Nick Cotton's Eastenders exit came after starrefused gay storyline

Nick Cotton was written out of EastEnders after actor John Altman, 67, refused to accept a gay storyline for the character

He was the famous bad boy of Albert Square who repeatedly tried to kill his own mother. 

But Nick Cotton’s original exit from EastEnders in 1991 was down to actor John Altman refusing to accept a gay storyline for the character. 

The star, 67, said he was written out of the BBC soap after raising concerns about the proposed storyline because Nick had originally been portrayed as straight.

Written out: Nick Cotton’s original exit from EastEnders was down to actor John Altman, 67, refusing to accept a gay relationship for the character

Speaking to BANG Showbiz, he explained: ‘They tried to make Nick Cotton gay, it was years ago now. 

‘I went in there straight, and so did the other guy, Lofty, who was a bit of a lovable bozo in the early days. 

‘Anyway, they suddenly decided that he weren’t gay, they were gonna make him gay, and I didn’t think that was a good idea as it would’ve changed Nick’s character completely, really.  

‘So I went to the producer, I said, “I hear you’ve got this idea, but I don’t think it will work,” and she said, “Well, write him out,” and I walked away. 

Not realistic: The star said he was written out after raising concerns about the proposed story line because Nick had originally been portrayed as straight (Pictured: Altman as Nick in 2001)

‘She was really harsh. But, I went back. I was just written out for that period. If I’d have gone in playing a gay character, fine. 

‘But to suddenly make the character … I dunno, to me, as an actor, it would’ve been wrong. 

‘I don’t think the public would’ve wanted it either.’

Devious: Nick was central to some of Eastenders’ darkest storylines (Pictured Nick during his first heroin addiction in 1991)

He’ll never change: Storylines included the murder of Eddie Royle, several plots to murder Dot and accidentally causing the death of his son Ashley (Frankie Fitzgerald), pictured above

Nick, whose mother Dot Cotton (June Brown) still appears in the soap, was central to some of EastEnders’ darkest storylines. 

They included the murder of Eddie Royle in 1991, several plots to murder Dot and accidentally causing the death of his son Ashley after sabotaging a motorbike.  

His initial run in the soap was from its inception in 1985 until 1991. He then returned in 1993, 1998 and between 2000 and 2001, 2008 and 2009 and finally from 2014 to 2015. 

His final departure came when he was killed off in 2015 and ironically died in his mother’s arms after a fatal reaction to heroin for which Dot did not seek medical help.   

I’ve had enough: His final departure came when he was killed off in 2015 and ironically died in his mother’s arms after a fatal reaction to heroin for which Dot did not seek medical help

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