EastEnders actor Danny Hatchard has publicly criticised former soap star Michael Greco over a social media comment about his acting, describing the behaviour as “disappointing and classless.”
Hatchard, 35, returned to the BBC One soap earlier this year as Lee Carter. Lee’s mother Linda Carter (Kellie Bright) discovered he was expecting his first baby. Because Lee’s partner Jess could not carry a child, his sister Nancy Carter (Maddy Hill) agreed to act as a surrogate. Viewers later learned that Lee and Jess’s relationship had become strained due to several factors, including Lee’s relationship with alcohol.
Social Media Exchange
Following a recent episode in which Lee drunkenly walked through Walford, Greco, who played Beppe Di Marco, posted a comment on X. He wrote: “The art of playing drunk is to try and be as sober as you can. This is everything that is wrong.”
Hatchard responded on Instagram, saying: “Disappointing and classless behaviour from a man I once respected.” He added that after more than 15 years in the business he has developed a thick skin, and that for every hater there are a hundred people showing love and support. He also said he struggles to understand the disrespect of criticising a fellow actor’s work based on a nine-second clip shared by a troll on X, stripped of context.
Apology and Support
Greco has since apologised. In response to Hatchard’s tweet that said “Expected a little more class from you Greco,” he wrote: “I apologise for my comment. Was pointless and out of character. Should give fellow actors more support.”
Greco also replied to Hatchard’s Instagram post, saying: “I apologise for my comment. Was no need for it. Should’ve been the bigger man and seen the bigger picture. I haven’t watched Eastenders for many years so I don’t even know who you were or what I was commenting on. No need for it.”
Fans of Hatchard showed support in the comments, praising his performance in the storyline. One wrote: “You’re doing amazing!!! My partner even said after last nights episode, how the hell does he play being drunk so well, they must be given some alcohol and he’s not a very complementary person.” Another said: “I think you “ play drunk “ brilliantly! Just like linda makes me laugh.”
Ongoing Storyline
This week, Lee, Nancy and brother Johnny (Charlie Suff) learned from Linda that their father Mick Carter (Danny Dyer) was dead. Linda had visited Janine Butcher (Charlie Brooks) after learning Mick’s body had been found. She could not bring herself to identify the body, and asked new partner Max Branning (Jake Wood) to do it instead.
Max discovered that Janine had lied about Mick’s fate to get money. He considered telling Linda the body was her ex-husband’s, but ultimately told her it was Mick’s, hoping she would move on with him.
