Marc Bannerman, best known for playing Gianni Di Marco in EastEnders, has landed a new role in the fifth series of the ITV crime drama Professor T, 25 years after his BBC exit.
The Di Marco brothers arrived in Walford in 1998 to rival the Mitchell siblings Phil (Steve McFadden) and Grant (Ross Kemp). Gianni, played by Bannerman, and his brother Beppe (Michael Greco) ran the family Italian restaurant Giuseppe's alongside their two sisters and parents, including mother Rosa Di Marco, played by Louise Jameson.
Gianni's Walford legacy
Gianni was dubbed the 'Italian stallion' and was the ultimate tough nut of the Di Marco family, taking on the Mitchells and local hardman Dan Sullivan (Craig Fairbrass). Despite being a hit with fans, the family was axed from the BBC soap, with Gianni departing in August 2000, nearly three years after his arrival.
Bannerman starred in EastEnders from 1998 until 2000 and has previously spoken about his struggles after leaving the show. He told the Mirror: "I suffered depression and turned to the bottle to get me out of it."
New role in Professor T
Born in Ireland, Bannerman lived in North London and went on to star in shows including I'm A Celebrity in 2007 and Footballers' Wives. The 53-year-old has continued his acting career, and according to IMDb, he plays Chester Vass for three episodes of Professor T, which stars Ben Miller as an eccentric criminologist at the University of Cambridge.
Season five has wrapped filming and is airing in the US on PBS, so UK fans, currently enjoying season four on ITV, may have to wait until 2027.
Recent appearances
In May 2022, Bannerman appeared on Channel 4's Steph's Packed Lunch in the 'Soap Star Snacks' segment, preparing smoked salmon tagliatelle for host Steph McGovern. He said he got the EastEnders role "six months fresh out of drama school" and admitted to telling a "fib": "I told them I was half-Italian, I'm not, I'm Irish."
His other credits include Agatha Raisin, Pennyworth, The Nevers, The Witcher, Snatch, Holby City, Dream Team, and Coupling. EastEnders airs Monday to Thursday on BBC One and iPlayer.
