorted out his differences with bosses — who blamed an “independent editor” for the lack of black stars — and he remained on the soap, where he has racked up more than 23 years of service.
Despite the book blip, he praised EastEnders for continuing to include “characters from diverse ethnic backgrounds”.
He hailed the casting of black actor Colin Salmon as Queen Vic landlord George Knight, something he says “wouldn’t have been entertained a few years ago”.
Meanwhile, the BBC will showcase a vibrant range of festive programming across television this Christmas.
This will include live worship, musical celebration, traditional carols and spiritual contemplation.
BBC One Christmas religion programming continues with Midnight Mass, broadcast live from St Mary’s Church, Warwick.
On Christmas Morning the wonder and joy of the Nativity will be celebrated live from the historic splendour of Halifax Minster.
In the evening, Kate Garraway narrates the story of the first Christmas as the day draws to a close.
My Life at Christmas airs on Sunday 8 December on BBC One and is available on BBC iPlayer.
