Showbiz

EastEnders stars can't stop smoking

Updated 12:45pm on 28 Jan 2009

A wedding can be a stressful time for any family. But on Albert Square it's enough to get anyone on the ciggies.

Smokin' hot: Rita Simons (Roxy)

And judging from these pictures, the worry has taken its toll on residents as they grab every opportunity to enjoy a cheeky puff.

Strike a light! It's only Ricky Butcher and Billy Mitchell - in fact Sid Owen and Perry Fenwick between takes (left) and Ricky Grove, who plays Garry Hobbs, and Lacey Turner (Stacey Branning) enjoy a smoke (right)

Yesterday the cast were seen, fags in hands, filming the upcoming wedding of Barbara Windsor's Peggy Mitchell and her brother in law Archie, played by Larry Lamb.

A real drag: Scott Maslen (Jack) and Cheryl Fergison (Heather)

Rita Simons - bridesmaid Roxy Mitchell - led the smokers' charge on a break between scenes.

Lacey Turner who plays Stacey Slater, Sid Owen (Ricky Butcher) and Perry Fenwick (Billy Mitchell) also couldn't resist a smoke.

Healthy option: June Brown (chain-smoker Dot) prefers water to a ciggy

The only one not smoking was June Brown , who plays Dot, Walford's chain-smoking matriarch.

Ms Brown, 81, instead had a water bottle with her for most of the day - perhaps she get s more than enough nicotine during filming.

Reader views (10)

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Non-smokers are so whiny.
You should go get a habit or something instead of dying in your own hatred for everyone elses.
Or just chill the fack out and just smoke a cigarette and before you bring up "my family member died of cancer" well me too! WE'RE ALL GONNA DIE OF SOMETHING! AT LEAST SPEND WHATEVER LITTLE TIME WE HAVE HERE BY ENJOYING IT AND IF THAT MEANS HAVING A CIGRARETTE THEN SO BE IT!

I'd rather have fun doing what I enjoy, having a cigarette with a drink than never drinking or smoking and dying of cancer anyway. i'd be so effed off if I was a boring, stupid health freak, then just died young anyway.

EFF OFF NON-SMOKERS!

- Vanessa, Herts, 31/01/2011 12:47
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Non-smokers are so whiny.
You should go get a habit or something instead of dying in your own hatred for everyone elses.
Or just chill the fack out and just smoke a cigarette and before you bring up "my family member died of cancer" well me too! WE'RE ALL GONNA DIE OF SOMNETHING! AT LEAST ENJOY WHATEVER LITTLE TIME WE HAVE HERE BY ENJOYING IT AND IF THAT MEANS HAVING A CIGRARETTE THEN SO BE IT!

I'd rather have fun doing what I enjoy, having a cigarette with a drink than never drinking or smoking and dying of cancer anyway. i'd be so effed off if I was a boring, stupid health freak, then just died young anyway.

EFF OFF NON-SMOKERS!

- Vanessa, Herts, 31/01/2011 12:42
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I think it is disgusting to see anyone smoking.
there should be no smoking at all seen on tv.
June brown maybe a very actress...but she is a very bad example indeed to the world by being seen to be a habitual smoker.
There is no need to potray a person slowly commiting suicide by this filthy,killer habit.
Ban all smoking now!.

- reardon, vienna austria, 23/12/2010 19:17
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I love EASTENDERS i am its biggest fan as a child i cant beleve that stacey killed archie and that bradly did:(

- Eleanor, england Nottingham, 23/02/2010 17:13
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omg i sooo didnt now that rita simons ( roxy ) smoked, ahhh well the fact that she's an amazin' actor is realy the matter , she's awsome :P

- Kaysha, cardiff-wales, 18/01/2010 19:21
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i Can't Believe June Brown have to keep going playing Dorothy Branning in Eastenders for 25 years on Friday 19th February 2010 And She Is 81 soap Opera Televistion Actress,

- David Benjamin Andrew Robinson, Worcester Worcestershire England United Kingdom, 29/12/2009 21:26
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I can't believe that members of a soap smoking counts as interesting! Then again, i've just commented on it, only to voice astonishment at the fact that no one cares!

- James Mcardle, London, 29/12/2009 20:26
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we need the Eastenders of the 90s and early 00s back. dean gaffney(robbie), tamzin outhwaite(mel), lucy benjamin(lisa), jack ryder(jamie), joe absolom(matthew rose), craig fairbrass(dan), martin kemp(steve), steve mcfadden (altho still in the series cannot show full potential with the likes of tamwar and co around), and billy mitchell used to be fantastic when mixed with the old characters too. That was the Eastenders that relli entertained me, fast paced never a dull moment. I have even noticed the famous line "Eastenders, everyone's talking about it" hasnt been said in advertisment for upcoming so called major storylines!

- Mo, london, 29/12/2009 20:26
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i luv easterders and all the amazin actors but plz stop smoking
thanx u

- Amy, uk, 29/12/2009 20:26
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I can't believe June Brown is 81 and still going - well done her.

- Isabel, Woking, 29/12/2009 20:26
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