Brian Conley took EastEnders role ‘after his money-spinning corporate and West End gigs dried up’

Amid the news that Brian Conley will play Sonia’s long-lost father in EastEnders, The Sun has claimed the actor took the role as his other work dried up.

Famously claiming he didn’t want to act in soaps – turning EastEnders down twice in the past – Brian, 59, has seemingly lost out on West End and corporate gigs due to the COVID-19 crisis.

The Sun reports that he can take home as much as £25,000 per corporate engagement and has been paid up to £120,000 for stints in high-end pantomimes.

Bills to pay: Amid the news that Brian Conley will play Sonia’s long-lost father in EastEnders, The Sun has claimed the actor took the role as his other work dried up 

He was in Cinderella in Plymouth in 2019, for which he earned the hefty fee, writes the publication.

He was scheduled to perform in panto in 2020, as well as in Dolly Parton’s 9-5: The Musical in 2020 alongside Louise Redknapp – but all of these gigs were cancelled in the wake of the pandemic.

He is signed to agency JLA who provide him with speaking engagements. His fees are listed as being between £10,000 and £25,000.

MailOnline has approached reps for comment. 

‘Brian Conley is one of Britain’s most versatile entertainers. With credits stretching from primetime variety and chat shows through to West End musicals, he is firmly established as a household name,’ the JLA website writes.

‘Brian started out as a Bluecoat at Pontin’s. After a stint as a warm up act for Terry Wogan and Kenny Everett, it wasn’t long before he was appearing on Live from the Palladium.

‘The Brian Conley Show followed, showcasing his skills as an all-round entertainer appealing across the generations.’

The likes of Stephen Fry, Holly Willoughby, Vernon Kay and John Barrowman are also on their books.

On Tuesday he appeared on This Morning to discuss his new role on EastEnders, revealing he actually dyed his hair grey in lockdown.

Talking to Eamonn Holmes, 61, and Ruth Langsford, 60, Brian said he ‘looks like Phillip Schofield’ and said producers have said he has to keep the look now. 

Viewers were rather taken with Brian’s new look and took to Twitter in their droves to say he is ‘ageing like a fine wine.’

'I look like Phillip Schofield': Brian discussed his new role in EastEnders on This Morning on Tuesday as delighted fans said he's 'ageing like a fine wine' with his new grey hair

‘I look like Phillip Schofield’: Brian discussed his new role in EastEnders on This Morning on Tuesday as delighted fans said he’s ‘ageing like a fine wine’ with his new grey hair

His usual look: Brian said he actually dyed his hair grey in lockdown and EastEnders bosses have said he's got to keep his new look now

His usual look: Brian said he actually dyed his hair grey in lockdown and EastEnders bosses have said he’s got to keep his new look now 

West End star Brian is set to star as Sonia Fowler’s long-lost father in a ‘shock’ arrival to Albert Square, joining the cast in the role of Terry Cant.

And he said: ‘I’m delighted to be part of the show. I finished watching Netflix in November, me and the wife look out of the window and go “oh, that trees still there”. To be part of the show is well and truly amazing.’

Talking about his grey hair, he said: ‘This was my lockdown look, I decided to dye my hair grey, I think I look like Phillip Schofield. I felt I should dye it back, but they said please do not change your look.’

Spot the difference: Brian is convinced he is now a dead ringer for Phillip Schofield (pictured)

Spot the difference: Brian is convinced he is now a dead ringer for Phillip Schofield (pictured) 

And viewers were ‘into it’, writing: ‘ Brian Conley a heart throb?’

‘Brian Conley is a babe. Ageing like a fine wine.’ 

‘Grey hair really suits Brian Conley.’  

Talking about the show, Brian said he can’t give away any spoilers, but said: ‘My name is Terry Cant and he’s appearing for the next six weeks. 

What a man: Brian looked as though he had captivated the studio with his new look

What a man: Brian looked as though he had captivated the studio with his new look 

What a man! He had even grown a salt and pepper beard which was working wonders

What a man! He had even grown a salt and pepper beard which was working wonders 

Here comes trouble: Forget Schofe, Brian likes to poke fun at the fact that fans often struggle to tell him and The Chase host Bradley Walsh (left) apart

Here comes trouble: Forget Schofe, Brian likes to poke fun at the fact that fans often struggle to tell him and The Chase host Bradley Walsh (left) apart 

‘I’ve got some scripts and I’m really chuffed how it’s turning out… I’m happy to be a part of such an iconic show. I’ve got a drum kit, so if anything dramatic in my house… “oh no, we’ve run out of toothpaste!” [does doof doof sound], I’m ready for it!’ 

Brian said his late father loved the show, adding: ‘It’s been part of my world, before I got the call before Christmas, I was catching up so I was really getting into it.’ 

The star is best known for playing the lead roles in West End shows Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Hairspray and A Christmas Carol. 

Crush: Fans were rather taken with Brian's new look after seeing him on This Morning

Crush: Fans were rather taken with Brian’s new look after seeing him on This Morning 

And adding soap actor to his CV, his scenes are due to air later this spring – despite previously turning a role on the soap in the past. 

Brian will begin filming his role as Sonia’s absent father next month and says he cannot wait to order his ‘first pint at The Queen Vic’.

Speaking about his new role, he said: ‘As you can imagine, being a Londoner and now being part of EastEnders is such an incredible moment for me.

‘I know for sure my dad’s looking down from above and saying: ‘Good on yer son!’

‘It was always his favourite programme. So in so many ways it really is an honour to be part of such an iconic show and to be working with an incredibly talented team on camera and off.’ 

Father figure: The actor and West End star, 59, is joining the cast in the role of Terry Cant

Father figure: The actor and West End star, 59, is joining the cast in the role of Terry Cant

Exciting: Brian will begin filming his role as Sonia's absent father next month and says joining the cast is 'an incredible moment' for him

Exciting: Brian will begin filming his role as Sonia’s absent father next month and says joining the cast is ‘an incredible moment’ for him

The former host of The Brian Conley show added: ‘I cannot wait to order my first pint at The Queen Vic.’

Despite this, in 2012 he claimed he turned down a role in EastEnders twice because they were too rigid about him being able to do other work.

Speaking to the Daily Record at the time, he said: ‘I don’t hanker for fame. I just want to work. EastEnders wouldn’t allow me to do anything else and I do a lot of corporate gigs.

‘Also, unless you are in it for three years, you don’t earn anything and I’ve got two children who go to private school.’

Sonia, who is played by Natalie Cassidy, first searched for her lost father’s name online last year when she was feeling lonely but without success.

Having given up hope of finding him, his arrival in Walford ‘will be a huge shock’, the BBC One soap said. 

Searching: Sonia, who is played by Natalie Cassidy, (pictured) first searched for her lost father's name online last year when she was feeling lonely, but without success

Searching: Sonia, who is played by Natalie Cassidy, (pictured) first searched for her lost father’s name online last year when she was feeling lonely, but without success

Commenting on the new arrival to the cast, EastEnders’ executive producer Jon Sen said: ‘We are delighted to welcome Brian to Albert Square.

‘We had been searching for some time but the moment we met Brian, we knew instantly we had found our man.

‘Brian’s a talented performer whose charm, wit and charisma are exactly the qualities we want for Terry.

‘We’ve got some wonderful stories in store for him and can’t wait for the audience to see Brian bring him to life.’ 

West End star: The actor is known for playing the lead roles in West End musicals Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Hairspray as well as A Christmas Carol (Pictured as Scrooge in December 2020)

West End star: The actor is known for playing the lead roles in West End musicals Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Hairspray as well as A Christmas Carol (Pictured as Scrooge in December 2020)

This comes just days after Natalie Cassidy confirmed her return to the BBC soap as she shared a series of snaps from the set.

The actress, 37, who plays Sonia Fowler, recently took an extended break from the show, with the character heading to India to visit her daughter Bex.

And Natalie took to Instagram to declare that ‘Sonia’s back’, as she documented her first day back in Albert Square.

She's back: EastEnders star Natalie Cassidy, 37, confirmed her return to the BBC soap last Tuesday following extended break from the show

She’s back: EastEnders star Natalie Cassidy, 37, confirmed her return to the BBC soap last Tuesday following extended break from the show

In one photo, Natalie beamed for a selfie as she sat in her car on her way to work, captioning the snap: ‘This smile is my ‘I AM GOING TO WORK’ smile.’

While another image sees her pose with a member of the EastEnders crew, with the two clad in face masks as the soap star stated that she ‘missed seeing’ her pal ‘each day’.

Later Natalie shared a short video as she got into her alter-ego’s clothes, donning a beige cardigan and a floral top.

 

Speaking into the camera, Natalie, who joined the soap in 1993, said: ‘She’s still got her cardigans, I’ve missed her.’

The TV personality also captioning the clip, saying: ‘Soon as I put a cardigan on Sonia’s back.’

In the soap, nurse Sonia was seen struggling to cope with the pressures of the pandemic, resulting her snapping at both her colleagues and patients.

Concerned about his worn-out pal, her colleague Ash Kaur suggested her took a break, with Sonia following his advice. 

Back together: She shared a series of snaps from the set, seeing her pose with a member of the EastEnders crew, stating she 'missed seeing' her pal 'each day'

Back together: She shared a series of snaps from the set, seeing her pose with a member of the EastEnders crew, stating she ‘missed seeing’ her pal ‘each day’ 

Speaking of Natalie’s break, an EastEnders source previously told The Sun: ‘Natalie like other actors on EastEnders was given a break for a few months.

‘In real time she is back filming in the next few weeks but on screen she will leave and be off for a few months because the show is filmed so far ahead. She’ll be back again early Spring.’

The added: ‘Giving actors on the show breaks is nothing unusual and when it’s a quieter period for their character, it makes more sense to rest the characters rather than them not doing much on set.’ 

Sonia's back! Later Natalie shared a short video as she got into her alter-ego's clothes, donning a beige cardigan and a floral top

Sonia’s back! Later Natalie shared a short video as she got into her alter-ego’s clothes, donning a beige cardigan and a floral top

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