BRIAN Conley has revealed the real reason he quit EastEnders as he took a swipe at the BBC soap.
It comes after The Sun said that Brian quit after bosses barred the cast from appearing in lucrative pantomime roles this year.
Brian, who played Tom “Rocky” Cotton since May 2021, has now confirmed that he felt “restricted” at the time.
Appearing on Good Morning Britain, presenter Susanna Reid asked: “You haven’t been in EastEnders for six months, because you’re in prison there is a release date at some point.
“You could go back…but you’ve said actually it’s probably too much?”
Brian, 62, explained: “I left because you’re not allowed to do anything else.”
Appearing slightly miffed, he continued: “Although I’ve now found out you can.
“But at the time, they said you can’t do anything.”
Brian went on: “I’m a live performer, I love being live, I love getting out there – musicals and my own show which I’m currently doing.
“So for me I felt very restricted with those sort of ties.”
Co-host Ed Ball then asked if Rocky would be making an comeback anytime soon after his character was sent to prison.
Ed said: “So Rocky’s not getting an early release then?”
Brian replied: “He might do, never say never, I could always wander in or I could make an escape…”
He quickly moved the conversation on to his new hosting job for RadioTimes.com Soap Awards 2024 this month.
“It is an amazing show and I’m pleased to be hosting the Radio Times Award,” he added.
Brian earns a six-figure sum for playing Buttons as Cinderella, while other stars are also regulars on the panto circuit.
However show executives told them they had to decide between that or Albert Square at the back end of 2024.
A TV insider said: “Often in milestone celebratory years like the 40th anniversary, bosses need to have all cast available so that they can storyline appropriately up to and beyond December to guarantee that level of drama for audiences.
“There’s a real buzz around the anniversary with plans already underway to bring audiences some explosive storylines.
“Filming for February usually takes place before Christmas, so for those wanting to do a five-week run would mean the show would be unable to use them in any of their plans relating to the anniversary.”
Late last year, Rocky’s gambling spiralled out of control and it lead to him burning down wife Kathy’s cafe in the hope of an insurance pay out.
Rocky’s final scenes aired on December 29 as he confessed all to the police after a tearful goodbye with Kathy.
Brian is one of Britain’s biggest panto stars, with his first role as a 17-year-old in Dick Whittington in 1978.
He has dressed up as Buttons for the past 30 years.
Co-stars Shane Richie, who plays Alfie Moon, and Steve McFadden, otherwise known as Phil Mitchell, have also made a small fortune performing for decades in shows including Peter Pan and Robin Hood.
Other EastEnders stars who have done panto include Adam Woodyatt — better known as Ian Beale — as well as Michelle Collins, who has returned as Ian’s ex Cindy, and Shona McGarty, who played Whitney Dean.
