John Altman EastEnders’ Nick must stay ‘Nasty’

John Altman has spoken about his return to EastEnders, and how the bad boy of Walford should never change his nasty ways.

Speaking to the Radio Times the actor revealed that his Albert Square alter-ego Nick Cotton will still be the ‘nasty Nick’ viewers loved to hate when he returns to the BBC One soap opera later this year.

“I wouldn’t like to see Nick change. He’s a bit too long in the tooth now to change. It’s good to back – when you’ve not been on the set for five years, it does take a week or so to get back into the energy of it. But I’m back on the rails now, so to speak.” – John Altman speaking to the Radio Times

Nick first appeared in episode one of EastEnders back in February of 1985, when the show aired only twice a week. Altman featured in the plots on and off up until five years ago, however earlier this year the character was ‘killed off’ – but it was, of course, just one of Nick’s scams.

Now as EastEnders heads towards its 30th anniversary show boss Dominic Treadwell-Collins has lured the baddie back to the square with the promise that the serials’ ‘original bad boy will be causing more trouble for his Ma’.

Altman on the success of the series notes four episodes a week is possibly an issue at times, certainly repetitive plots and reliant on the sensational has crept in over recent years, however he believes the ‘energy’ the series has keeps it going strong.

“It’s the energy of it. And the changes it’s gone through as well. I’m not sure if four episodes a week is a good thing, though. It’s a hell of a job creating two hours of drama a week and you have to cover a lot of different characters as well. It’s a tall order to keep viewers gripped four nights a week. But it’s doing really well now thanks to Dominic. My hat goes off to the producers and writers who run it. There are about 312 people who work on it now. And 53 cast members. It’s a big old show.” – John Altman speaking to the Radio Times

Nick will return to cause more upset for the ‘Cotton family’ in the coming weeks.

Pictured top: Nick in 2009 when he last featured in EastEnders’ on-screen, bottom: back in 1985 the ‘bad boy’ makes his first appearance in episode one.