Long before he was crowned King of the Jungle on I'm A Celebrity or became a staple of daytime TV, Joe Swash was best known as loveable rogue Mickey Miller on BBC's EastEnders. But the story of his on-screen family holds a dark and tragic secret that many fans have completely forgotten.
Swash joined the soap in 2003, becoming part of the chaotic Miller clan who shook up Albert Square. The family included his on-screen brothers, Demi's young son Aleesha, and crucially, Darren, played by actor Charlie Clements.
A Star Is Born: Bradley Branning's Arrival
Charlie Clements, who played Darren, was swiftly thrust into the spotlight. In a major plot twist, it was revealed that his character was actually Bradley Branning – the long-lost son of iconic character Carol Jackson and Max Branning. This revelation catapulted the young actor into a central role in one of Walford's most famous families.
For years, Clements was at the heart of some of the soap's most dramatic storylines, including his tumultuous marriage to Stacey Slater. His character's exit was one of the most memorable in British soap history: Bradley fell to his death from the roof of the Queen Vic during the live episode that revealed Stacey as Archie Mitchell's killer.
Life After Walford: A Different Path
Unlike his on-screen 'brother' Joe Swash, who seamlessly transitioned into a successful presenting career, Clements chose a different path. After leaving EastEnders, he stepped away from the glare of celebrity.
He took a dramatic career shift, retraining not in acting, but in nursing. He has since worked on the front lines of the NHS, a world away from the drama of Albert Square. He has maintained a fiercely private life, a stark contrast to the showbiz lifestyle of his former co-star.
The story of these two 'brothers' is a fascinating tale of two diverging paths from the same starting point. While Swash remains a fixture on our television screens, his forgotten sibling found his calling in a life of service, making his own kind of impact away from the cameras.
