Annette Badland, known for playing Babe Smith on EastEnders, revealed she received death threats that led to BBC security telling her to stay out of the public eye. The actress shared the experience on the podcast A Night In with Sally Lindsay.
Threats forced change in routine
Speaking about her EastEnders exit, Badland said: 'Because I was leaving, they racked up my villainy and was actually thrown out, literally thrown out of the pub by Danny.'
However, the villainous storyline triggered real-world danger. 'But I had death threats. There was a call from the BBC security saying: "We’re getting death threats and there are red alert code words in this, so we have to take it seriously."'
The threats were so serious that Badland had to alter her daily life. 'I didn’t go out, didn’t tell people where I was going, no social media,' she said. The situation lasted about six weeks while police traced the source to a public computer near Liverpool, but due to it being a school computer, they couldn't proceed further.
Character's villainy escalated before exit
Badland played Babe Smith from 2014 to 2017, a manipulative matriarch who blackmailed, manipulated, and even attempted to kill her sister. Her exit saw Mick Carter throw her out of the Queen Vic.
The actress joked the experience felt like house arrest, with strict instructions not to reveal her whereabouts. Despite the threats, Badland has had a long career in shows like Ted Lasso, Doctor Who, and The Crown.
