Former EastEnders star Danny Walters is engaged to his long-term girlfriend Maddi Faircloth after proposing during a romantic getaway. The actor, 33, known for playing Keanu Taylor in the BBC soap, shared the news with fans after proposing to his partner of five years.
Danny chose the Greek island of Rhodes as the setting, getting down on one knee while the couple enjoyed their sun-soaked break. Sharing a picture from the proposal on Instagram, Danny could be seen holding out a ring as he asked Maddi to become his wife. He joked alongside the romantic snap: 'Guess you're stuck with me now.'
Congratulations from co-stars
The announcement was quickly flooded with congratulations from friends, family and fans, including familiar faces from Albert Square. Danny's former EastEnders co-star Danielle Harold, who played Lola Pearce-Brown, wrote: 'Ahhh so beautiful congratulations to you both.' Emma Barton also left a sweet comment, writing 'Congratulations both of you'.
Danny and Maddi, who previously appeared on the reality series Shipmates in 2019, are believed to have started dating in 2021. They kept their romance away from the spotlight and didn't publicly confirm their relationship until the following year, going Instagram official in January 2022. The couple became parents to their first child, a daughter named Autumn, in March 2025.
From Benidorm to Walford
Danny was already familiar on television before arriving in Walford, having played Tiger Dyke in ITV comedy Benidorm. However, it was his role as Keanu Taylor in EastEnders that made him a household name. He made his Albert Square debut in 2017 as a member of the Taylor family alongside mum Karen, played by Lorraine Stanley, and siblings including Keegan and Bernadette.
Keanu found himself at the centre of some of the soap's biggest storylines, most notably his explosive affair with Sharon Watts. Their relationship caused chaos due to Sharon being married to Phil Mitchell at the time, while Keanu also became involved with Phil's daughter Louise. The love triangle eventually resulted in Sharon becoming pregnant with Keanu's son Albie and sparked a dramatic feud with the Mitchell family.
Dramatic exit and new chapter
Danny initially left EastEnders in 2020 before making a surprise return in December 2022. His second stint led to an even more dramatic exit. For months, the soap teased viewers with a flash-forward storyline showing six women standing over the body of an unidentified man in The Queen Vic on Christmas Day. On Christmas Day, viewers discovered Keanu was the mystery victim, killed by Linda Carter after a dramatic confrontation in the pub, as part of the storyline known as 'The Six'.
Now, more than two years after his dramatic EastEnders departure, Danny has another major milestone to celebrate as he and Maddi prepare to become husband and wife.
