Shane Richie was seen back behind the wheel as he left work on the EastEnders set, after being charged with drink-driving.
It emerged on Friday that the 62-year-old EastEnders star has been charged with drink-driving after police were called following a row with petrol station staff when he was challenged at the Tesco petrol station in Harlow, Essex.
Richie is set to appear in court next month, but last week it was business as usual as he drove home from EastEnders filming. The actor was seen leaving the soap's set in north London, after footage revealed the moment he was arrested by police. Someone charged with drink-driving can legally continue driving until they are convicted of the offence in court.
Richie, who plays Alfie Moon on the BBC soap, was challenged after he was seen vaping at the Tesco petrol station in Harlow, Essex, on July 29.
What happened at the petrol station
Footage of the incident, which unfolded just after 11pm, showed the actor being told he could not smoke on the premises. Brandishing the vape, he replied: "It's not smoking." Upon realising he was being filmed, he then claimed: "This is not a vape."
After staff told him the vape "is a risk," the actor, while reaching back inside his car and with his back to the employee, said: "I don't give a f***." As the manager of the petrol station phoned police, claiming Richie was being "aggressive," the soap star told the man filming: "Someone's coming to change my tyre."
Police were later seen arriving at the forecourt. He was arrested and later charged with drink-driving. It is a criminal offence to smoke a cigarette at a petrol station due to the danger of sparks near fuel. Vaping is not a specific offence at forecourts, but petrol station companies strictly prohibit it over the same safety concerns.
Concerns over his workload
A report in The Sun claimed those close to Richie think he could be "spiralling" and could end up being let go from the soap.
A source told the publication: "This has been a long time coming. Shane has been struggling to keep up with the demands of his workload and it appears it has all got a bit much. Everyone is so concerned about him." The source said that since his character Alfie took over as landlord of the Queen Vic, Richie has been filming all the time because he is at the centre of the show.
The source described it as a pretty gruelling schedule, adding that Richie has a big tour in September which he has been rehearsing for, and that when he gets stressed he does like a drink, which he has made no secret of. The source went on to claim that BBC bosses "won't take the incident lightly," adding: "It wouldn't be a surprise if they suspended him."
