In a shocking and emotional revelation, EastEnders veteran Brian Conley has broken his silence on his abrupt departure from the iconic BBC soap, alleging a profoundly negative atmosphere behind the scenes.
The actor, famed for his portrayal of loveable rogue Rocky Cotton, became visibly emotional during an exclusive interview as he detailed the circumstances that led to his exit, which he claims was far from the amicable split the BBC portrayed.
'It Felt Incredibly Toxic'
Conley did not hold back, describing the working environment as 'incredibly toxic' and revealing the immense personal toll it took on him. 'I was not happy,' he confessed, 'I was getting ill, I was getting really ill. I was getting poorly through the stress of it all.'
His concerns reached a peak when he raised them with the show's production team, a move he believes led to his swift dismissal. 'I went to see them and I said I'm not happy, and within 48 hours they said, we're letting you go.'
A Storyline Betrayal
The heart of the conflict, according to Conley, was a significant betrayal regarding his character's future. He was originally promised a long-term, 'lovely storyline' that would see Rocky become the landlord of the Queen Vic pub.
However, this plan was abruptly scrapped without his knowledge. 'They changed the story,' he explained, 'They said we're not doing that. We're going to make you an arsonist and you're going to go to prison for three years.' This drastic change in narrative direction was the final straw for the actor.
Despite the painful experience, Conley expressed his deep affection for his fellow cast members and the show's dedicated crew, making it clear that his grievances were solely with the production's decision-makers.
